¿ Understand the crucial importance of biodiversity for human society ¿ Understand how biodiversity is structured in space and time. ¿ Understand how is measured biodiversity. ¿ Understand the concepts of diversity at different spatial scales and the existence of different levels of ecological organization (species, communities, ecosystems and landscapes). ¿ Understand species responses to human activities and global change. ¿ Identification and understanding of the main human-induced threats to the environment and biodiversity in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

-Dynamics of alteration of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, -Quality and functioning of ecosystems: levels of contamination, richness, cycling of materials, nutrients, energy flows. -Theories of environmental change. Biodiversity, catastrophic changes, demographic theories, climatic feedbacks. -Environmental challenges: Eutrophication, Desertification, Nature conservation, Climate adaptation and climate mitigation.

¿ Most of classes will be divided in two equally-parts. A theoretical session in which the teacher develops the most important elements of each topic and presents the crucial conceptual problems linked to the skills that students should acquire. Although the role of the students in these sessions is more passive, there are several instances in which discussion is proposed. ¿ In the second part of most classes, the teacher will propose practical exercises to students related to the topic under study. The group will be subdivided in a few working groups. Exercises will be either solving a problem, analyzing a paper, or reviewing a specific topic. These exercises will be sometimes followed by a brief presentation to the rest of the students.