ENVIRONMENTAL BOTANY

Course objectives

Analyze natural and anthropized ecosystems traits and methodologies by theoretic lessons, laboratory exercitations, and field experiences. Studies plant architecture and plant species capacity to alter its traits in responce to natural and anthropic stress factors. Focus on the urban ecosystem pollution, plant adaptability, and the improvement of air quality.

Channel 1
LAURA VARONE Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
Module 1 Ecological factors and distribution of terrestrial plants: ecological factor concept, climate, bioclimate, climate factors, climate diagrams, bioclimatic indices; Raunkiaer biological forms; the relationship between abiotic ecological factors (light, CO2, water, temperature, nutrients) and functional status of plants. Module 2 Interaction between plants and abiotic stressors: concept of environmental stress; plant response strategies to stressors: acclimation, adaptation, phenotypic plasticity; Grime's C-S-R model; main abiotic stressors (water stress, salt stress, temperature stress, flooding, pollutants) and their impact on plants. Module 3 Role of plants in the mitigation of environmental impacts: use of plants to offset greenhouse gas emissions: carbon sequestration and storage; forestation as a climate change mitigation tool; plants and air quality improvement; use of plants for environmental remediation and decontamination. Module 4 Educational excursion and laboratory activity
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of Botany and Ecology acquired during the first years of the course of study.
Books
Sanità di Toppi L., Interazioni piante-ambiente (2018), Piccin Gratani L., Appunti di Ecologia Vegetale (2015) Aracne Editrice Pignatti S., Ecologia Vegetale, 2000, UTET Lecture notes and scientific articles on specific topics provided by the lecturer
Frequency
While attendance is optional, it is encouraged because in the classroom students are actively involved in critical discussion of the topics covered, in addition, to emphasize the connections between the various parts of the program, there are continuous cross-references throughout each lecture to topics covered in previous lectures.
Exam mode
Interview on the topics covered in class aimed at assessing not only the student's understanding of them, but also the student's capacity for judgement and critical analysis.
Lesson mode
The course is delivered traditionally through classroom lectures delivered via projected slides. In the course of the lectures, students learn the fundamental knowledge of the discipline and the elements to make critical assessments of the functioning of individual species and/or plant communities concerning the characteristics of the environment. Teaching also includes field activities organized in such a way as to reinforce the achievement of the teaching objectives. Both classroom and field lectures are conducted with a focus on interactive dialogue between the lecturer and students.
  • Lesson code1020493
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • Coursecorso|33589
  • CurriculumSingle curriculum
  • Year3rd year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDBIO/03
  • CFU6
  • Subject areaDiscipline ecologiche