Ateneo - UPO

Census techniques and indices for environmental monitoring. Capture-recapture methods. Sampling: random, regular, clustered, multilevel, stratified. Animals as indicators of environmental conditions: birds and invertebrates. Red lists. Minimum viable population MVP. Conservation of biodiversity. Management of natural populations and pest species. Conservation genetic. There will be seminars, dedicated softwares, tutorials and field visits.

Sutherland W.J. (1996) Ecological census techniques. A handbook. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge UK. Primack R.B. & Boitani L. (2013) Biologia della conservazione. Zanichelli, Bologna.

Learn about the census techniques and major systems for the management and conservation of habitats and species. Acquiring the ability to process, to plot and interpret data collected in the field. Knowing how to identify the role and consequences of various human interventions in the management and conservation of nature. Knowing principles of conservation genetic.

It 's helpful to have completed a course in zoology or animal biology. It 'also important to have acquired good knowledge of ecological materials.

Lectures and overhead projector. Seminars of experts on specific topics. Computer room with PCs for the use of educational software in applied ecology (eg Distance) and nature conservation (MVP). The main animal census techniques will be used in field during several educational trips, with students divided into small groups. The data collected on field trips will be processed in a computer room, by the same groups of students, using special softwares. Materials for field trips: binoculars, GPS satellite locators, laser pointers for telemetry, field guides for the recognition of animals.

The first part of the course is targeted learning methods used in population censuses of living organisms (especially animals) and application of indicators for environmental monitoring. Will be acquired a good mastery of theory and census techniques, distinguishing between full censuses or sampling, we will pay particular attention to the standardization and calibration of the indices, with practical examples related to invertebrates and vertebrates. This part is preliminary to the second part of the course, aimed at acquiring the ability to process and interpret data collected in field with the aim of nature conservation. Will be provided a series of examples in order to acquire the critical tools for understanding the issues related to the management and conservation, following the two approaches of the conservation of environment and conservation of species. Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-students-physical-or-learning-disabilities

Oral examination. The exam includes 3-4 questions. In the examination the student must be able to illustrate the theoretical principles and practical field techniques used in nature conservation. It must also demonstrate their ability to understand the strengths and weaknesses (accuracy, costs/benefits, etc..) associated with different sampling methods and the consequences of various human interventions in the management and conservation of nature, each regarding arguments in a different part of the program. The overall assessment will take account of the partial results achieved in the individual questions.

Census techniques and indices for environmental monitoring. General information about theory and census techniques: complete censuses or sampling. Indirect estimate of the size of animal populations, reliability and precision of the estimates, accuracy / costs assesment. Direct counts. Methods of capture-recapture. Indirect estimate of the size of animal populations. Sampling: random, regular, clustered, multilevel, stratified. Indices of abundance. Standardization of indices. Calibration of the indices. Theory of surveys with the methods of transects and points. Using indexes and census techniques applied to various taxa: plants (notes), invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Conservation genetic: principles and common techniques; census and monitoring techniques with genetic tools; genetic of endangered species. Nature management: habitat and species conservation; ecological tools for measuring biodiversity. Wild population management: restocking, reintroduction. Management of pest species or invasive allies species. Utilization of species distribution Atlas. Extinctions, Red lists, Minimum viable populations (MVP). Biodiversity threats. Bioindicators: using species in order to assess the qualitative status of the environment: mammals, birds, invertebrates. During the course there will be talks from specific experts, practical exercises to learn dedicated softwares, field trips and/or museum visits

Knowledge and comprehension: acquisition of knowledge about nature conservation and common techniques for studying fauna, in particular the one with problems of conservation and management; knowledge of the concepts and applications of genetic techniques applied at the zoological field; enrichment of the appropriate scientific language in the zoological field. Knowledge and understanding applied skills: Identify useful data for nature conservation projects and be able to find them from reliable sources; ability to interpret scientific data in applied zoology. Autonomy of judgment: ability to critically analyze the elements related to the conservation of species and biodiversity, autonomy in the evaluation of experimental data obtained in field work and through the specimens preserved in museums. Communication skills: perfecting the disciplinary vocabulary in applied zoology, as well as describing phenomena and problems related to conservation in a clear and concise way. Learning skills: ability to deepen critically and independently update the skills acquired, through reading texts and scientific articles. Ability to use teaching material for a critical study.