Flora and Vegetation of Macaronesia

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Objectives

1. Knowing the ecological uniqueness of Island territories, specifically the Macaronesian and its natural history.

2. Flora and vegetation, attributes and differences. Constitution of plants and its morphological and anatomical characteristics. Main nomenclature rules.

3. Origin, chorology and biogeography of flora of the Macaronesian. Endemism and evolutionary phenomena in islands.

4. Develop ability to identify native plants, as well as the introduced ones.

5. Bioclimatic and vulcanological elements essentials to the ecology and distribution patterns of flora and vegetation. Origin of natural vegetation types and their biogeographical trends.

6. Main types of natural vegetation in Macaronesia and capabilities to identify. Recognize and understand the natural landscape and the result of its interaction with Man in the current landscape matrix.

7. Know the main types of protected plant species and vegetation, and regulations to consider in the Azores.

Program

Theoretical program

4. Macaronesia and its biogeographical framework

5. Flora

a. Origin and biogeography

b. Natural flora, endemic and introduced. Main taxa.

c. Evolutionary phenomena and biodiversity.

d. Ecology in Island territories.

e. Heritage values and conservation.

6. Vegetation

a. Ecological factors of Macaronesia, major types of vegetation and its ecology.

b. Vegetation classification.

c. Functional processes and adaptation to islands.

d. The Man in insular territories and the transformation of vegetation landscape.

e. The vegetation as heritage resource and environmental enhancement.

PRACTICAL PROGRAM

8. Field trip to the main plant formations of the Azores.

9. Techniques to identify the main species of the flora of the Azores, in the field.

10. Recognition of the major habitats of these species and their ecological characteristics.

11. Methodological application for the identification and diagnosis of habitat types, native and protected vegetationof the Azores.

Teaching Methodologies

The program, 50% of the classes are given in study visits and field observation. The others are in laboratory and classroom. The methods to be adopted require exposition and explanation of the contents, based on images in the room or direct observation in the field. The visitation to major areas of the Natural Park, allow contact with most of flora species and vegetation types. Meetings with the Park’s personal and visiting problematic situations allow recognizing problems on conservation and discuss plans for enhancement. In practice component, the students learn the principles of collecting specimens, conducting a scientific herbal, and identify the parameters of vegetation study, that materialize through reports presentation.

Bibliography

Dias, Eduardo. (1996). Classificação da vegetação dos Açores, Ecologia e sintaxonomia das Florestas naturais. Universidade dos Açores. A.H.. Mendes, C. & Eduardo DIAS (2001). Ecologia das Turfeiras de Sphagnum spp. Da Terceira – Açores. Cadernos de Botânica nº4. AZU –. A.H..

Dias, Eduardo, et al. (2007). Biologia e ecologia das florestas das ilhas - Açores. In: Açores e Madeira: a floresta das ilhas, pp: 51-80; Público e Fundação Luso Americana.

Dias, Eduardo, et al. (2007). O elemento insular na estruturação das florestas da Macaronésia. In: Açores e Madeira: a floresta das ilhas, pp: 15-48; Público e Fundação Luso Americana.

DIAS, Eduardo, et al. (2005). Azores Central Islands Vegetation and Flora Field Guide. Quercetea 7: 123-173.

Dias, Eduardo (2005). Lista de Referência da Flora Vascular dos Açores. Publicação on-line. www.angra.uac.pt/geva/webgeva/Scheklistacores/

Fernandez-Palacios, J.M. et al. (2001). Naturaleza de las islas Canarias. Edic. Turquesa. La Laguna.

Code

0105771

ECTS Credits

6

Classes

  • Teóricas - 30 hours
  • Teórico-Práticas - 30 hours

Evaluation Methodology

  • Delivery and discussion of the Herbarium: 20%
  • Frequency: 30%
  • Oral identification frequency: 30%
  • Set of selected field study reports: 20%