Learning objectives
The student will be able to:
- know the steps of the hydrogeological research for educational purposes;
- design hydrogeological research in specific settings;
- carry out hydrogeological investigations;
- communicate hydrogeological data and information;
- utilize quantitative data.
Knowledge of the basic and advanced characteristics of soil. Development of study skills, synthesis, critical evaluation of indications relating to the quality of edaphic environments. Learning of the application of indices for the assessment of the quality of soils and their biodiversity. Understanding of the main causes of degradation, loss of fertility, biodiversity and naturalness of soils.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledges on: inorganic and organic chemistry, animal biology, botany and mineralogy
Course unit content
Introduction to Hydrogeology
Soil: formation, properties and functions
Nutrient cycles in the soil
Soil biodiversity
Land use, soil degradation and soil restoration
Biological indicators and indices applied to soil
Full programme
Water cycle (knowledge and understanding).
Underground water distribution (knowledge and understanding).
Hydraulic properties of rocks (knowledge and understanding).
Aquifer and groundwater (knowledge and understanding).
Darcy's Law and hydrodynamics processes (knowledge and understanding).
Interactions between ground- and surface-waters (knowledge and understanding).
Water balance (applying knowledge and understanding).
Aquifer vulnerability assessment (applying knowledge and understanding).
Soil definition
Soil: genesis, properties and functions
Soil functions and Ecosystem Services
Factors of pedogenesis
Pedogenetic processes
Profile and horizons
Soil composition, physical and chemical and biological characteristics
The cycles of nutrients in the soil
Trophic networks of the soil
The ecology of nutrient cycles in the soil
The cycle of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur
Organic matter: composition, humification processes, forms of humus
Influence of organic matter on the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil
Mineralization of organic matter
Soil biodiversity
Soil virus
Microflora (bacteria, actinomycetes, algae, fungi)
Fauna (protozoa, mycetozoa, rotifers, nematodes, tardigrades, mollusks, annelids, oligochaetes, arthropods).
Systematic and functional approach.
Ecological interactions between the living components of the soil
Interactions between microbes and plants
Zone of interaction between plant roots and soil organisms: the rhizosphere
Animal / microorganism and animal / plant interactions
Activity of the biotic component of the soil
Hypogeal trophic networks
Fragmentation, mixing and incorporation of the organic substance
The role of microflora in the demolition of organic matter
Dispersion and selection of microflora
Bioturbation
Land use, degradation and protection
Changes in land use
Main causes of soil degradation
Agricultural ecosystems
Relationship between land use, management and living component
Biological indicators and indices applied to the soil
Microbial biomass as a quality indicator
Plant indicators: the case of plants
Soil invertebrates as quality indicators
The maturity index of nematodes
Oligochaetes: ecological classification of earthworms
Microarthropods: QBS-ar and QBS-C soil biological quality indices
Bioaccumulation of trace elements in terrestrial invertebrates
Application of ecotoxicology to the soil matrix as a technique for assessing the level of pollution and degradation
The use of springtails and earthworms in evaluating soil quality: toxicity tests with Folsomia candida and Eisenia fetida
Bibliography
Celico, P., 1986/1988 - Prospezioni Idrogeologiche, voll. I e II. Liguori Ed., Napoli
Guida alla conoscenza della Biologia e della Ecologia del Suolo. Menta Cristina. Perdisa Ed. 2008
For non-Italian students the teacher provides material in English
Teaching methods
Theoretical lessons will be carried out in order to explain the main topics of the discipline
Classroom lessons, streaming lessons. Program for the lessons: Teams. Will be organised lab activities and practical activities in team.
Assessment methods and criteria
During the course, several problems will be analysed and solved by the students, to simulate the solution of professional scenarios. This approach allows the students growth also in terms of technical and scientific language.
The final evaluation is an oral exam. During the exam, different problems must be solved by the students. The exam is made of five questions at least, to explore the main topics of the program. The laude can be acquired in case of outstanding capacity of problem solving.
Oral test + oral presentation using power point. The oral presentation will evaluate a specific subject decided together professor-student.
Other information
There will be the possibility to organize an educational activity in field.
For not Italian students, the test can be performed in another language (English, French, Spanish)
