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This course was cancelled. New edition planned for May 2025!

Objectives

Under the general framework of Global Change Ecology, the goal of this course is to provide the participants with the most recent and practical knowledge on the use of Functional Diversity. This includes the selection of functional traits and calculation of Functional Diversity Indexes. Examples of the application of this knowledge will be given regarding Ecological Indicators and Ecosystem Services.

The specific objectives are:

  • To give a general overview on global change drivers and point out the needs of current and future studies on Ecology
  • To synthesize the most useful methods and tools for Ecosystem Services assessment, focusing on Ecological Indicators
  • To allow the participants to apply the acquired knowledge on case study data (participants’ data or data provided by the organizers), using R software. Examples of calculation with other software will also be provided (e.g. PC-ORD)

Participants have to be present at 85% of the contact hours (this means that they can miss one half-day), and actively participate in all activities. 

This course can give credits to PhD programmes at FCUL or of programmes with partnership from FCUL and other institutions with 6h-7h of contact hours per ECT, as a function of specific requirements. For these students additionally to the exercises done during the week the delivery of a written report done after the course is mandatory. For programmes with less hours of contact per ECT (6h/ECT, getting 6 ECTs from the course) students need to do an additional assignment (summary report). If needed 1 or 2 additional hours of contact may be added. Such report(s) are also advised for other students requesting accreditation of the course in their institutions.

Minimal formation of students: Bachelor in Biology, Natural Science or related areas.

Directed to: MSc or PhD students in Biology, Environmental Sciences, Ecology or related areas, postdocs and professionals working in related topics.

General Plan

PROGRAMME

Monday

09:00-09:30 Welcome session and programme presentation

09:30-12:30 Ecological Indicators: background

                      Link to Ecosystem Services

12:30-13:30 Lunch

13:30-17:30 Personal project: presentation

Tuesday

09:00-12:30 Functional Diversity Indices: theory and methods

                      Database management

12:30-13:30 Lunch

13:30-17:30 Computer Lab – personal project

Wednesday

09:00-12:30 Computer Lab – personal project

12:30-13:30 Lunch

13:30-17:30 Computer Lab – personal project

Thursday

09:00-12.30 Case studies from CE3C

12:30-13:30 Lunch

13:30-17:30 Preparation of presentation of personal project

Friday

09:00-12.30 Personal project: results and discussion

12:30-13:30 Lunch

13:30-17:00 Personal project: results and discussion

17:00-17:30 Closure

Funding

Students fees.

Fee

Free for 1st year PhD students in Doctoral programmes at CIÊNCIAS (e.g. Biology), Biodiversity, Genetics and Evolution (BIODIV ULisboa; UPorto), Biology and Ecology of Global Changes (BEAG ULisboa, UAveiro) and Sustainability Science (ULisboa, several institutions), when the course counts credits for their formation, in which case the delivery of a final report done after the course is mandatory; the course is also free for more advanced PhD students of the BIODIV programme (ULisboa or UPorto); 50 € for more advanced PhD students of CE3C of other programmes; 80 € for PhD students of the PEERS network (CFE); 125 € for CIÊNCIAS Master students and unemployed; 180 € for BTI, BI and other PhD students; 250 € for Professional and postdocs.

When the maximum number of students is reached, 10 vacancies will be available for non-paying 1st year PhD students mentioned above, being, by order of preference students from: 1) CE3C; 2) BIODIV (not from CE3C); 3) CIÊNCIAS (not from CE3C); 4) Sustainability Science (not from CE3C or CIÊNCIAS); 5) BEAG (not from CE3C or CIÊNCIAS).