Program Overview

Program Overview

The program in Botanica Ambientale is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of botanical concepts related to the distribution of plant organisms in various environmental contexts. The course focuses on the strategies of adaptation, relationships with abiotic and biotic factors, and the impact of human activities on the environment, with a particular emphasis on the concept of environmental sustainability.

Objectives and Contents

Educational Objectives

The program aims to equip students with the tools necessary for understanding key concepts in ecology and plant ecology. It delves into the factors that condition plant life and distribution, with the primary objective of enabling students to comprehend the complexity of relationships between organisms and their environment. This understanding is crucial for designing projects that can be integrated into the surrounding plant landscape over the medium and long term.

Detailed Educational Objectives and Learning Outcomes

The program provides students with the ability to:

• Understand the interactions between ecological factors and the distributive characteristics of plant species and communities, from local to global scales.
• Utilize data regarding flora and vegetation derived from specialist texts, bibliographic data, and scientific publications for the correct application of the floristic component in green projects.
• Adopt an approach that considers interactions between ecological factors, the distribution of plant communities, and their influence on species and phytocenoses at different scales, with a focus on applicability in various design contexts.

Prerequisites

Students are required to possess basic knowledge of Botanica Applicata all'Architettura e al Paesaggio (Applied Botany to Architecture and Landscape).

Teaching Methods

The program includes frontal lessons aided by PowerPoint presentations that illustrate the concepts and contents expressed orally by the teachers. These materials are made available on Aulaweb. Field trips are also part of the course, aiming to put theoretical knowledge into practice.

Program/Content

• Analysis of ecological/botanical elements of a plant community.
• Concepts of community, population, physical environment, physiographic factors, edaphic factors, and biological factors.
• Soil and its evolution, including texture, porosity, chemistry, organic components, humus, pH, and water in the soil.
• Population variations over time, structure, habitat, specific and genetic diversity, spatial distribution, and ecotones.
• Agroecosystems and silviculture, including tree population and its evolutionary stages, reforestation, and forest management forms.
• Concept of vegetation, original, current, and potential vegetation, analysis of vegetation, vertical and horizontal structure, physiognomy, and methods of studying vegetation.
• Dynamics of vegetation and main types of vegetation and habitats in Italy, their alteration in relation to stress and pressure.
• Biodiversity, hotspots of biodiversity, and environmental sustainability.

Texts/Bibliography

While there is no specific reference text for the program, students can use notes taken during lessons as the primary study material. Additional texts that may provide help or integration to the notes include:

• Pignatti S. (ed.), 1995. Ecologia vegetale. UTET, Torino.
• IPLA (a cura di), 2008. I tipi forestali della liguria. Regione Liguria & Erga Edizioni.
• Mariotti M., s.d., 2008. Natura 2000 in Liguria. Atlante degli Habitat Regione Liguria.
• AA.VV. Habitat Italia.

Teachers and Examination Board

• Enrica Roccotiello
• Chiara Valsecchi

Lessons

Start of Lessons

Consult the detailed schedule at the provided link.

Lesson Timetable

The timetable for this course is available at the EasyAcademy portal.

Exams

Examination Method

The acquisition of the notions object of the course and the ability to expose them correctly is evaluated through an oral exam that includes several questions spanning the entire program and activities carried out in the field. In addition to knowledge of the treated arguments, the ability to correlate them with the principles of plant ecology is also evaluated.

Assessment Method

Besides the oral test, on which the exam grade is expressed, written tests can be carried out during the year to periodically evaluate learning.

Exam Calendar

• 16/06/2025, 14:00, GENOVA, Oral
• 15/07/2025, 14:00, GENOVA, Oral
• 08/09/2025, 09:00, GENOVA, Oral, Aula 6B
• 23/01/2026, 14:00, GENOVA, Oral
• 06/02/2026, 14:00, GENOVA, Oral

Other Information

Regular attendance is highly recommended. Students out of course who need to take Botanica Ambientale with codes different from 65798 (corresponding to 8 credits) will have to agree on an integration of the program with the teachers.

Agenda 2030

Health and Well-being

Sustainable Cities and Communities

Climate Action

Life Below Water

Life on Land

This program is designed to contribute to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically focusing on health and well-being, sustainable cities and communities, climate action, life below water, and life on land, by educating students on environmental sustainability and the ecological aspects of plant life and distribution.