AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The sub-module will provide specific knowledge on the identification and quantification of responses to stress in marine invertebrates and vertebrates, in particular to contaminant exposure: stress biomarkers from the subcellular to the organism level, general and specific biomarkers. The sub-module will stimulate critical evaluation of the utilization of the biomarker approach to evaluate the health status of sentinel species in biomonitoring of marine coastal areas and in aquacultures species. Laboratory: Determination of examples of general stress biomarkers (es: lysosomal membrane stability, induction of micronuclei), exposure biomarkers (es: metallothioneins) in cells and tissues of the model organism Mytilus.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Regular attendance to the lectures and laboratory activities will allow students to acquire basic knowledge in the field of environmental physiology of marine organisms as a background for studies on the evaluation of the health status of marine organism in response to environmental stressors, in particular exposure to contaminants.

Students will be thus able to:

• know biological responses to stress, and how these responses can be quantified by the determination of biological parameters (biomarkers) at different levels of biological organization (from sub-cellular to organism), that define the progression of effects on the health status of individuals;
• understand the biomarker concept as an early and measurable response of organism to environmental stress, classify the different types of biomarkers (of stress and of exposure) and their characteristic trends at increasing stress conditions;
• describe the main classes on inorganic and organic contaminants that can represent an additional source of stress, inducing sub-lethal responses in the organism;
• understand the utilization of the biomarker approach in evaluating the development of stress syndrome in different sentinel organisms;
• acquire knowledge on the main methodological protocols for determining main biomarker responses according to international protocols (OSPAR), also during practical laboratory activities carried out on marine mussels as model sentinel organisms of coastal environments;
• apply acquired knowledge in marine biomonitoring programs to evaluate the impact of human activities on organism living in coastal ad transition environments.

The theoretical/practical laboratory activities are aimed at developing in the students the capacity of planning and carrying out biomonitoring programs; to analyze and critically discuss obtained data, to face and solve problems related to biomonitoring of coastal marine areas, natural or impacted by human activities, that can affect the health of coastal ecosystems.

PREREQUISITES

Inorganic and organic chemistry, animal physiology, marine biology, marine ecology.

TEACHING METHODS

The course includes:

• lectures given using multimedia presentations; analysis and discussion of scientific articles in English;
• practical laboratory activities on determination of selected biomarkers

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.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course aims to provide knowledge of the functional mechanisms underlying the interactions between animals and the aquatic environment, with reference to the marine environment, and to define the parameters of stress induced by both natural variables and human activities.

The course program includes the presentation and discussion of the following topics:

• the concept of biomarkers as early and quantifiable responses of organisms to environmental stress;
• evaluation of the health status of organisms in relation to environmental stress: stress indices from the subcellular to the organism level;
• stress and exposure biomarkers, lysosomal biomarkers, immunotoxicity biomarkers, genotoxicity biomarkers;
• use of biomarkers to highlight stress syndrome in sentinel organisms and their appropriate application in biomonitoring programs;
• pollutants as stress factors; assessment of physiological responses to sub-lethal concentrations of inorganic and organic chemical substances;
• theoretical and practical knowledge necessary to measure and predict the effects of human activities on living organisms at the molecular, cellular, and individual levels, in order to apply environmental quality indicators in the marine environment.

The practical activity includes the maintenance and experimental treatment of marine invertebrates (Mytilus galloprovincialis) under controlled conditions, tissue dissection and preparation of primary cell cultures, and the application of biochemical, microscopic, and cytochemical techniques for the assessment of selected key biomarkers. Laboratory activities are carried out either individually or in small groups.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Material provided by the teacher (ppt presentations, bibliography).

All teaching materials will be available to the students on Aulaweb.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

For lessons start and timetable visit: https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral examination.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Assessment of learning goals will consist in an oral examination, that will evaluate the acquired knowledge on the basal aspects of the subject, the capacity to connect the different topics, and to apply theoretical knowledge to simple practical context. The quality of public, speaking, the correct utilization of scientific language and the capacity of critical reasoning will be also evaluated.

The grade of the module BIOMARKERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS will be averaged with the grade of the module MECHANISMS AND ADAPTATIONS in order to obtain the final grade of the course PHYSIOLOGY OF MARINE ORGANISMS.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students who have submitted a certification of a physical disability or a learning disability (Specific Learning Disorder, SLD) to the University can find information about support services on the webpage https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa, provided by the Student Inclusion Services for Students with Disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD).

Students may also contact Prof. Cristina Carbone (cristina.carbone@unige.it), the DISTAV departmental contact person for disability support.