Learning objectives
Dublin Descriptor 1: knowledge and understanding
The Wildlife Conservation and Management course has the main objective of transferring to students the most up-to-date scientific knowledge in the fields of conservation biology and genetics, as well as providing the fundamental basis for understanding biological processes from an evolutionary perspective and regulatory aspects functional to the protection of animal populations.
Dublin Descriptor 2: Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
Fundamental knowledge of Conservation Biology is applied to the conservation of vulnerable or threatened wildlife.
Dublin descriptor 3: autonomy of judgment
The student must be able to sustain a reasoning on the organization of living systems and their functioning in the context of different environmental pressures and threats.
Dublin descriptor 4: communication skills
The student must have adequate technical language for the presentation and discussion of processes concerning wildlife conservation.
Dublin Descriptor 5: Learning Skills
The student must be able to read and comment on a scientific text on the subject
To achieve these objectives, the student undergoes a training course that will lead him to acquire fundamental knowledge in the fields of biology and conservation genetics, as well as the main regulatory aspects applied at EU, national and regional level for the protection of animal populations.
Prerequisites
- - -
Course unit content
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
CONSERVATION GENETICS
ZOOGEOGRAPHY AND BIOREGIONALISM OF ITALIAN WILD ANIMALS
CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL FAUNA
EUROPEAN AND NATIONAL LEGISLATION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF WILDLIFE
MAIN CONSERVATION TAXA
INVERTEBRATE CONSERVATION. LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY: CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS.
AGROECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION: BASIC PRINCIPLES AND BIOLOGICAL CONTROL IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
BEHAVIOURAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION PRACTICE: ANALYSIS OF SOME REPRESENTATIVE CASE STUDIES
Full programme
PART I
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
- Basic concepts and principles. From taxonomy to conservation genetics
CONSERVATION GENETICS
- Molecular and genomic markers applied to case-studies. Strengths and weaknesses of best available choice in relation to a specific topic (taxonomy, kinship analysis, population genetics and genomics, etc.)
ZOOGEOGRAPHY AND BIOREGIONALISM OF ITALIAN WILDLIFE
- Italian and European ecoregions and their insertion in laws and regulations
MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF HYDROFAUNA AND TERRESTRIAL ANIMALS
- Projects and case-studies involving charismatic species within the vertebrate taxon
EUROPEAN AND NATIONAL LEGISLATION FOR WILDLIFE PRESERVATION
- Habitat Directive
- Water Framework Directive
- UE Regulation for control and management of alien invasive species
- CITES
- Italian law on protected areas
- IUCN and red lists
- Regional
regulations
MAIN CONSERVATION TAXA
- Biology and conservation of European priority species
PART II
BASIC CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES
- Known biodiversity
- Unknown biodiversity
- Neglected biodiversity
LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY AND DEFAUNATION
- Anthropogenic causes
- Consequences
- Case Studies
THE CASE OF INVERTEBRATES
- Loss of biodiversity
- Causes
- Consequences
- Possible solutions
FOCUS ON INSECTS
- Importance in ecosystems
- Loss of biodiversity
- Causes
- Consequences
- Possible solutions
INSECTS, PLANTS AND AGRICULTURE. AGENTS AND METHODS OF BIOLOGICAL CONTROL: AN ECOLOGICAL VISION
- Insects and plants: a long co-evolutionary history
- Insects and agroecosystems
- Biological control agents
- Control techniques
- Biological control methods, Risk assessment
- Integrated control (IPM): an eco-friendly approach
ANIMAL BEHAVIOR AND CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
- The importance of Ethology and Behavioural Ecology in Conservation Biology
- Principles, methods and objectives of "Conservation behaviour"
- Analysis of case studies
Bibliography
Richard Primack, Luigi Boitani.
BIOLOGIA DELLA CONSERVAZIONE
Zanichelli Editore (2013)
Stefano Colazza, Ezio Peri, Paolo Lo Bue. LINEAMENTI DI ENTOMOLOGIA IN AGRICOLTURA BIOLOGICA. Palermo University Press (2018).
Edited by Oded Berger-Tal and David Saltz. CONSERVATION BEHAVIOR. Cambridge University Press (2016).
Scientific publications and slides of different lessons available by the teachers
Teaching methods
Lectures with analysis of case studies and practical problems related to the conservation and management of fauna.
Assessment methods and criteria
Oral exam in which the knowledge of the topics and the ability to make transversal connections between the various parts of the course will be verified. Case study analysis.
The oral exam is preceded by a written test (multiple choice quiz and short answer open questions) concerning Part II of the course. Passing this test exempts students from taking this part to the final exam.
The final grade will be the average of the scores obtained from the two tests (written + oral).
Other information
- - -
2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
The course is aimed at providing advanced information on the conservation and management of both aquatic and terrestrial vertebrate and invertebrate fauna. The aim is not only to guarantee basic knowledge in the conservation field but also to provide transversal links on the importance of knowledge, protection and enhancement of animal biodiversity and more generally of the natural heritage and of the main practices useful for its conservation (Agenda 2030: Goal 13 Fight against climate change; Goal 14 Life underwater; Goal 15 Life on land)
