Learning objectives
The course is aimed at providing a basic theoretical and practical background required for studying the main taxa of freshwater zooplankton.
Prerequisites
Ecology examination
Course unit content
What is planktonThe paradox of the planktonGeneral introduction to freshwater zooplanktonRotifers: taxonomy and morphology. Distribution, ecology, life cycle. The most common species in Northern Italy.Copepods: taxonomy and morphology. Distribution, ecology, life cycle. The most common species in Northern Italy.Cladocerans: taxonomy and morphology. Distribution, ecology, life cycle. The most common species in Northern Italy.Ostracods: taxonomy and morphology. Distribution, ecology, life cycle. The most common species in Northern Italy.An outline of marine zooplankton. Sampling methods.Sorting.Methods in data analysis Case studies 1. Distribution and ecology of calanoid species in the Northern Apennines.2. Succession of cladocerans in a northern Italian ricefield.3. Ostracoda of the Italian ricefileds thirty years on: new synthesis and hypothesis.
Full programme
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Bibliography
Bellavere C. e Moroni A. 2001. Laghi e pozze del versante Norddell¿Appennino settentrionale. CIREA Dipartimento di Scienze AmbientaliUniversità di Parma. Tipografia Supergrafica Parma.Boero F., Belmonte G., Fanelli G., Piraino S., Rubino F. 1996. Thecontinuity of living matter and the discontinuities of itsconstituents: do plankton and benthos really exist? TREE 11: 177-179.Braioni M.G. e Gelmini D. 1983. Rotiferi Monogononti (Rotatoria:Monogononta). Guide per il riconoscimento delle specie animali delleacque interne italiane. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche AQ/1/200.Brown J.H. 1981. Two decades of homage to Santa Rosalia: toward a general theory of diversity. American Zoologist 21: 877-888.Dussart B. 1969. Les copepodes des eaux continentales. Editions N. Boubee & Cie, ParisGhetti P.F. e McKenzie K.G. 1981. Ostracodi (Crustacea, Ostracoda).Guide per il riconoscimento delle specie animali delle acque interneitaliane. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche AQ/1/108.Hutchinson G.E. 1959. Homage to Santa Rosalia or why are there so many kinds of animals? The American Naturalist XCIII: 145-159.Hutchinson G.E. 1961. The paradox of the plankton. The American Naturalist XCV: 137-145.Hutchinson G.E. 1967. A treatise of limnology the nature and biology of the zooplankton. Wiley & Sons, NY.Margaritora F.G. 1985. Cladocera. Edizioni Calderini Bologna.Stella E. 1982. Calanoidi (Crustacea, Copepoda, Calanoida). Guide peril riconoscimento delle specie animali delle acque interne italiane.Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche AQ/1/140.Stella E. 1984. Crustacea Copepoda: Calanoida (d¿acqua dolce). Edizioni Calderini Bologna.
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons and practice
Assessment methods and criteria
Writing examination
Other information
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