Ateneo - UPO

Introduction to aquatic insects: biological, ecological and taxonomic aspects

The powerpoint presentations provided by the teacher will be enaugh for this course. However, this is the suggested textbook: Davies R.G. - Lineamenti di entomologia. Zanichelli Ed.

The course aims at providing a theoretical and especially practical knowledge on the taxonomy, biology and ecology of aquatic insects

A solid knowledge in zoology and ecology is strongly reccomended

In-classroom lessons for the first part of the course. However, most of the time will be spent for field excursions and laboratory activities

Laboratory activities will take place at the University Facilities (San Giuseppe Building, Piazza Sant'Eusebio 5, Vercelli).Field excursions will take place on different locations, mainly around Vercelli.

Two different and mandatory examinations are required:1) One examination on the theoretical contents of the course (max 15 points).2) One practical task. For this latter one, each student must prepare and illustrate an aquatic insect collection. Insects will be collected during the field excursions and taxonomically identified during the laboratory activities.The final grade will be calculated as the arithmetic mean of the scores obtained in the two examinations.

Introduction to entomology: insect anatomy, respiration, reproduction. Focus on the following aquatic insect orders: Plecoptera, Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera, Odonata, Coleoptera, Diptera, and Hemiptera. For these orders: taxonomy and ecology. Field excursions and laboratory activities will serve to improve the knowledge on the sampling methods as well as the taxonomic identification and the ecology of these insects.

Advanced theoretical and applied knowledge on the aquatic insects and their role as bioindicators for freshwater ecosystems