The module aims to provide students with a different perspective of marine ecosystems, based on the concepts of natural capital and ecosystem services that, according to the most recent indications of the European Commission, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the European Green Deal, represent the cornerstone for the protection of biodiversity and require urgent implementation tools.
The module is designed to provide students with theoretical and practical tools for the analysis of marine ecosystems with a view to their conservation and sustainable management. From a theoretical point of view, students will acquire in-depth knowledge of the theory of natural capital and ecosystem services. From a practical point of view, through calculation laboratories, students will learn how to quantify the biophysical and intrinsic value of species and/or ecosystems.
Participation in the scheduled training activities will allow the acquisition of the tools to fully carry out the study of the value of marine ecosystems and formulate actions aimed at their conservation and sustainable management
Specifically, the student will learn how to:
Quantify the biomass stored by marine species and ecosystems to calculate natural capital
Carry out analyses of the trophic structure of ecosystems
Quantify the intrinsic natural capital stored by species and ecosystems
Identify the ecosystem services provided by marine ecosystems
Quantify the damage in terms of the natural capital of human activities on marine ecosystems
There are no specific requirements.
Lectures in the classroom, exercises, and laboratories in class.
Attendance at classes is strongly recommended, while attendance at practical and laboratory activities is mandatory at 75%.
The way lessons are taught may be modified due to emergencies that prevent in-person lessons from being held. In this case, classes will be held via the Teams platform using suitable substitute teaching tools.
Introduction to the concepts of natural capital and ecosystem services
Presentation of case studies of the evaluation of elements of natural capital through emergy analysis and/or ecological footprint
Presentation of case studies of the evaluation of ecosystem services through emergy analysis and/or ecological footprint
Shared implementation of one or more projects in the classroom, also with role simulations and conflict resolution
The content of the teaching will be adapted to the skills of the class to maximise learning for students
Herman E. Daly, Joshua Farley. Ecological Economics, Second Edition: Principles and Applications. Island Press
Herman e. Daly. Beyond growth: the economics of sustainable development. Beacon press
Herman e. Daly. An introduction to ecological economics, second edition. Crc press
Robert Costanza, John H Cumberland, Herman Daly, Robert Goodland, Richard B Norgaard, Ida Kubiszewski, Carol Franco. Ecological economics and sustainable development: selected essays of herman daly (advances in ecological economics). Edward elgar publishing
Rossi, s., Bramanti, l., Gori, a., & orejas, c. (2017). Marine animal forests. The Ecology of benthic biodiversity hotspots. Cham: springer international publishing.
Ricevimento: To be scheduled with the teacher
For lessons start and timetable visit: https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/
Written test with exercises.
The assessment will focus on verifying the learning of the techniques explained and tested in class.
Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Sara Ferrando (sara.ferrando@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.
