Learning objectives
<br />to analyse the main biogeochemical cycles in the context of pollution and environmental alterations, with emphasis on <br />major reactions and processes <br />ecological stoichiometry<br />analysis of the main study cases
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
<br />Biogeochemistry in the ecological context<br />Elemental composition of the major environmental reservoir (atmosphere, hydrosphere, pedosphere, lithosphere and biosfere)<br />Spatial and temporal scales. Reservoirs, reactions and processes. Origin and persistence of biogeochemical cycles on Earth and other planets. Biological pathways.<br />Water cycling<br />Carbon cycle. Reactions and processe. Terrestrial and marine cycles. Global cycle and its alterations: CO2 and CH4. Emission factors. Green house effect and IPCC scenarios. <br />Nitrogen. Reactions and processes. Terrestrial and marine cycles. Tropospheric cycle and atmosphere contamination. Nitrogen and agriculture. Nitrogen and wastewaters.<br />Phosphorus cycle. Reactions and processes. Terrestrial and marine cycles. <br />Iron and sulphur cycles. Reactions, processes and interactions (also with P). Cycling in the coastal areas and marine sediments. Atmospheric cycle. <br />Eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems. Acid rains<br />Practical work 1. Application of the LOICZ biogeochemical model one box – one layer<br />Practical work 2. Sediment microprofiling and estimate of benthic fluxes
Full programme
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Bibliography
<br />Teacher's notes<br />Schlesinger W.H., 1997. Biogeochemistry an analysis of global changes. Academic Press, San Diego<br />Fenchel. T., King G.M., Blackburn TH, 1998. Bacterial Biogeochemistry. The ecophysiology of mineral cycling. Academic Press, San Diego
Teaching methods
<br />Teaching<br />lecturing<br />practical work carried out by students with the assitance of a technical staff<br /> <br />Assessment<br />modelling exercise (LOICZ BM)<br />discussion of a paper
Assessment methods and criteria
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Other information
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