school energy&environment
What is an ecosystem
The climatic regions of the Earth gave origin to a large variety of natural environments. Each habitat is formed by a community of animals and plants, called ecosystem, that, in order to survive, must adapt to the surrounding environment exploiting its resources as best they can. 550 million years ago plants began to grow on the Earth, creating the first environment that was suited for animal life; initially mosses and ferns were dominant, then conifers developed, and then flowering plants. At the same time, also herbivorous animals evolved and the foundations for the complex ecosystems of today were laid.
subjects dealt with in What is an ecosystem
Terrestrial biomes
An ecosystem is a complex system composed of organisms living in a given habitat. Plants and animals are the biotic…
Man and ecosystems
Terrestrial and water ecosystems are complex and perfectly organised natural “factories” that produce all that is required for life on…
Delicate ecosystems
In 1987 the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) issued its first report, the Brundtland Report (from the name…
The agroecosystem
A typical example of artificial ecosystem is a cultivated field or agro-ecosystem. This is a natural system altered by men…
special reports
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30 July 2020 / Ecosystems
Holidays, yes! but they must be sustainable!
We have been speaking of sustainable behaviours to apply to our daily life, but what happens when we unplug and…
23 June 2020 / Ecosystems
The Last Wild Valley. In defence of the Cime Bianche
The Vallone delle Cime Bianche or Courtaud Valley rises at the top of the Val d'Ayas, in Valle d'Aosta. It…
29 May 2017 / Ecosystems
The universe of Primo Levi
“You who live safe In your warm homes, You who find, returning home in the evening Hot food and friendly…
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6 February 2017 / Ecosystems
Robotics: environmental monitoring and more
The European Robotics Week (18-27 November) during which more than 830 events were organised in 30 countries, has just ended.…
6 October 2015 / Ecosystems
Coastal lagoons: Pialassa della Baiona
Walking along the banks of a lagoon is like being on an uncertain boundary line between two worlds: freshwater and…
22 September 2015 / Ecosystems
An artificial paradise under the sea
In the blue If we were to go scuba diving in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean we could meet…
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10 February 2014 / Ecosystems
Coral turns pale!
The delicate balance of the coral reef “When looking at a coral reef, we are fascinated by the enormous variety…
29 April 2013 / Ecosystems
Intruders in the Mediterranean
Mare Nostrum The Mediterranean Sea (Mare Nostrum, Latin for “Our Sea”) has always been considered of fundamental importance for the…
8 July 2011 / Ecosystems
Who's coming to dinner
A shark in my hamburger Summer is finally here! As usual, we have waited for it all year long and…
-
30 July 2020 / Ecosystems
Holidays, yes! but they must be sustainable!
We have been speaking of sustainable behaviours to apply to our daily life, but what happens when we unplug and…
23 June 2020 / Ecosystems
The Last Wild Valley. In defence of the Cime Bianche
The Vallone delle Cime Bianche or Courtaud Valley rises at the top of the Val d'Ayas, in Valle d'Aosta. It…
-
29 May 2017 / Ecosystems
The universe of Primo Levi
“You who live safe In your warm homes, You who find, returning home in the evening Hot food and friendly…
6 February 2017 / Ecosystems
Robotics: environmental monitoring and more
The European Robotics Week (18-27 November) during which more than 830 events were organised in 30 countries, has just ended.…
-
6 October 2015 / Ecosystems
Coastal lagoons: Pialassa della Baiona
Walking along the banks of a lagoon is like being on an uncertain boundary line between two worlds: freshwater and…
22 September 2015 / Ecosystems
An artificial paradise under the sea
In the blue If we were to go scuba diving in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean we could meet…
-
10 February 2014 / Ecosystems
Coral turns pale!
The delicate balance of the coral reef “When looking at a coral reef, we are fascinated by the enormous variety…
29 April 2013 / Ecosystems
Intruders in the Mediterranean
Mare Nostrum The Mediterranean Sea (Mare Nostrum, Latin for “Our Sea”) has always been considered of fundamental importance for the…
-
8 July 2011 / Ecosystems
Who's coming to dinner
A shark in my hamburger Summer is finally here! As usual, we have waited for it all year long and…
-
30 July 2020 / Ecosystems
Holidays, yes! but they must be sustainable!
We have been speaking of sustainable behaviours to apply to our daily life, but what happens when we unplug and…
-
23 June 2020 / Ecosystems
The Last Wild Valley. In defence of the Cime Bianche
The Vallone delle Cime Bianche or Courtaud Valley rises at the top of the Val d'Ayas, in Valle d'Aosta. It…
-
29 May 2017 / Ecosystems
The universe of Primo Levi
“You who live safe In your warm homes, You who find, returning home in the evening Hot food and friendly…
-
6 February 2017 / Ecosystems
Robotics: environmental monitoring and more
The European Robotics Week (18-27 November) during which more than 830 events were organised in 30 countries, has just ended.…
-
6 October 2015 / Ecosystems
Coastal lagoons: Pialassa della Baiona
Walking along the banks of a lagoon is like being on an uncertain boundary line between two worlds: freshwater and…
-
22 September 2015 / Ecosystems
An artificial paradise under the sea
In the blue If we were to go scuba diving in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean we could meet…
-
10 February 2014 / Ecosystems
Coral turns pale!
The delicate balance of the coral reef “When looking at a coral reef, we are fascinated by the enormous variety…
-
29 April 2013 / Ecosystems
Intruders in the Mediterranean
Mare Nostrum The Mediterranean Sea (Mare Nostrum, Latin for “Our Sea”) has always been considered of fundamental importance for the…
-
8 July 2011 / Ecosystems
Who's coming to dinner
A shark in my hamburger Summer is finally here! As usual, we have waited for it all year long and…
