Learning botany: different practical approaches centred on dune flora and vegetation

• Autor(a) principal: Donati, Ana Clara Cardoso
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10773/40936
• topic: Environmental education; Illustrated dichotomous keys; Guide to Dune Flora; Invasive plants

This dissertation focuses on teaching botany to high school and university students, with a specific focus on the flora and vegetation of the coastal dunes at Costa Nova Beach (Ílhavo Municipality). It addresses aspects of biodiversity conservation through an environmental education perspective. The research is divided into three chapters, each targeting specific audiences. In the first chapter, the focus is on improving botanical educational materials based on student feedback. This includes making botanical terms more accessible, encouraging hands-on interactions with plants, and incorporating visual resources to enhance the identification process. The second chapter examines changes in dune plant communities over time, highlighting the presence of invasive species and the need for control strategies. The third chapter focuses on environmental education for teenagers and underscores the creation of educational resources while assessing the impact of these initiatives. Overall, this research provides valuable insights into effective environmental education and highlights the ongoing need for improvements and further research in this field. It also emphasizes the critical role of teenage awareness and engagement in preserving dune areas and underscores the ongoing need for research in the coastal dunes of Praia da Costa Nova do Prado, considering emerging threats such as climate change and invasive species. The conservation of these ecosystems is vital not only for biodiversity but also for the protection of coastal communities and the promotion of environmental sustainability.