Guías Docentes Electrónicas
1. General information
Course:
FIRE ECOLOGY
Code:
37333
Type:
ELECTIVE
ECTS credits:
4.5
Degree:
340 - UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMME IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Academic year:
2022-23
Center:
501 - FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES AND BIOCHEMISTRY
Group(s):
40 
Year:
4
Duration:
First semester
Main language:
Spanish
Second language:
English
Use of additional languages:
English Friendly:
Y
Web site:
Bilingual:
N
Lecturer: MARIA BELEN HINOJOSA CENTENO - Group(s): 40 
Building/Office
Department
Phone number
Email
Office hours
Sabatini/0.36
CIENCIAS AMBIENTALES
5470
mariabelen.hinojosa@uclm.es
Tuesday, wednesday and thursday from 12:00 to 14:00 (previous appointment by e-mail)

Lecturer: ANTONIO PARRA DE LA TORRE - Group(s): 40 
Building/Office
Department
Phone number
Email
Office hours
ICAM/0.26
CIENCIAS AMBIENTALES
926051400
antonio.parra@uclm.es
Tuesday, wednesday and thursday from 12:00 to 14:00 (previous appointment by e-mail)

Lecturer: IVAN TORRES GALAN - Group(s): 40 
Building/Office
Department
Phone number
Email
Office hours
Sabatini/0.35
CIENCIAS AMBIENTALES
5472
ivan.torres@uclm.es
Monday to thursday from 11:00 to 14:00 (previous appointment by e-mail)

2. Pre-Requisites
Not established
3. Justification in the curriculum, relation to other subjects and to the profession

Fire Ecology is a subject that complements the profile of future graduates in Environmental Sciences and provides them with the knowledge they need for proper management of the natural environment, given the importance of fire in Mediterranean ecosystems. It studies the phenomenon of forest fires from an environmental perspective, analysing the change in the fire regime due to anthropic activity and climate change, as well as the response of species and communities of flora and fauna to fire. It has important applications in the field of land management, protected areas, in the preparation of restoration plans for burnt areas, etc.

It belongs to the subject of Ecology and is closely related to subjects such as Ecology, Functional Ecology of Plants and Ecological Restoration.


4. Degree competences achieved in this course
Course competences
Code Description
CB02 Apply their knowledge to their job or vocation in a professional manner and show that they have the competences to construct and justify arguments and solve problems within their subject area.
CB03 Be able to gather and process relevant information (usually within their subject area) to give opinions, including reflections on relevant social, scientific or ethical issues.
CB04 Transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions for both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
E01 Ability to understand and apply basic knowledge.
E02 Capacity for multidisciplinary consideration of an environmental problem
E03 Awareness of the temporal and spatial dimensions of environmental processes
E04 Ability to integrate experimental evidence found in field and/or laboratory studies with theoretical knowledge.
E05 Capacity for qualitative data interpretation
E06 Capacity for quantitative data interpretation
E07 Capacity to plan, manage and conserve natural resources
E12 Ability to manage Geographic Information Systems
E13 Ability to handle software.
E18 Capacity to manage the natural environment
E20 Capacity to plan and carry out actions to restore the natural environment
T01 To know a second foreign language.
T02 To know and apply the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
T03 To use a correct oral and written communication.
5. Objectives or Learning Outcomes
Course learning outcomes
Description
Understand the phenomenon of forest fires, their global significance and their role in ecosystems.
Understand the responses of organisms, ecosystems and landscapes to fire.
Know the techniques and measures for fire prevention and firefighting.
Understand the physical and chemical processes of the combustion phenomenon.
Know the risk factors that determine the occurrence of fires.
Acquire basic criteria and techniques useful for the management of ecosystems affected by fires.
Additional outcomes
Not established.
6. Units / Contents
  • Unit 1: Introduction: Fire as an ecological disturbance
  • Unit 2: The phenomenon of fire
    • Unit 2.1: Occurrence and risk of wildfires
    • Unit 2.2: Physics and chemistry of combustion
    • Unit 2.3: Plant fuels
    • Unit 2.4: Fire behaviour and modelling
  • Unit 3: Impacts of fire on organisms and ecosystems
    • Unit 3.1: Plants and their response to fire
    • Unit 3.2: Ecophysiology of plants and fire
    • Unit 3.3: Plants and the fire regime
    • Unit 3.4: Plant communities and fire
    • Unit 3.5: Effects of fire on animals
  • Unit 4: Other impacts of fire, fire management, restoration of burned ecosystems
    • Unit 4.1: Effects of fire on soil and water
    • Unit 4.2: Fire management.
    • Unit 4.3: Restoration of burned areas
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, REMARKS

Laboratory practicals:

1. Simulation of a fire and its characteristics in the burn room.

2. Fuel models and simulation of fire behaviour

3. Fire severity assessment in the field

4. Mechanisms of plant persistence after fire (resprouting, germination of seeds)


7. Activities, Units/Modules and Methodology
Training Activity Methodology Related Competences (only degrees before RD 822/2021) ECTS Hours As Com Description
Class Attendance (theory) [ON-SITE] Lectures E01 E02 E03 E07 E18 E20 T01 0.8 20 N N Master classes. All the teaching material used will be available to students on the Virtual Campus platform.
Study and Exam Preparation [OFF-SITE] Self-study CB03 E01 E02 E03 E05 E06 T01 1 25 N N Autonomous learning
Workshops or seminars [ON-SITE] Cooperative / Collaborative Learning CB02 CB04 E13 E20 T01 T02 T03 0.28 7 Y Y Work assignments on selected topics
Other off-site activity [OFF-SITE] Self-study CB03 E01 E02 E03 E05 E06 E20 T01 T02 T03 0.8 20 N N Time dedicated to do the work assignments
Class Attendance (practical) [ON-SITE] Practical or hands-on activities CB03 E01 E02 E03 E04 E05 E06 E07 E12 E13 E18 0.6 15 Y Y Practicals in the burning room, field (if circumstances allow) and computer room. Attendance at practical sessions is compulsory and, due to their nature, cannot be made up.
Practicum and practical activities report writing or preparation [OFF-SITE] Self-study CB02 CB03 CB04 E01 E02 E03 E04 E05 E06 E12 E13 T03 0.9 22.5 Y Y Writing of lab and field work reports
Mid-term test [ON-SITE] Assessment tests CB03 E01 E02 E03 E05 E06 E20 T03 0.04 1 Y N Mid-semester progress test that will take into account the theoretical knowledge of part of the subject.
Final test [ON-SITE] Assessment tests CB03 E01 E02 E03 E05 E06 E20 T03 0.08 2 Y Y Final test
Total: 4.5 112.5
Total credits of in-class work: 1.8 Total class time hours: 45
Total credits of out of class work: 2.7 Total hours of out of class work: 67.5

As: Assessable training activity
Com: Training activity of compulsory overcoming (It will be essential to overcome both continuous and non-continuous assessment).

8. Evaluation criteria and Grading System
Evaluation System Continuous assessment Non-continuous evaluation * Description
Mid-term tests 30.00% 0.00% Mid-semester progress test which will eliminate material for the final exam, as long as a mark of 4 or higher (out of 10) is obtained.
Final test 30.00% 75.00% In the continuous assessment mode, there will be a mid-term test of the subject. In order to eliminate the material it will be necessary to obtain at least a 4 out of 10. In case of not passing the partial test, or opting for non-continuous assessment, it will be necessary to take the whole subject in the final test. The final exam will take into account the theoretical content of the subject and the activities worked on in class.
Other methods of assessment 15.00% 0.00% Evaluation of work assignments
Practicum and practical activities reports assessment 25.00% 25.00% Evaluation of lab and field work report. It is compulsory and can be presented either in spanish or english
Total: 100.00% 100.00%  
According to art. 4 of the UCLM Student Evaluation Regulations, it must be provided to students who cannot regularly attend face-to-face training activities the passing of the subject, having the right (art. 12.2) to be globally graded, in 2 annual calls per subject , an ordinary and an extraordinary one (evaluating 100% of the competences).

Evaluation criteria for the final exam:
  • Continuous assessment:
    Students will be assigned by default to the continuous assessment program. Any student can request transfer to the non-continuous evaluation (before classes have ended) by sending an email to the professor, as long as the student has not taken part of 50% of assessable activities (classes, work assignments, etc.).
    Students who pass the mid-term test with at least 4 points (out of 10) will only have to be tested for the contents of the second half of the semester in the final test.
    All evaluation activities must be passed independently with at least 4 points (out of 10). Nevertheless, students will only pass if their final mark is over 5 points, averaged over all activities according the weights in the table above.
  • Non-continuous evaluation:
    Only the final test (75%) and lab/field report (25%) will be considered.
    All evaluation activities must be passed independently with at least 4 points (out of 10). Nevertheless, students will only pass if their final mark is over 5 points, averaged over all activities according the weights in the table above.

Specifications for the resit/retake exam:
Those evaluation activities that were not passed (less than 4 points) will be evaluated again. If the mid-term of final test (second half of the contents) have been passed, it will not be necessary to retake that part. The final mark must be 5 or higher (out of 10).
Specifications for the second resit / retake exam:
Those evaluation activities that were not passed (less than 4 points) will be evaluated again. The final mark must be 5 or higher (out of 10).
9. Assignments, course calendar and important dates
Not related to the syllabus/contents
Hours hours
Study and Exam Preparation [AUTÓNOMA][Self-study] 25
Workshops or seminars [PRESENCIAL][Cooperative / Collaborative Learning] 7
Other off-site activity [AUTÓNOMA][Self-study] 20
Class Attendance (practical) [PRESENCIAL][Practical or hands-on activities] 15
Practicum and practical activities report writing or preparation [AUTÓNOMA][Self-study] 22.5
Mid-term test [PRESENCIAL][Assessment tests] 1
Final test [PRESENCIAL][Assessment tests] 2

Unit 1 (de 4): Introduction: Fire as an ecological disturbance
Activities Hours
Class Attendance (theory) [PRESENCIAL][Lectures] 2

Unit 2 (de 4): The phenomenon of fire
Activities Hours
Class Attendance (theory) [PRESENCIAL][Lectures] 7

Unit 3 (de 4): Impacts of fire on organisms and ecosystems
Activities Hours
Class Attendance (theory) [PRESENCIAL][Lectures] 8

Unit 4 (de 4): Other impacts of fire, fire management, restoration of burned ecosystems
Activities Hours
Class Attendance (theory) [PRESENCIAL][Lectures] 3

Global activity
Activities hours
10. Bibliography and Sources
Author(s) Title Book/Journal Citv Publishing house ISBN Year Description Link Catálogo biblioteca
Arnaldos, J., et al. Manual de ingeniería básica para la prevención y extinción de incendios forestales Mundi-Prensa 2004  
Bond, W.J. y Van Wilgen, B.W. Fire and Plants Springer 1996  
Keeley, J.E., et al. Fire in Mediterranean Ecosystems Cambridge University Press 2012  
Pausas, J.G. Incendios Forestales, una introducción a la ecología del fuego CSIC 2012  
Vélez, R. La defensa contra incendios forestales: fundamentos y experiencias McGraw-Hill 2000  
Whelan, R.J. The Ecology of Fire Cambridge University Press 1995  



Web mantenido y actualizado por el Servicio de informática