General silviculture (forest ecology)
| Title | Γενική Δασοκομία (Δασική Οικολογία) / General silviculture (forest ecology) |
| Code | 52Υ |
| Faculty | Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment |
| School | Forestry and Natural Environment |
| Cycle / Level | 1st / Undergraduate |
| Teaching Period | Winter |
| Common | No |
| Status | Active |
| Course ID | 600019439 |
Programme of Study: PPS Tmīmatos Dasologías kai Fysikoý Perivállontos (2020-sīmera)
Registered students: 69
| Orientation | Attendance Type | Semester | Year | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Courses | Compulsory Course | 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Academic Year | 2025 – 2026 |
| Class Period | Winter |
| Faculty Instructors |
|
| Instructors from Other Categories |
|
| Weekly Hours | 5 |
| Total Hours | 65 |
| Class ID | 600275813
|
Course Type 2021
Specific Foundation
Course Type 2016-2020
- Background
- Scientific Area
- Skills Development
Course Type 2011-2015
Specific Foundation / Core
Mode of Delivery
- Face to face
Digital Course Content
- e-Study Guide https://qa.auth.gr/en/class/1/600275813
- eLearning:
Erasmus
The course is also offered to exchange programme students.
Language of Instruction
- Greek (Instruction, Examination)
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able:
1) To fully understand the laws that govern it, and the factors that influence in the functioning of forest ecosystems.
2) To have the ecological basis for the management of forest ecosystems.
3) To analyze the ecological status of forest ecosystems, to diagnose existing problems and lay the foundations for the planning of appropriate silvicultural treatments.
4) To have the necessary skills for developing ecological studies on forest species and ecosystems.
5) To have the background and skills necessary for the management and protection of biodiversity of forest ecosystems.
6) To have the background and the necessary skills for the appropriate treatment of forest ecosystems in order to increase their contribution to the mitigation of climate change.
General Competences
- Apply knowledge in practice
- Retrieve, analyse and synthesise data and information, with the use of necessary technologies
- Adapt to new situations
- Make decisions
- Work autonomously
- Work in teams
- Work in an international context
- Work in an interdisciplinary team
- Generate new research ideas
- Design and manage projects
- Respect natural environment
- Advance free, creative and causative thinking
Course Content (Syllabus)
Definition of forest and analysis of forest bio-biocommunity. Values and functions of the forest ecosystems. Types of forests, their range and geographical distribution on earth, characteristics and ecological values. Autoecology (relationships of forest species with environmental factors). Forest and sun radiation and energy, Energy balance, Sun illumination and forest species, Temperature, Humidity, Soil fertility. Requirements of forest species in light, moisture, nutrients and temperature. Limiting factors for forest growth (water deficiency, heat, frosts). Formation of forest timperlines. Water uptake by trees, the role of roots. Effect of the forest on environmental conditions, benefits and ecosystem services of the forest. Forest and atmospheric air, carbon dioxide and oxygen, climate change. Effect of forest and thinnings on water economy. Forest and physiographic factors. Effect of the forest on the animal community. Synecology (ecosystem structure and function of forest ecosystems). Energy flows, biomass production and accumulation. Diversity of forest ecosystems. Organisms living in forests. Function of forest ecosystems (food chains, food webs, food pyramids). Flow of biomass, energy, nutrients and necromass. Rules for extracting biomass from forest ecosystems. Stability, balance and self-regulation (homeostasis) of forest ecosystems. Species survival strategies and interactions, intra-population relationships. Dynamics and succession of forest ecosystems, early and late-successional ecosystems, final ecosystems. Ecology of growth (effect of environmental factors on the growth of forest trees). Flowering, ripening, seed dispersal and propagation, seed germination. Formation and types of root system, root architecture and classification, rate of growth in height and diameter of forest trees. Tree stem growth and formation. Aging of forest trees.
Keywords
Forest bio-biocommunity, Forest Autoecology, Forest Synecology, Ecology of forest growth
Educational Material Types
- Notes
- Slide presentations
- Multimedia
- Book
Use of Information and Communication Technologies
Use of ICT
- Use of ICT in Course Teaching
- Use of ICT in Laboratory Teaching
- Use of ICT in Communication with Students
Course Organization
| Activities | Workload | ECTS | Individual | Teamwork | Erasmus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 52 | 1.7 | ✓ | ||
| Laboratory Work | 13 | 0.4 | ✓ | ||
| Fieldwork | 12 | 0.4 | ✓ | ||
| Reading Assigment | 68 | 2.3 | |||
| Exams | 5 | 0.2 | ✓ | ||
| Total | 150 | 5 |
Student Assessment
Description
The achievement of the learning objectives will be evaluated based on the written examination of the course at the end of the semester, the successful completion of laboratory exercises, and the successful Laboratory exams.
In order to secure a passable grade (at least 5) it is required:
- Achieving a passable grade in the final exam that includes Multiple Choice and Extended Answer questions from the course material.
- Attending and successful completion of laboratory exercises.
- The successful examination of the Laboratory exams.
Student Assessment methods
- Written Exam with Multiple Choice Questions (Formative, Summative)
- Written Exam with Short Answer Questions (Formative, Summative)
- Written Exam with Extended Answer Questions (Formative, Summative)
- Oral Exams (Formative, Summative)
- Written Exam with Problem Solving (Formative, Summative)
- Labortatory Assignment (Formative, Summative)
Bibliography
Course Bibliography (Eudoxus)
Ντάφης Σ. 2000, Δασική Οικολογία. Εκδόσεις Γιαχούδη-Διαπούλη. Θεσσαλονίκη.
Additional bibliography for study
Forest Ecology: A Foundation for Sustainable Forest Management and Environmental Ethics in Forestry. J. P. Kimmins. Prentice Hall, 2004.
Forest Ecology 4th (fourth) edition. Barnes, Burton V., Zak, Donald R., Denton, Shirley R., Spurr, Wiley 1998.
Last Update
01-09-2024
