Ateneo - UPO

The ANIMAL ECOLOGY course provides an introduction to animal ecology (levels of hierarchical organization, niche theory, species' habitat, demography and concept of carrying capacity, community ecology, landscape ecology, and biodiversity conservation).
The bases of the faunistic sampling will then be treated with details of the techniques adopted for the main zoological groups (invertebrates and vertebrates).
The course is completed with an introduction to digital cartography in the computer lab, where a GIS software will be used to produce thematic cartography applied to the ecological concepts covered in the course.

Sutherland W.J. (1996) Ecological census techniques. A handbook. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge UK.

Gagliardi, A., & Tosi, G. (2012). Monitoraggio di Uccelli e Mammiferi in Lombardia. Tecniche e metodi di rilevamento. Regione Lombardia, Università degli Studi dell’Insubria, Istituto Oikos, 136-137.

QGIS user manual available here: https://docs.qgis.org/3.28/it/docs/user_manual/

Provide critical tools to understand the complexity of animal populations and ecosystems on our planet. Understand and define levels of hierarchical organization, niche theory, species habitat, demography, and the concept of carrying capacity. Understand the basic concepts of community ecology, landscape and biodiversity conservation.
Understand the basics of faunistic sampling and know how to decline them for the main zoological groups (invertebrates and vertebrates).
Understand the basics of digital cartography and know how to use a GIS software to produce thematic cartography in the ecological and zoological field.

A course in zoology and ecology (bachelor level).

Theoric classes. Expert seminars on specific topics. Computer laboratory exercises for the use of thematic cartography and GIS software (e.g. QGIS). There will be an excursion in the field to apply what was learned in class and in the computer lab.

In itinere are assigned exercises to be performed with the use of GIS software, which are then resolved and discussed by the teacher.

Oral exam. The exam includes 3-4 questions on the topics of the course and a short cartography exercise with the QGIS software.

Introduction to Animal Ecology (levels of hierarchical organization, niche theory, species habitats, demography and bearing capacity concept, community ecology, landscape ecology, biodiversity conservation).
Introduction to faunistic surveys: Why survey animals? Definition of counting or surveying. Absolute or relative surveys. Spatially exhaustive or sample surveys. Random, regular, aggregate distributions. Sample surveys. Census errors. Monitoring.
Bird Surveys: Distribution studies. Surveys. Capture-Mark-Recapture methods. Migration study methods.
Surveying Mammals, Amphibians, Reptiles, and Fish: In-depth seminar conducted by an expert.
Surveying Insects and other Invertebrates: Active search and capture. Traps and other non-selective capture methods. Substrate extraction and filtration. Suppression and conservation. Invertebrate marking techniques.
Introduction to Cartography. Base maps and thematic maps. Paper and computerized support. Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and GIS applications. GIS software and introduction to QGIS.
Opening QGIS, presenting the view, project menu, layer panel. Working with layer overlap. Labels. The CTR of Piedmont. Creating a thematic map using a predefined style. Plugins and quickmapservices.
Introduction to vector files. The concept of a shapefile. Map projections and geodesy; Geographic coordinate systems. Working on the attribute table. Working with point vector files. Properties of vector files. Working on symbologies. Categorizations and gradations. Labels. Creating a new vector file. Changing the reference system of a project. EPSG. Reprojecting a vector file using a different reference system. Calculating coordinates in degrees and meters. Understanding UTM zones.
WMS layers. Linear and polygonal vector files. Geoprocessing. Raster files: use and management of raster images. The third dimension. Geoprocessing. Field mapping of cartographic data using GPS and apps.
Naturalistic databases. Print layout. Field excursion to apply the knowledge and skills learned in class.

Knowledge and understanding: acquisition of knowledge on animal ecology, the basics of faunistic sampling and the main techniques and methodologies of ecological investigation in wildlife assessment. Enrichment of the appropriate specific scientific language.
Applied knowledge: identify and find data necessary for nature management projects and know how to find them from reliable sources; ability to interpret scientific data in the field of animal ecology.
Independent judgement: ability to critically analyse elements related to landscape and animal species management, threats to biodiversity, independent judgement in the evaluation of environmental cartography data or experimental data derived from the study of species in the field.
Communication skills: improvement of the disciplinary lexicon in the field of animal ecology. Ability to report on the topics presented during the course with an appropriate scientific language, both oral and written.
Learning skills: acquisition of the ability to critically deepen and update independently the acquired skills, by reading scientific texts and articles.
Ability to use teaching material for critical and reasoned study.