Ecology Topics

Saltmarshes adventures

Recently, I have been involved in a project aimed at monitoring and mapping saltmarshes vegetation in an area of the Venice lagoon. Thanks to my professors I already knew a lot of details about the vegetation community typical to brackish lagoon saltmarshes, however I needed to dig in physiological factors leading the species distribution and Read more
“Scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.” Mutualism in ecological networks

Yesterday, in the late afternoon, as I returned home after a day of fruitful work, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of gratitude. The day had not yet exhausted its good fortune, for I discovered my children working in perfect harmony. Armed with shovels and various gardening tools, they had joyful smiles on Read more
Parasitism: the sneaky art of taking advantage of the lives of other beings

When we talked about ecological interactions, we mentioned one peculiar interaction called “parasitism“. Parasitism is a quite fascinating ecological phenomenon where one organism, known as the parasite, benefits at the expense of another organism, known as the host. From a human point of view, it is difficult to understand such an unbalanced relationship: it seems Read more
Ecological interactions pt.2

At the heart of ecological relationships lie the diverse organisms that inhabit our planet. From towering trees in lush forests to microscopic algae floating in oceans, each organism occupies a unique role in the grand scheme of things. We mentioned the important role of producers, such as plants and algae, which harness the energy of Read more
Ecological interactions pt. 1

In the vast tapestry of Nature, there exists a complex and interconnected network of relationships that weaves together the fabric of life itself. These intricate connections, known as ecological relationships, form the foundation of ecological systems and shape the functioning of our planet. In this post, we will embark on a fascinating exploration of the Read more
What is an ecosystem?

As humans, we like to have definitions to describe a thing, a process, or a phenomenon. Students like the definitions to organize the subject they’re studying in keywords and concepts, so let me help them by starting with the definition of an ecosystem: an ecosystem is a bundle composed of living entities and the environment Read more