AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course provides basic knowledge of a flora and plant biodiversity in a territory and its conservation needs. The above notions are complementary to the other exams of this study course and other exams based on botanical topics.

At the end of the course, students will be able:

- to build a flora of a territory;

- to draw up a floristic map of a territory;

- to know the main biodiversity conservation techniques;

- to know the different monitoring techniques implemented through a flora or elements of specific taxonomic groups.

TEACHING METHODS

Frontal lessons with multimedia support

Classroom exercises with personal computers and field monitoring experiences

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The teaching deals with the following topics:

 - WHAT IS A FLORA. Introduction. Description of flora. Construction of a flora. Biological forms and biological spectrum. Species area. Chorotype and chorological spectrum. Native and exotic species.

- CHARACTERISTICS OF A FLORA. Endemic species. Exotic species. How rich floristic to express it.

- HOW THE FLORES AND INFORMATION SOURCES ARE PRESENT. Florist publications and other floristic information. Publications on magazines, prints, prints, websites, amateur associations, databases.

- BUILDING THE FLORA CARDS. TYPE AND CHOICE OF SPECIES. Floristic cartography. Ladder. Accuracy. Digital cartography. Introduction to GIS. Corological floristic cartography. Grid and lattices. Administrative floristic papers. Area cards of species. Species selection. Patrimonial species

- RED LISTS. Current situation and need to preserve. Monitoring as the main tool. Red lists and the definition of a standard method. IUCN what it is and what it is used for. Evaluation categories and award criteria. Method: geographical elements, threats, evaluation. Examples

- WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY AND WHY MONITOR. General environmental monitoring. Why monitor biodiversity. Biodiversity. Stages of Monitoring. Specific biodiversity. Examples of species monitoring. Ecosystem biodiversity.

- DETECTION FOR MONITORING. Genetic biodiversity: how to sample, phylogenetic diversity, relations between entities in a territory, phytogeography of proximate entities and populations. Monitoring regulations and bodies responsible for its implementation.

- DETECTION OF AQUATIC MACROPHYTES. Use of indexes for the evaluation of macrophytes as an expression of the state of conservation of water courses.

- METHODS AND CARTOGRAPHY GIS. What is cartography and what is GIS. Examples of GIS maps. Use of Qgis and its applications for floristic and vegetational cartography. Practical test applications

- FLORA DETECTION TECHNIQUES. Bryophytes, Fungi and Lichens, vascular species

- CONSERVATION EX SITU GERMOPLASMA. Why conserve biodiversity. How to conserve biodiversity. Origin of seed conservation. Seed conservation: collection, processing and storage. What is preserved in seed banks. In vitro conservation of plant germplasm. Examples of Pancratium, Campanula and Leucojum

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

A copy of the slides projected during the lectures is available (download from the WEB).

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

MAURO MARIOTTI (President)

LUIGI MINUTO (President)

MIRCA ZOTTI

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The lessons of the first semester will start from September 23, 2019, and will be completed by January 17, 2020. The lessons of the second semester will start from February 17, 2020 and will end by June 12, 2020. Refer to the detailed timetable below link:

https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exam.

The overall grade of the 95069 course will be obtained from the mathematical average of the marks obtained in the various tests of the two modules. Partial grades are valid for the current academic year.

The exam is aimed at assessing the knowledge of the fundamental elements of the subject, the ability to link the various topics and the mastery of the applicative aspects.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam is aimed at assessing the knowledge of the fundamental elements of the subject, the ability to link the various topics and the mastery of the application aspects

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Frequency strongly recommended.

Regular attendance is strongly recommended especially for field exercises. Students will have to provide adequate clothing for excursions (boots).