Learning objectives
Students will learn to know, describe and read animal biodiversity both in natural environments and at different degrees of anthropic impact, possibly interpreting the ecological gradients that drive the variations. This is done not only for cognitive and interpretative purposes of natural phenomena and processes but above all to ensure that students acquire the basic tools for the conservation and valorization of biodiversity itself. Particular attention will also be given to field experiences which constitute an important part of the Course.
Bearing in mind the Dublin Indicators (DI) for Teaching, the Course will allow students to:
- Approach the study of animal biodiversity with an ecological-evolutionary-conservationist approach. Acquire the methodological and basic principles that will allow them to more easily deal with professional situations that require the monitoring and analysis of biodiversity. Acquire the basis for tackling specialist courses in the field of biodiversity and nature conservation which may be part of the future studio process (DI: Knowledge and understanding).
- Acquire the fundamentals of the methods and aims of research on biodiversity with particular regard to that applied to agro-forestry and urban systems (DI: Knowledge and ability to understand; Independence of judgement).
- Learn to connect the different topics covered with each other and with other basic and similar disciplines (DI: Autonomy of judgement; Learning ability).
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of Zoology
Course unit content
The corse of ANIMAL BIODIVERSITY in natural and anthropized ecosystems aims to provide fundamental knowledge on the animal component of biodiversity in its different meanings and at different scales of analysis (global-national-regional), as well as the principles and methods of its study both in natural ecosystems and in those with different anthropic impacts. Particular attention will be given to the principle that animal biodiversity can be not only an objective for the protection of natural capital and environmental sustainability, but also a fundamental tool for achieving these objectives in both agro-forestry and urban systems.
Full programme
A. INTRODUCTION AND BASIC CONCEPTS
a.1 - What is biodiversity and how is it measured: recall of general concepts and case studies.
a.2 - The value of biodiversity.
DI: Knowledge and understanding; Autonomy of judgement; Applied knowledge and understanding.
B. ANIMAL BIODIVERSITY IN NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS: from the global to the local dimension.
b.1 - Animal biodiversity in the world: general distribution patterns and mechanisms that determine them.
b.2 - The case of Italy.
b.3 - Neglected wildlife: importance, why it is neglected and with what consequences, how to deal with the phenomenon.
b.4 - Threats to animal biodiversity in natural environments: a global vision and some case studies.
b.5 - Introduction to the methods of study and conservation of animal biodiversity.
DI: Knowledge and understanding; Autonomy of judgement; Applied knowledge and understanding.
C. ANIMAL BIODIVERSITY IN ANTHROPOPIZED ENVIRONMENTS
c.1 - Agro-forestry ecosystems. What is an agroecosystem, general characteristics. Elements of agricultural zoology with particular attention to entomofauna. Ecosystem services in the agricultural environment: general concepts and analysis of some case studies. Threats to animal biodiversity and its protection in agroecosystems: some case studies. Biodiversity in agroecosystems: targets and tools in study and conservation.
c.2 - Urban and suburban environments. Elements of urban ecology. Cities and their ecosystems. Animals in the city. Ecosystem services in an urban environment: general concepts and analysis of some case studies. Threats to urban biodiversity and its protection: some case studies. The city as a tool in the study and conservation of biodiversity.
DI: Knowledge and understanding; Autonomy of judgement; Applied knowledge and understanding.
D. FIELD TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL EXCURSIONS
d.1 - Monitoring, sampling techniques, observations and field experiences in various representative environments among those taken into consideration (natural, agroecosystems, urban).
DI: Applied knowledge and understanding; Autonomy of judgement; .
Bibliography
Teaching material (slides and scientific articles in international journals, websites and videos) is made available to students on the teaching course website.
Some recommended texts on which the course will be based at least in part:
Primack R., Boitani L.
BIOLOGIA DELLA CONSERVAZIONE
Zanichelli Editore (2013)
Cazzolla Gatti R.
BIODIVERSITA' in teoria e in pratica
Libreria Universitaria (2024)
Fattorini S.
ECOLOGIA URBANA
Ediesse (2019)
Teaching methods
Lectures with analysis of case studies and practical problems relating to animal biodiversity in its different meanings and in the different types of environments considered.
Activities and field experiences useful for acquiring the main methods of studying and monitoring biodiversity
Assessment methods and criteria
Oral exam in which will be testet knowledge of the topics and the ability to make transversal connections between the various parts of the course and to analyze case studies.
The oral exam could be preceded by a written test (multiple choice quiz and short answer questions).
Other information
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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
The course is aimed at providing information on the study, analysis and conservation of biodiversity with particular attention to environments subject to more or less intense anthropic action. The aim is not only to guarantee basic knowledge in the field, but also to provide transversal connections on the importance of knowledge, protection and valorisation of animal biodiversity and more generally of natural heritage and the main practices useful for its conservation (Agenda 2030: Goal 11 Sustainable cities and municipalities; Goal 13 Fighting climate change; Goal 14 Life under water; Goal 15 Life on land).
