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Agroecology and Environmental Protection

Course developer

Course abstract

During the course, students learn the basics of ecology and environmental protection. Two thirds of the course are dedicated to various issues of ecology: composition of ecosystems, various processes inside ecosystems, environmental factors, adaptions of species for surviving in environment etc. One third of the course is dedicated to fundamental issues of environmental protection: basic regulations, polluting activities, protection zones, waste management, activities with hazardous chemicals, nature conservation. The course is designed for students learning agriculture, therefore all issues of ecology and environmental protection are dealt both from theoretical and practical point of view.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Basic level knowledge on regularities of interactions between organisms and environment and on important issues of environmental protection in agriculture.
Skills to apply the acquired knowledge in the further study process learning the principles of plant and animal breeding and protection.
Competences to make practical decisions based on ecological principles and environmental quality standards and regulations.

Knowledge, skills and competences are assessed using three written tests during the course.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Introduction. Concepts “ecology” and “environmental protection”. Ecological thinking in agriculture. Classification of ecology according to its complexity. Fields of environmental protection. (2 lessons).
2. Biosphere, ecosystems and habitats. Biocenoses. Agroecosystems. Biomes. (3 lessons).
3. Circulation of energy and matter in ecosystem. Photosynthesis and respiration. Producers, consumers and destructors of ecosystem. Primary and secondary production. Food chain and food web. (3 lessons).
4. Abiotic, biotic and anthropogenic factors. How agroecological factors (agronomic activities) affect agroecosystems and environment. (3 lessons).
5. Environment and adaption. Ecological valence. Tolerance and optimum. Eurybiont and stenobiont organisms. Ecological niche. Heredity and environment. Natural and artificial selection. Development of resistance. Reproductive strategies. Plant secondary metabolism. Stealth and contrast, mimicry. Biology of pollination. Semiochemicals. Mikoryza. (4 lessons).
6. Population ecology. Subpopulations and metapopulation. Containment and regulation. Cyclic populations. Migration. (3 lessons).
7. Processes in ecosystems. Ecotoxicology. Primary and secondary succession. Introduction of species. Disturbances. Stability and productivity. Ecological islands and corridors. (3 lessons).
8. Environment and human culture. Human caused disturbances. Effect of forestry and agriculture on environment and ecosystems. Extinction of natural disturbances. Landscape changes. Floral and faunal changes. (3 lessons).
9. Nature of Latvia. Relief, soils and vegetation. Rivers, lakes and costal habitats. Forests, bogs, marshes, swamps and fens. (3 lessons).
10. Environmental protection regulations. UN conventions, EU regulations and directives, Latvian laws and regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers, which regulate various issues related to environmental protection. (2 lessons).
11. History of environmental protection. Governmental and nongovernmental environmental protection organizations, their objectives and tasks. Environmental quality criteria. Ecological footprint. Eco-design of products. (2 lessons).
12. Pollution activities in agriculture. Point source and nonpoint source pollution. Effect of pollution activities on environment. Commercial activities in protection zones. (2 lessons).
13. Hazardous chemicals in agriculture. Classification and marking of hazardous chemicals. Plant protection products. Safety data sheets of chemical substances and chemical products. Safe storage, handling and utilization of chemicals. (2 lessons).
14. Waste, its classification, sorting, storage and utilization. Types of hazardous waste. Properties making waste hazardous. (2 lessons).
15. Nature protection. Levels of nature protection. Particularly protected nature territories and micro-reserves. Biologically valuable grasslands. Agriculture inside nature protection areas – restrictions and opportunities. (2 lessons).

Requirements for awarding credit points

Three written tests must be successfully accomplished during the course (grade must be at least 4). The mean of all tests creates final grade of the course. Accordingly with course plan, two tests are related with issues of ecology, but one test – with issues of environmental protection.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Students’ independent work is not planed.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

In all tests, students must provide written answers to 25 questions. For each question answered completely correctly, the student gets two points. If the question is answered partially correctly, the number of points is reduced by a step of 0.5 points. The test has been successfully completed if the student has obtained at least 40% of the maximum possible number of points. The grade of the test corresponds to the percentage of the obtained points from the maximum possible number of points. For example, if you get 70% points in the test, the grade is 7.

Compulsory reading

1. Cunningham W. P., Cunningham M.A. (2010). Environmental science: a global concern. 11th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 616 p. (ISBN 9780070171671).
2. Molles M.C., Cahill J.F. (2008). Ecology: concepts & applications. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 642 p. (ISBN 9780070963412).
3. Smith T.M., Smith R.L. (2009). Elements of ecology. 7th ed. San Francisco, CA: Pearson Benjamin Cummings, 649 p. (ISBN 9780321559579).

Further reading

1. Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, 1974 (Helsinki Convention)
2. Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (The Habitats Directive).
3. Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy
4. Directive 2004/35/CE of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage.
5. Directive (EU) 2016/2284 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2016 on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants, amending Directive 2003/35/EC and repealing Directive 2001/81/EC
6. Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS), repealing Regulation (EC) No 761/2001 and Commission Decisions 2001/681/EC and 2006/193/EC.
7. Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC
8. The Rio Conventions, 1992 (Convention on Biological Diversity; United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification; United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).

Periodicals and other sources

1. Journal of Applied Ecology. [Online]. British Ecological Society. Online ISSN: 1365-2664. [Viewed 27.08.2019]. Available: https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13652664

Notes

Mandatory course of Academic Bachelor Study Program “Sustainable Agriculture”.