Duration
40h Th, 39h Pr, 1d FW
Number of credits
| Master in biology of organisms and ecology (120 ECTS) | 7 crédits |
Lecturer
Coordinator
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
Course description
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 (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.
Table of contents
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 climate change
Introduction
Climate change: proofs and causes
The global carbon cycle
Ecological consequences of climate change
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
Learning outcomes part 1:
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.
Learning outcomes part 2:
At the end of this part of the course, you should be able to:
- Present scientific information from a paper in a structured way
- Demonstrate you comprehension of the topic of climate change through the analysis of a scientific paper
- Interpret scientific results in relation to climate change with regard to the theory
- Define, explain and use specific terms (radiative forcing, global warming potential, sesilience, resistence, GIEC,...)
- Explain and analyse in depth:
Objectives relative to practicals: understand the difference between carbon stock and flux understand the conception and use of models explore carbon exchange between the atmosphere, the forest and forest products understand and quantify the consequences of forest management on carbon exchange and link the results with lecture material
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
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).
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
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:
- 1. the measurment of the toxicityof micropollutants using:
- - acute toxicity,
- - and chronic toxiicty tests on freshwater invertebrate model pecies and folowing standardized ecotoxicological test protocols (AFNOR,OCDE);
- - measurments of a biomarker to assess chemical impact on organisms;
- - risk assessment real case studies.
- 2. the assessment of carbon exchange carbon between the forest and the atmosphere, through the use of a model.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)
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.
Attendance of lectures and practicals (including the production of related reports) is mandatory. Should a student not fullfil this criteria he/she will be considered "inadmissible" to the exam.
All useful resources for the course are available online via eCampus (power point illustrations, supporting documents, autoevaluations, information, discussions,...). Note: downloading the documents is more efficient with a high speed connexion. Computer rooms are available on campus (http://www.ulg.ac.be/upload/docs/application/pdf/2012-07/salles_informatiques_publiques_pour_les_etudiants.pdf) and the university has a efficient WiFi network.
Recommended or required readings
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 like e.g.:
- Principles of Ecotoxicology, Walker et al.,
- Mechanistic toxicology, Boelsterli,
- Précis d'Ecotoxicologie, Ramade.
Assessment methods and criteria
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; for the part 1 (ecotoxicology), notes and documents can be consulted during the exam ("open book exam").
REMINDER (see general examination rules): Cheating or plagiarism are severely sanctioned, leading to a score of 0/20 at the exam. Participation at practicals and excursions, as well as the submission of reports is mandatory (students failing to comply with this rule may be declared inadmissible at the exam).
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
Contacts
Laboratoire d'écologie animale et d'écotoxicologie, Institut de Chimie, Bât. B6c, Allée du 6 août, 15, 4000 Liège, Belgique.
· Dr Célia Joaquim-Justo : Tél. 04/366.51.40 ; Fax 04/366.51.47 ; E-mail : (celia.Joaquim-Justo@ulg.ac.be[U]celia.Joaquim-Justo@uliege.ac.be[/U]
)
Dr. Krishna Das: Tél. 04/366.33.21; Fax 04/366.33.25; E-mail: (Krishna.Das@uliege.ac.be[U]Krishna.Das@uliege.ac.be[/U]
)
· Dr Stéphane Roberty; Tél. 04/366.38.43; E-mail: (sroberty@ulg.ac.be[U]sroberty@uliege.ac.be[/U]
)
- Dr Eric Gismondi; Tél. 04/366.50.61: E-mail: (Eric.Gismondi@ulg.ac.be[U]Eric.Gismondi@uliege.ac.be[/U]
)
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@uliege.ac.be[U]m.carnol@uliege.ac.be[/U]
)
Dr. Sandrine Malchair : Tel. 04/3663866 (bureau) ; E-mail : (s.malchair@uliege.ac.be[U]s.malchair@uliege.ac.be[/U])
Items online
Link eCampus
Link eCampus