Universidad de Jaén

Theoretical contents

Thematic block I. External state factors determining the sustainability ranges of ecosystem's porperties.

Subject 1. Main factors that modulate climatic conditions: microclimate.

Subject 2. Lithological substrate as a controlling factor for ecosystem's potential productivity. Soil forming factors and soil structure. Mediterranean-domain soils.

Subject 3. Potential biota, borders and evolutionary processes that determine organisms' distribution.

Thematic block II. Internal interactive controllers that regulate the dynamics of ecosystem's properties.

Subject 4. Environmental conditions (microclimate, ph and alcalinity, redox potential, toxicity and salinity, heavy metals, others. Conditions and resources. Shleford's tolerance law.

Subject 5. Soil resources or quality. Nutrient availability. Liebig's minimal law.

Subject 6. Main functional groups of organisms.

Subject 7. Disturbance regime. Types of disturbances, attributes of the disturbance regime, the stability concept. Ecological pecularities of anthropogenic disturbances.

Subject 8. Populations dynamics.

Subject 9. Ecological succession and community dynamics.

Thematic block III. The ecological dimension of sustainable development. Ecological role of human beings.

Subject 10. Ecological pecularities of human beings and general aspects of Global Change. Socioecosystems. Components and processes of anthropogenic Global Change.

Subject 11. Ecological consequences of anthropogenic alterations of biogeochemical cycles (contamination, eutrophization, N saturation and acid rain, geenhouse effect reinforcing, ozone hole, etc.).

Subject 12. Ecological consequences of land use changes and removing/substituting species (biodiversity crisis, biological invasions, others).

 Practical contents

1. Field work. Forest structure characterization and sampling for lab analyses
2. Four laboratory practical sessions and one analysis session. i, experimental set up and application ofexperimental treatments; ii, analysis of respiration rates; iii and iv, analysis of inorganic N and P content; v, analysis of results.

This subject is divided in two parts. A theoretical one including big group classes and seminars. And a practical part which is split in a field work, where samples will be taken for further laboratory and computer analysis. In the first seminar the practical section will be explained to the students (methodology, execution, evaluation). In the last seminar the results of the practical parts of the subject will be explained by the alumns by means of an oral presentation.

Students with special educational needs should contact the Student Attention Service (Servicio de Atención y Ayudas al Estudiante) in order to receive the appropriate academic support

The students will be evaluated attending to the following criteria:

1. Written exam for the theoretical part of the subject (70%): CB-3, CB-4, CB-5, CT-1, CE-2, CE-3, CE-4, CE-33, CE-39

2. Attendance and skills acquiered during the practical sessions, including a practical exam (10%): CT-1, CE-2, CE-3, CE-4, CE-14, CE-33, CE-39

3. Oral presentation of a results report from the practical activities (20%): CT-1, CE-2, CE-4, CE-14, CE-33, CE-39

The students have to overcome both, the theoretical and practical sections of the subject independently, being the final rating calculated once a minimum score of 5 over 10 is reached for both parts.