Ateneo - UPO

Theories and techniques of census, sampling and the use of animal indicators to monitor the environment are explored. Landscape ecology and analysis of biodiversity data using GIS software are also discussed. In addition, biochemical analysis of metabolic networks is addressed, looking at how throughout evolution humans have adapted to the environment. Interactions between humans, microorganisms and the environment are examined through the concept of the human microbiome and different microbiota. Biofilms and technologies used in the study of microbial communities, genomic evolution, and epigenetics are explored in depth, completing a comprehensive overview of ecological and biological dynamics.

Sutherland W.J. (1996) Ecological census techniques. A handbook. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge UK.
Forman R.T.T. (1997) Land mosaics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Manuale operativo del software QGIS.

Appling, Anthony-Cahill, Mathews. BIOCHIMICA Molecole e metabolismo –
Pearson.
Biochimica della Nutrizione - Pignatti - Ed. Esculapio 2022.
Research article: Robinson, et al., An atlas of human metabolism. Sci. Signal. 13, eaaz1482 (2020)

-BROCK Biology of microorganisms
Madigan • Bender • Buckley • Sattley • Stahl
-The Human Microbiota and Microbiome
Edited by Julian R. Marchesi
-Human Microbiome in Health and Disease. Part A and Part B
Editors: Bhabatosh Das, Vijai Singh
- Articoli scientifici
- Materiale a cura del docente

This integrated teaching course aims to provide students with a systems approach to understanding the various aspects of the biology of environments and how humans fit into this complexity.

Good knowledge in biological and ecological subjects is required. Basics related to biological macromolecules.

Lectures with powerpoint presentations, images, movies. Guided exercises; commentaries from scientific literature. Classroom exercises to test learning of fundamental concepts. Seminars by experts on specific topics. Computer room with PCs for use of GIS software (e.g., QGIS) and R packages for processing-visualization of genetic data.

Oral exam with verbalization, preceded by a written exam with open-ended and multiple-choice questions

See in detail the syllabus of the individual modules of the integrated course: applications for biodiversity; metabolic networks; microbiological and genetic models

Knowledge: Applied knowledge related to biodiversity. Acquisition of knowledge about the structure of terrestrial environments, using the landscape ecology approach; use of satellite data or other remote sensing methods; use of GIS; enrichment of appropriate scientific language in ecology. Acquisition of knowledge of the most common techniques for the analysis of genomic data related to animal species. Knowledge of the interrelationships among metabolic pathways and how metabolism has changed throughout evolution. Knowledge of microbiological models for studying the interaction between humans and microorganisms, with reference to the study of microbiota. Knowledge of the evolution of genomes and epigenetic processes.
Skills and abilities: Students will be able to identify and retrieve data needed for nature conservation projects; ability to interpret scientific data in the field of applied zoology. They will be able to analyze data related to the study of the microbiota and know how to interpret genomic data and genome editing approaches. Students will be able to connect artificial intelligence tools in a metabolic context in order to explore and highlight correlations between humans and the environment.