Learning objectives
The course is aimed at providing a basic theoretical and practical background required for studying the main taxa of freshwater zooplankton.
Prerequisites
To have passed Ecology examination
Course unit content
What is plankton
The paradox of the plankton
General introduction to freshwater zooplankton
Rotifers: 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 Nord dell’Appennino settentrionale. CIREA Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali Università di Parma. Tipografia Supergrafica Parma.
Boero F., Belmonte G., Fanelli G., Piraino S., Rubino F. 1996. The continuity of living matter and the discontinuities of its constituents: 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 delle acque 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, Paris
Ghetti P.F. e McKenzie K.G. 1981. Ostracodi (Crustacea, Ostracoda). Guide per il riconoscimento delle specie animali delle acque interne italiane. 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.
Meisch C. 2000. Freshwater Ostracoda. Spektrum Akademoscher Verlag GmbH, Heidelberg.
Stella E. 1982. Calanoidi (Crustacea, Copepoda, Calanoida). Guide per il 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, exercises and practices
Assessment methods and criteria
Final written test
Other information
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