Ateneo - UPO

Biodiversity, values and benefits, biodiversity measures. Animals as indicators of environmental conditions: birds and invertebrates. Management of natural populations and pest species. Habitat-related issues including landscape ecology (patches, corridors, matrix) and metapopulations. Conservation genetic.
There will be seminars, dedicated softwares, tutorials and field visits.

Primack R.B. & Boitani L. (2013) Biologia della conservazione. Zanichelli, Bologna.Frankham R., Ballou J.D. & Briscoe D.A. (2006) Fondamenti di genetica della conservazione. Zanichelli, Bologna.

Learn about the 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 biodiversity conservation (eg MVP) and conservation genetic (MegaX). Examples of habitat conservation or management of problematic species will be observed in practice during field trips, with students divided into small groups. Materials for field trips: binoculars, field guides for the identification of animals.

The first part of the course is targeted learning the definitions and three levels of biodiversity, the methods used to quantify it, and the application of indices for environmental monitoring. Students will acquire a good mastery of the theory and, distinguishing between theory and practice, will pay particular attention to concrete examples with data collected in nature with a view to conservation. This part is preparatory to the second part of the course, which aims to develop the ability to interpret the problems of animal species management in the current environment, using the metapopulation model and the patch-corridor-matrix pattern of landscape ecology. Finally, a database of genetic data and examples of animal species will be acquired in order to acquire the critical tools for understanding issues related to management and conservation, following the two approaches of habitat conservation and species conservation.

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 associated with differen 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.

Nature management: habitat and species conservation; ecological tools for measuring biodiversity. Wild population management: restocking, reintroduction. In-situ and ex-situ conservation. 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. Animal populations. Populations with disjoint distribution and metapopulation: theoretical basis and examples. The models of zoogeography. Metapopulation and landscape ecology: the landscape as a mosaic: the patch-corridor-matrix model. Conservation genetic: principles and common techniques; census and monitoring techniques with genetic tools; genetic of endangered species. Natural history museums as biobanks for the conservation of animal species. During the course there will be talks from specific experts, practical exercises to learn dedicated softwares, field trips and 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 biodiversity conservation, as well as describing phenomena and problems related to animal population 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.