Learning objectives
The course consists of theoretical lectures making know the phytosociological method for the study of vegetation and of field work. A practical experience for description and classification of plant communities will be made by taking phytosociological relevés and classifying them through multivariate statistic procedures.
Prerequisites
Learnings of geobotany and multivariate statistics are requested.
Course unit content
<br />1) Principles and methods of vegetation science <br />The coenological approach and the continuum theory. The coenological approach and the classification of plant communities.The characters of plant communities. The phytosociological method. The phytosociological sampling: the phytosociological relevé. Elaboration and utilization of phytosociological relevés.<br />2) Denomination and classification of vegetation units <br />The concept of association. The higher rank unities of the phytosociological classification. The diagnostic species and the characteristic species combination.<br />3) Vegetation systematics <br />The phytosociological classes in the Italian vegetation. Altitudinal zonation of vegetation in Italy: the vegetation belts. Fundamental traits of the Italian vegetation.<br /><br />4) Vegetation dynamics <br />Vegetation fluctuations and vegetation dynamics. Different methods for studying vegetation dynamics. Dynamical stage and succession. Primary and secondary succession. Some examples of succession. The concept of climax and its criticism.<br />5) Vegetation mapping<br />Different types of vegetation mapping. Methodologies and aims of the phytosociological cartography.
Full programme
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Bibliography
<br />Testi di riferimento:<br />Ubaldi D., 2003. Flora, fitocenosi e ambiente. Elementi di Geobotanica e Fitosociologia. CLUEB, Bologna.<br />Maarel E. van der, 1978. The Braun-Blanquet approach. Junk, The Hague.<br />Pedrotti F., 2004. Cartografia geobotanica. Pitagora Editrice, Bologna.
Teaching methods
Final report based on phytosociological relevés taken in the field and subsequently elaborated through multivariate statistical procedures.
Assessment methods and criteria
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Other information
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