OVERVIEW

The course gives a general overview to the European Union regulations about wildlife monitoring for conservation and introduces to the estimation of animal abundance by capture-mark recapture techniques and to trend analysis.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students will achieve information on different monitoring schemes and in particular on the estimation of population abundance with mark-recapture methods and on analysis of time series. 

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Active participation in training activities (lectures, technical visits and field activities) together with the individual study will enable the student to:

- understand the main European and national regulations that deal with wildlife monitoring

- understand the different definitions and applications of monitoring

- understand elements of population dynamics used in monitoring (variability indices) and elements of analysis of biological time series (autocorrelation, trend analysis with TRIM software)

- apply the knowledge derived from the study of variability and trend to the conservation of wildlife populations

- understand the main types of sampling (random, stratified and systematic)

- understand the main methods for estimating the absolute abundance of animal populations; in particular, the methods that estimate the probability of capture or observability, such as the capture-marking-recapture model (use of the CAPTURE software for closed populations and of DISTANCE software that does not require individual marking) are investigated further.

- apply the knowledge to the monitoring of different animal groups chosen as examples: forest insects xylosaprophages, amphibians, reptiles and mammals.

- understand the main types of fauna trapping

- apply knowledge of phototrapping in the field through guided exercises in the natural environment

TEACHING METHODS

The module consists of lectures, for about 40 hours and activities in the field for 12/14 hours. Attendance at lessons and practical activities is not mandatory, but strongly recommended especially when the TRIM and CAPTURE softwares are used. Field exercises are always conducted by the instructor in charge.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

-  Introduction to the course (structure and contents of the course; Aul@web and other resources, importance of the technical visits, methods of examination)

-  Definitions of monitoring (passive, scientific, mandatory by law)

-  European regulations on monitoring (regulations, directives and recommendations)

-  National regulations on monitoring (laws, decrees and decrees of the President of the Republic)

-  Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC and its annexes

-  Data analysis (averages, variability and coefficient of variation)

-  Analysis of the temporal trend of the populations: time series and their characteristics

-  Use of TRIM software for trend analysis

-  Capture-marking-recapture method for the estimation of absolute abundance; estimation of the probability of capture or observability

-  Use of the CAPTURE software for estimation of abundance in closed populations

- DISTANCE sampling

- Monitoring of forest xylosaprophagous insects and importance of forest necromass.

- Monitoring of Italian amphibians and reptiles

- Monitoring of bats

- Monitoring of mesomammifers through camera trapping

- Types and use of camera traps (passive and active sensors)

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

All presentations are available to students on Aul@web, as well as other educational material not covered by copyright. The TRIM and CAPTURe software are free and can be downloaded freely. The volumes recommended for further information are available at the Science library.

Reccommanded readings

ARILLO ET. AL. (2006). Guida alla conoscenza delle specie liguri della Rete Natura 2000 (in pdf). SPAGNESI E ZAMBOTTI (2001). Raccolta delle norme nazionali e internazionali per la conservazione della fauna selvatica e degli habitat (in pdf). APAT (2004). Metodi di raccolta in campo per l’elaborazione di indicatori di biodiversità (in pdf). SUTHERLAND W.J. (1997). Ecological census techniques. A handbook. Cambridge University Press. Free softwares: CAPTURE, TRIM,

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

SEBASTIANO SALVIDIO (President)

STEFANO SCHIAPARELLI (President)

GIORGIO BAVESTRELLO

LORIS GALLI

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam is unique but consists of an oral part (discussion of the main topics of the program) and a multiple choice test consisting of 9 questions; the test also includes a problem that can be solved using CAPTURE software (students can use their laptop).

There will be 2 exam appeals for the winter session (mid-January-February) and 5 appeals for the summer session (June, July and September). No extraordinary appeals will be granted outside the periods indicated in the regulations of the degree program, with the exception of out-of-school students.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The preparation methods for the exam are explained in the first introductory class, which is available like all other presentations on Aul@web. The written test is corrected in the classroom and always precedes the oral exam that will focus on the topics covered in the written test and on those discussed during the lectures. The exam will evaluate not only if the student has reached an adequate level of knowledge, but also if he has acquired the ability to independently develop a theoretical monitoring plan on an animal group.

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Exam schedule