OVERVIEW

The Marine Botany deals with the study of plant and fungi diversity in the marine and coastal environment, a key element in the formation of marine scientists.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to marine plants and their biology and ecology . The course will include training in the identification of the algae and seegrasses with emphasis on the major groups and species of Mediterranean Sea.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

1) Aims

The course aims from one side to introduce the knowledge of plant organisms and marine fungi, their biology and ecology, from the other to provide the tools for the recognition of the main species, with particular attention to the most common and / or important groups of species in the Mediterranean.

2) Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course the student will be able to:

- describe the characteristics and indicate examples of the main groups of plants and marine fungi;

- identify the main fungal taxa;

- know the nomenclature and the most important diagnostic elements for the use of dichotomous keys for the identification of marine plant organisms;

- understand the biology of plant and fungal organisms with particular reference to the physiology of marine plants, at the cellular and organism level;

- illustrating the planes of marine vegetation, indicating the ecological characteristics, the indicator species and the most characteristic phytocoenosis;

- describe the main marine ecosystems and growth substrates where fungi can be or are present.

PREREQUISITES

Concepts and basic mechanisms of biology (cell, mitosis, meiosis, cell cycles, metagenetic cycles) and of plant biology (in particular cellular organelles, tissues and plant organs)

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures and exercises in the classroom and in the laboratory.

Attendance is not mandatory, but strongly recommended

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Notes on Cyanophyta. Biology and diversity in Rhodophyta (main groups). Characteristics and diversity of Heterokontophyta, in particular Diatoms and Phaeophyceae. Biology, structure, systematics and importance of Chlorophyta. Overview of the other main phytoplankton taxa. Notes on marine fungi. Characteristics of marine Angiosperms with particular attention to the morphology, biology and importance of the species present in the Mediterranean Sea. Notes on the structure and function of marine plant communities. Notes on coastal vegetation (beaches, brackish swamps, mangroves, etc.).

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The slides of the lessons will be available on aulaweb. The notes taken during the lessons may constitute the main study basis for the preparation of the exam, but it is advisable to consult the texts of Algology and Marine Botany to verify the completeness and correctness of the notes themselves and for any further study of the topics covered:

- Graham L.E., Graham J.M, Wilcox L. W., Cook M.E. 2016. Algae 3rd edition. LJLM Press. In electronic format (pdf) http://www.ljlmpress.com/algae.html

- Dawes C.J., 1998 - Marine botany. John Wiley & Sons, New York. (also available at the Library of the School of Sciences MFN).

- Van den Hoek C., Mann D.G., Jahns H.M., 1995 - Algae. An Introduction to phycology. Cambridge University Press. (Also available at the MFN School of Sciences Library)

- Gareth J., Ka-Lai Pang, 2012. Marine Fungi: and Fungal Like Organisms. De Gruyter, Berlin.

Useful guides and scientific-popular atlases such as:

- Cabioc'h J., Floc'h J.Y, Le Toquin A., Boudouresque C.F., Meinesz A., Verlaque M., 1992 - Guide des Algues des Mers d'Europe. Delachaux et Niestlé. Neuchâtel, Paris.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

GIUSEPPINA ALBINA BARBERIS (President)

ARMANDO CARPANETO

MAURO MARIOTTI

MIRCA ZOTTI

LESSONS

LESSONS START

from 8 October 2018

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral: the test includes open questions on the topics of the program, with the recognition of a sample of one of the important and / or common marine species or taxa.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral exam is aimed at verifying the knowledge of the characteristics of the main marine plant and fungal taxa and the understanding of their biology.

Exam schedule