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| BIOL0811-1 | Natural ressources and ecosystem disruptions
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| Duration : | 40h Th, 30h Pr, 2d FW |
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| Holder(s) : | Monique Carnol, Jean‑Pierre Thomé |
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| Language : | Langue française |
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| Course contents : | The study of ecosystem functioning of the "écologie et biodiversité" courses (2nd and 3rd bachelier in biology) has brought awareness to the interferences of anthropic activities on ecosystems although phenomnons could not be throroughly detailed. The "ressources naturelles et perturbation des écosystèmes" course will focus on the main pollutions of air, soil and waters and their sources. Students will be provided with the information needed to discuss the ecological impact of natural resources overexploitation and human activities at the origin of the pollution and disruption of ecosystems (atmospheric pollution, acid rains, greenhouse gases and global warming, agriculture and industry impact on the environnement). The impact of xenobiotics on the structure and functioning of biocenoses is considered via an ecotoxicological approach. The impacts of air pollution are considered with the global view of their interferences with biogeochemical cycles.
Part 1: Ecotoxicology
*Nature, source and fate of toxic pollutants in the biosphere: identification of pollution sources, xenobiotic dispersal in the environnement, biocenoses contamination, transfer pathways in organisms and toxicity assessment at the cellular, organismic, populational and biocenose level
*Transfer and impact of pollutants in ecosystems
Part 2: Pollution and disruption of biogeochemical cycles
*The carbon cycle and greenhouse effect
*Acid rains and sulfur and nitrogen cycle |
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| Course objective : | The aim of this course is to provide students with a global view of the pressure exerted by man on ecosystems and of its potential impacts on the equilibirum of these ecosystems. Moreover, the focus on agricultural and industrial micropolutants is aimed at enabling students to be fully aware of the methods to assess the toxicity of compounds and their impact on ecosystems. These notions will be integrated in real case risk assessment studies. |
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| Prerequisites : | Students should be familiar with basic concepts of ecology (provided in the 2nd and 3rd bachelier in biology). Students must also have good knowledge in molecular and cellular biology, physiology, biochemistry and analytical chemistry so that they can understand the action mechanisms of micropollutants and the meaning of contamination levels in the biotic and abiotic environnement. The sudy of the impact of anthropic activities on ecosystems also implies a good knowledge of the principles underlying energy fluxes in ecosystems and matter cycling (biogeochemical cycles). |
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| Workshops : | The topics considered in the theoretical course will be illustrated and expanded in laboratory practicals, case studies prepared by students and field trips.
Practicals will deal with toxicity assessment of micropollutants using the freshwater cladoceran Daphnia magna and the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus; these species being used in standardized ecotoxicological test (AFNOR,OCDE). Risk assessment real case studies will be proposed. The impact of pollutions will be illustrated in real case studies and in laboratory respiration measurements in soils. |
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| Organization : | Timetable (provisional):
Second quarter:
Mondays from 9:00 to 12:15: theory
Mondays from 13:30 to 17:00 practicals and case studies
Attendance to theoretical and practical courses is mandatory. Should a student not fullfil this criteria he/she will be considered "inadmissible" to the exam. Most of theorectical courses are lectures illustrated with power point presentations, videos, slide shows. The topics considered in the theoretical course will be illustrated and expanded in laboratory practicals, case studies prepared by students and field trips. |
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| Written notes : | Lecture notes will be made available during the year. Power point presentations will be available on line (pdf). For complementary information, reference books are available in ULg departments. |
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| Assessment : | Assessment consists in :
- an appreciation of students activities during practicals. At the end of practicals ,each student will be asked to provide a writen report.
- an oral exam (with written preparation), will be held during the session and will concern both the theoretical and practical courses.
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| Contacts : | Laboratoire d'écologie animale et d'écotoxicologie, Institut de Chimie, Bât. B6c, Allée du 6 août, 15, 4000 Liège, Belgique.
· Prof. Jean-Pierre Thomé : Tél. 04/366.50.60./62 ; Fax. 04/366.51.47 ; E-mail : JP.Thome@ulg.ac.be
· Dr Célia Joaquim-Justo : Tél. 04/366.51.40 ; Fax 04/366.51.47 ; E-mail : celia.Joaquim-Justo@ulg.ac.be
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Laboratoire d'Ecologie Végétale et Microbienne, Institut de Botanique, Bât. B22, Boulevard du Rectorat, 27, 4000 Liège, Belgique (Parking 70, 3ème étage)
Prof. Monique Carnol : Tel. 04/3663845 (bureau) ; Tel./fax. 04/3663817 (laboratoire), E-mail : m.carnol@ulg.ac.be |
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| Remarks : | This course is still in preparation. Updates information will be available at the beginning of 2008. |
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