The course is devoted to deeply analyse the major questions, approaches, applications and tools of modern ecology. This will include consideration of physical, chemical, and biological components of the ecosystems. The many threats facing the natural resources will be also considered in topic lectures. The course will be integrated with the basis of human ecology aimed to the understanding of the human-nature relationships both in actual times and in a historical point of view. Learning outcomes: Understand and explain major ecological concepts. Use scientific skills to analyse and solve ecological problems. Effectively communicate ecological problems and solutions. Formulate logical hypotheses and test them by designing appropriate experiments analyses. Use scientific knowledge of ecology to analyse present environmental crisis. At the end of the course the student will have gained the following skills: a) knowledge on the principal environmental problematic; b) ability in analysing the different levels of the life forms organization; c) understanding of the basic mechanisms of interaction between biotic and abiotic components; d) understanding of the present and past human behaviours and of the mechanisms which regulate their development at social level as well as toward the natural resources.