AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Specifically, the student will be able to:

a) know the basic characteristics and indicate examples of some groups of marine plants and fungi and coastal environments of applied interest;

b) know the main plant and fungal biomonitors for monitoring environmental quality with particular reference to coastal marine systems;

c) learn myco- and phytoremediation protocols and related laboratory practices, including hyperaccumulation, bioaccumulation, toxicity tests;

d) have practice of integrated green protocols for the containment and reduction of various levels of contamination;

e) coordinate their work with other professional figures involved in problems related to environmental alterations to address and solve the problems with a multidisciplinary approach.

TEACHING METHODS

The module is organized in frontal lectures and seminars. The students are strongly recommended to attend the lectures and seminars activities. Attendance at lectures and seminars is highly recommended. Seminar activities can also take place in classrooms equipped with microscopes, and specific tools and in the DISTAV electron microscopy laboratory.

Due to COVID-19 emergency, users are invited to refer to AulaWeb site to get updated info regarding the lectures

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The module  program includes the presentation and discussion of the topics listed below. Fundamentals of marine botany and mycology applied to target species or groups / families of applied interest with respect to marine-coastal systems.

Plants and their interactions with environmental compartments (air, water, soil) with particular reference to marine-coastal systems and with other organisms

Biomonitoring and biological control using plants in marine and coastal environments. 

Phytoremediation protocols: use of tolerant and hypertolerant plants in remediation. 

Fungi and their iterations with environmental compartments (with particular reference to marine and coastal environments) and with other organisms. 

Monitoring of the fungal component of marine and coastal environments. 

Mycoremediation protocols in water and port sediments contaminated by metals and hydrocarbons. 

Techniques for selecting tolerant/accumulating fungal strains. Applications: in vitro and mesocosm.

Integrated remediation systems for marine-coastal systems, nature-based solutions for improving environmental quality, illustration of case studies (air, water, soil).

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Available (downloadable from Aulaweb for students enrolled in the course) in PDF format are the slides of the lectures and other material in PDF format (scientific articles and online texts).