Landscape Architecture

PHYTOGEOGRAPHY AND APPLIED BOTANY First year – first semester General objectives The Course of Phytogeography and Applied Geobotany is focused on the study of the geographical distribution of the plant species and their phytocoenoses that arise from them according to their sociological character and ecological requirements ad tolerance. The course provides the theoretical-methodological and operational tools necessary for the identification and definition of the distribution areas, chorotypes and regional biogeographic units. In particular, the methodological approach of the course will investigate the spatial and spatio-temporal aspects of biodiversity, the spatial dimension of biological evolution based on the causal analysis of the spatial distribution of plant species in their current and historical dimensions. Specific objectives Knowledge and ability in understanding At the end of the course the student will be asked to demonstrate the acquired knowledge and understanding skills, as well as skills that allow him to support, from a theoretical-methodological point of view, the setting up of territorial planning strategies consistent with the identity and the floristic-vegetational features of the places majorly based on the knowledge of the native and alien flora and with the risks associated to the use of the naturalized alien flora for issues of environmental mamagement. The verification of knowledge will be carried out through intermediate examination tests both at a theoretical level and at a practical level. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding At the end of the course the student must demonstrate the mastery in the use of manuals for the identification of plant species and the ability to interpret thematic maps of floristic, conservation, vegetational and phytooclimatic type. It will also be able to understand and translate in an applicative sense the syntaxonomic nomenclature occurrig in the main national and European vegetational check-lists and frameworks since these are currently used in programs for the conservation and management of Biodiversity such as the Interpretation Manual of the Habitats Directive or the CoRiNe Biotops project. These skills will be verified both in the theoretical and experimental and design activities. The verification of the knowledge will be carried out, moreover, through the exam test proper and through tests in itinere. Autonomy of judgment. At the end of the course the student must demonstrate the ability to acquire knowledge and experience, to evaluate and re-elaborate them for the purpose of forming an autonomous and original judgment. In particular, the student must demonstrate skills in autonomous management in landscape planning and design related to the interpretation of the natural Landscape, its flag species, its main plant communities, the models of potential natural vegetation and the spatial and temporal dynamic of the vegetation series. The verification of the knowledge will be carried out, moreover, through the exam test proper and through tests in itinere. Communication skills. At the end of the course the student will be asked to demonstrate, after the acquisition and the operational capacity with respect to the theoretical methodological, technical and design knowledge, proper to the teaching, to be able to communicate them correctly and using a consistent scientific terminology. with the issues addressed. It should also be able to use advanced and multimedia survey and processing tools. The verification of the knowledge will be carried out, moreover, through the exam test proper and through tests in itinere. Learning ability At the end of the course the student will have to demonstrate a high capacity for autonomous learning, which allows to continuously update and increase his knowledge and skills in the field of phytogeography and applied geobotany with particular reference to the cenological and syntaxonomic aspects related to sustainable management of the territory. The verification of the knowledge will be carried out, moreover, through the exam test proper and through tests in itinere