Ministry of Education of the Republic of Moldova

Alecu Russo Balti State University

Faculty of Exact, Economic and Environmental Sciences
Department of Natural Sciences and Agroecology

Analytical program
Comparative analysis of natural ecosystems and agro-ecosystems
Specialty Agricultural Ecology, masters studies

Lecturer:
B. Boincean, Dr. hab., Prof.

Approved

Discussed at the meeting

by the Board

of the Department

of the Faculty of Natural

of Natural

Sciences and Agroecology

Sciences and Agroecology

Protocol Nr._____

Protocol Nr._____

of____ __________ 2014

of____ __________ 2014

Head of the Board

Head of department

_____________________

Dr. hab., prof. B. Boincean

Assoc. Prof. Dr. S. Stadnic

Balti, 2014

Short Description
Specialization: Agricultural Ecology
Course discipline: Comparative analysis of natural ecosystems and agro-ecosystems
Lectures - 24 hours
Seminars 16 hours.
Consultations 8 hours
Exam: Written / oral
Object and purpose of discipline. Correlation of ecology with other disciplines and its
importance to the development of the civilization.
The concept of ecosystem. Ecosystem structure.
Global production and decomposition. Ecosystem stability. Examples of ecosystems. Classification
of ecosystems.
Energy in ecological systems. Fundamental concepts. Entropy. The concept of productivity.
Food chains and trophic levels. Ecological pyramids.
Biochemical cycles. Principles and concepts.
The structure and main types of biogeochemical cycles.
Global carbon and water circuit.
Ways of returning nutrients into the circuit: return coefficient (return).
Limiting factors and physical factors of the environment.
Law of the minimum (Liebig). Offsetting the factors and ecotypes. Review of limiting physical
factors.
Properties of agro-ecosystems. Ecological bases of comparative study of primary production in
natural ecosystems and agricultural ecosystems. Comparative analysis of nutrients circuit in natural
ecosystems and agricultural ecosystems. Search of general principles.
The idea of unification in the agricultural ecology.
The ecological crisis in modern agriculture.
The roots of the crisis. Natural ecosystems as models for sustainable agriculture.
Supporting changes in agriculture, including agricultural research.
Bibliography:
O . . . .. , , 1986, 328

1.
.
2.
, , " 1987, 221 .
3.
Judith D. Soule and John K. Piplx. Farming in nature's image. An approach to
ecological agriculture, 1992 USA, 286 p.

I. The distribution of hours and forms of assessment

Cycle: II
Semester I / II
Total hours - 48 including:
Lectures - 24 hours
Seminars 16 hours.
Consultations 8 hours
Exam: written / oral

II. Prerequisites:
The discipline "Comparative analysis of natural ecosystems and agro-ecosystems is based
on the knowledge gained from such disciplines as: agrotechnology, agrochemistry, agroecology,
pedology, plant physiology, etc. In its turn, the knowledge obtained within this discipline will
contribute to more thorough assimilation of other disciplines such as: soil ecology, environmental
protection etc.

III. The place and role of the discipline in the training of specialists
By studying this discipline, master students will better understand the origins of the
ecological crisis in agriculture and will become familiar with the ways to overcome it. Natural
ecosystems should serve as a model for sustainable agro-ecosystems. The problem is broader than
the production system, it involves the entire chain - from the manufacturer to the consumer, or from
the rake up to the consumer's fork. Based on knowledge of laws of natural ecosystem, it is possible
to model a sustainable agricultural ecosystem - economically viable, socially acceptable and
ecologically balanced.

IV. Course objectives:

After studying the discipline "Comparative analysis of ecosystems" master students will
Know:
The concept of ecosystem and its structure
Transformation of energy and matter in ecosystems, ecosystem stability, food chains and
trophic levels.
Biochemical cycles, ways of returning nutrients and energy in the circuit.
Limiting and physical factors of the environment.
Factors that contributed to the ecological crisis in agriculture and measures to ensure
sustainable development of the agricultural sector.
Demonstrate skills in:
Determining different ecosystems
Commenting on the energy movement within the ecosystem and concepts of
productivity.
Making comparative studies of the structure and functioning of natural ecosystems and
agro-ecosystems.
Analyzing the factors that have caused the ecological crisis in agriculture.
Master's student will form / reform:
Ability to carry out interdisciplinary synthesis

 Ability to compare different ecological systems based on their structure and

functionality.
Ability to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different ecosystems.
Ability to find solutions to overcome typical problems for agro-ecosystems.

V. Course contents:
Object and purpose of discipline. Correlation of this discipline with other subjects in the field of
agronomy and ecology.
Chapter I. The concept of ecosystem
Ecosystem structure.
Ecosystem stability.
Classification of ecosystems.
Chapter II. The energy in ecological systems
2.1. Fundamental concepts.
2.2. Entropy.
2. 3. The concept of productivity
2.4. Food chains and trophic levels. Ecological pyramids.
Chapter III. Biochemical Cycles
3.1. Principles and concepts.
3.2. The structure and main types of biogeochemical cycles.
3.3. Global cycle of carbon and water
3.4. Ways of returning nutrients into the circuit.
3.5. Limiting and physical factors of the environment.
Chapter IV. Properties of agro-ecosystems
4.1. Ecological bases of comparative studies of primary production in natural ecosystems and agroecosystems
4.2. Comparative analysis of nutrients circuit in natural ecosystems and agricultural ecosystems.
Search of general principles.
Chapter V.
5.1. Ecological crises in modern agriculture.
5.2. Models for sustainable agriculture.
5.3. Ways to stimulate and promote sustainable agriculture.
Topics for the seminars:
1.
The concept of ecosystem. The structure and classification of ecosystems. Examples
of ecosystems.
2.
Energy in ecological systems. Fundamental concepts.
3.
Concept of productivity. Food chains and trophic levels.
4.
Biogeochemical cycles. The structure and main types of biogeochemical cycles
5.
Global circuit of carbon and water. Ways of returning nutrients into the circuit.
6. Ecological bases of comparative studies of primary production in natural ecosystems and
agro-ecosystems.
7.
Ecological crisis in modern agriculture. Using natural ecosystems as a model for
sustainable agriculture.

8.

Revision seminar. Promoting changes in agriculture, including agricultural research.

VI. Assessment methods and criteria

The current assessment will be performed by means of test-papers/ quizzes,/
commentaries /portfolios. To determine the average semester grade, we will divide the sum of
grades obtained during the semester by the minimum number of grades - 3, including absence
without valid reasons during seminars and test papers. To be admitted to the exam the average
semester grade should not be less than 5.
The final evaluation will take place in the form of a written test/ oral exam. The final grade is
determined in accordance with the Regulations on the organization of higher education studies under
the National Education Credit System, approved by order of the Ministry of Education no. 726 of
20.09.2010, approved by the Decision of the University Senate on 23.11.2006, protocol no.3.
Questionnaire
1.
Object and purpose of the discipline "Comparative analysis of ecosystems".
2.
The concept of ecosystem. Ecosystem structure.
3.
Global production and decomposition.
4.
Stability of ecosystems.
5.
Examples of ecosystems.
6.
Classification of ecosystems.
7.
Energy in ecological systems. Fundamental concepts.
8.
The concept of productivity.
9.
Food chains and trophic levels.
10.
Using labeled atoms to study food chains.
11.
Trophic structure and ecological pyramids.
12.
Biogeochemical cycles. The structure and main types of biogeochemical cycles.
13.
Global circuit of water and carbon.
14.
Ways of returning nutrients into the circuit - rate of return.
15.
Limiting and physical factors of the environment.
16.
Leibig's law (the law of minimum).
17.
Offsetting factors and ecotypes.
18.
Review of limiting physical factors.
19.
Anthropogenic stress and toxic waste as a limiting factor of industrial civilization.
20.
Properties of agro-ecosystems.
21.
Ecological bases of comparative studies of primary production in natural ecosystems
and agro-ecosystems
22.
Consument in agro-ecosystems - landscape view.
23.
Comparative analysis of nutrients circuit in natural ecosystems and agricultural
ecosystems.
24.
Alternative methods of soil cultivation, similar to some qualities of natural
ecosystems.
25.
Towards the idea of unification in agricultural ecology. The connection between basic
and applied biological sciences.
26.
The ecological crisis in modern agriculture.
27.
The roots of the ecological crisis in agriculture.
28.
The roots of the crisis in ecological science.
29.
Barriers to the change in agricultural research.

30.
Ecological content ofsustainability (energy and nutrients circuit, organization and
functioning of the ecosystem).
31.
Natural ecosystems as models for sustainable agriculture.
32.
Supporting changes in agriculture, including agricultural research.
Bibliography:
1.
O . . . . .. ,
, 1986, 325 .
2.
, . ,
" 1987, 221 .
3.
Judith D. Soule and Jon K. Piper. Farming in nature's image. An Ecological approach
to Agriculture, Foreword by Wes Jackon, Island Press, Washington 1992, 287 p.
Further reading
1.
. . ,
, , 1971 452 .
2.
.., .., ..,
, , , , 1982 184.

Thematic plan to discipline ,, comparative analysis of ecosystems'

Nr. The theme of the lectures and
Nr.
questions to be discussed
hours
1. Object and purpose of discipline. 2
Correlation of ecology with other
disciplines and its importance to the
development of the civilization..
2. The concept of ecosystem
2
2.1. Ecosystem structure.
2.2. Ecosystem stability.
2. 3. Classification of ecosystems.
3. Energy in ecological systems
2
3.1. Fundamental views.
3.2. Entropy.
4. The concept of productivity
2
4.1.Food chains and trophic levels.
4.2. Ecological pyramids.
5. Biochemical cycles
2
5.1. Principles and concepts.
5.2. The structure and main types of
biogeochemical cycles.

Nr. The theme of the seminars

6.

Global cycle of carbon and water

7.

Nr.
hours
2

1.

The concept of ecosystem.

Ecosystem structure and stability

2.

Energy in ecological systems.

Fundamental concepts.

3.

The concept of productivity. Food

chains and trophic levels.

4.

Biogeochemical cycles. Global

circuit of carbon and water.

5.

Properties of agro-ecosystems.
2
Ecological bases of comparative
studies of primary production in
natural ecosystems and agricultural
ecosystems.

6.

Limiting factors and physical

factors of the environment.

7.

Comparative analysis of nutrients

circuit in natural ecosystems and
agricultural ecosystems.
The ecological crisis in modern
agriculture. Using natural
ecosystems as a model for
sustainable agriculture.

Properties of agro-ecosystems
8.1. Ecological bases of
comparative studies of primary
production in natural ecosystems
and agro-ecosystems
9. Comparative analysis of nutrients
circuit in natural ecosystems and
agricultural ecosystems. Search for
general principles.
10. The ecological crisis in modern
agriculture
11. Models for sustainable agriculture.

8.

Revision seminar.. Promoting

changes in agriculture, including
agricultural research.

12. Ways to stimulate and promote

sustainable agriculture.

8.

2
2