The Population Biology presents different approaches to the study of micro-evolutionary processes in animal populations.
Genetics aims to provide students with basic knowledge on the mechanisms of hereditary transmission of phenotypic traits and on mutations. Population Biology aims to investigate the main aspects related to demographic structure, space-temporal dynamics and conservation of animal populations and metapopulations in an evolutionary perspective. The genetic-molecular approach, correlated with the biogeographical one, should make students capable of developing critical and analytical skills useful for future studies and research in the evolutionary biological field.
Lectures using power point presentations.
Population and meta-population: general aspects. Populations Genetics. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and its deviations. History of and introduction to Zoogeography. Continental drift and current distribution of ecological conditions (biomes). Ranges definition, description and analysis. Definizione, descrizione e studio degli areali (vicarianza-dispersione). Vicariance. Dispersal. Speciation models. Systematic Biogeography (biogeographical regions, chorological categories).
Conner J.K. & Hartl D.L., 2005. Elementi di genetica ecologica. Piccin, Padova.
Frankham R., Ballou J.D., Briscoe D.A., 2006. Fondamenti di genetica della conservazione. Zanichelli.
Zunino M. & Zullini A., 2004. Biogeografia. La dimensione spaziale dell’evoluzione. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, Milano
Ricevimento: By appointment (by email).
LORIS GALLI (President)
GIORGIO BAVESTRELLO
SILVIA VIAGGI
EMANUELE BOSI (President Substitute)
POPULATION BIOLOGY
Oral exam
Oral exam. 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.
