Environmental Science in Modified Ecosystems
main objectives
The general objective of this module is to explore the multifunctional character of farmland, urban or semi-urban areas and the challenges involved in reconciling human activities with the preservation of natural resources. You will learn how to participate in land planning or management projects involving a diversity of stakeholders. You will learn to think about action at relatively wide spatial scales (landscape mosaics) using a combination of field and mapping approaches. Finally, you will explore the links between production choices, consumer attitudes and the management of urban and rural ecosystems.
general content
Challenges for preserving natural resources in human-dominated landscapes (farming, urban and semi-urban). Definitions of key terms: landscape, territory and multifunctionality. Nature conservation and introduction to restoration ecology.,Interactions between agriculture and biodiversity at different spatial scales. Contribution of farms to ecological services, role of trees and semi-natural areas in farmland. Landscape agronomy, livestock farming and biodiversity. Water quality management in rural landscapes and soil preservation. Knowledge of pesticides and alternative solutions.,Urban change and challenges for nature in urban areas and at the rural-urban interface. Management of semi-natural areas in urban contexts, urban agriculture. Contribution of urban vegetation to changing food systems, social objectives and quality of life. Production systems that encourage short food chains and links to consumers.,Experience of field ecology (habitat survey, biodiversity indicators) to assess the ecological value of semi-natural areas. Landscape ecology and Geographical Information Systems applied to environmental projects at landscape scale. ,
pedagogy
Lectures and classroom work. Teaching by researchers in plant ecology, animal ecology, landscape ecology, restoration ecology and geomatics applied to ecology. Professional invited speakers and field visits. Groupwork. Serious game. Personal research, literature review and written tasks.
evaluation
Continuous assessment and final examination. Written and oral tests: groupwork, write-ups of visits or interviews. Online self-assessment.
Bibliography
Altieri, M.A., 1999. The ecological role of biodiversity in agroecosystems. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 74, 19–31.,Aronson, M.F.J., La Sorte, F.A., Nilon, C.H., Katti, M., Goddard, M.A., Lepczyk, C.A., Warren, P.S., Williams, N.S.G., Cilliers, S., Clarkson, B., Dobbs, C., Dolan, R., Hedblom, M., Klotz, S., Kooijmans, J.L., Kühn, I., MacGregor-Fors, I., McDonnell, M., Mörtberg, U., Pyšek, P., Siebert, S., Sushinsky, J., Werner, P., Winter, M., 2014. A global analysis of the impacts of urbanization on bird and plant diversity reveals key anthropogenic drivers. Proc. R. Soc. B Biol. Sci. 281, 20133330. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2013.3330,Forman, R.T.T., 1995. Land mosaics: the ecology of landscapes and regions. Cambridge University Press, New York.,Le Roux, X., Barbault, R., Baudry, J., Burel, F., Doussan, I., Garnier, E., Herzog, F., Lavorel, S., Lifran, R., Roger-Estrade, J., Sarthou, J.P., Trommetter, M., 2008. Agriculture et biodiversité. Valoriser les synergies. (Expertise scientifique collective, synthèse du rapport). INRA, France.,Mastrangelo, M.E., Weyland, F., Villarino, S.H., Barral, M.P., Nahuelhual, L., Laterra, P., 2014. Concepts and methods for landscape multifunctionality and a unifying framework based on ecosystem services. Landsc. Ecol. 29, 345–358. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-013-9959-9,