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CODE 84069
ACADEMIC YEAR 2023/2024
CREDITS
SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINARY SECTOR BIO/05
LANGUAGE Italian
TEACHING LOCATION
  • GENOVA
SEMESTER 2° Semester
MODULES Questo insegnamento è un modulo di:
TEACHING MATERIALS AULAWEB

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The main goal of this teaching is to examine in depth the diversity and ecological role of benthos in the main benthic environemnts, both marine and freshwater. Special attention will be given to the abiotic and biotic constraints and the adaptative responses of the organisms. An overview of the benthic bionomy and the natural and anthropic impacts on benthos will be also provided. Laboratories and field activities are scheduled, to offer the students the basic tools to study benthos.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Attendance and participation in the training activities provided (lectures, laboratory activities and excursions) will allow the student to acquire the general knowledge of Bentonology necessary to undertake studies in the field of conservation of marine ecosystems.
Specifically, the student will be able to:
    1. describe the main animal and plant biocoenoses of aquatic systems and identify their typical species
    2. understand and interpret the biogeographic distribution and composition of biocoenoses and adaptations of the involved species on the basis of the interactions between organisms and environmental gradients
    3. apply the basic knowledge acquired in the context of issues related to the monitoring and conservation of aquatic environments
    4. assess the health and vulnerability of an ecosystem through the use of indicator species and analyze the biological responses to environmental gradients
    5. summarize and outline the observations in choral presentations and develop critical skills

 

TEACHING METHODS

The course consists of lectures, theoretical-practical laboratory activities and exercises in the field. Attendance to lectures and laboratory/field exercises is strongly recommended.

Lectures in the classroom are delivered through multimedia presentations.

The laboratory exercises are aimed at the practical application of the theoretical knowledge acquired during the lectures. In particular, the following will be developed:

    1) Group exercises related to the visual census technique through analysis of photographic images with standard squares
    2) Group exercises related to the ROV-Imaging technique for the study of the deep fauna of invertebrates and fish
    3) Group exercises aimed at analyzing images and critically evaluating the environmental gradients and the characterizing species 

The exercises are carried out in normal classrooms and include a joint discussion of the results of the exercises carried out.

The course also includes two field trips along the Ligurian coast aimed at characterizing (through snorkeling) the invertebrate and benthic fish fauna of the hard bottom intertidal and the use of visual census techniques of the fauna of the Posidonia oceanica meadow.

Please refer to the AulaWeb / TEAMS specific application of the course for any updates due to changes in the health and epidemiological situation.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

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

· General definitions related to benthos and principles of benthic bionomy

· Main methodologies for the study of benthos

· Principles of benthos ecology and aspects related to symbiotic interactions in benthic organisms

 

· Environmental, biological and ecological characterization of the animal and plant biocoenoses of the main benthic ecosystems (intertidal, rocky subtidal and caves, incoherent subtidal, plant-dominated environments, Mediterranean circalittoral, animal-dominated environments, deep environments, ephemeral environments, coral reefs, fjords , polar environments, transitional environments, fresh waters)

· Anthropogenic impact on benthic communities

· Conservation of benthic communities

 

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

All the slides used during the lessons and other didactic material will be available on AulaWeb / TEAMS at the end of each lesson / laboratory exercise.

 

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

MARZIA BO (President)

FEDERICO BETTI

STEFANO SCHIAPARELLI (President Substitute)

GIORGIO BAVESTRELLO (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

For lessons start and timetable go to the link: https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/

Please check the module Aulaweb page for timetable updates dependent on the sanitary and epidemic situation.

Class schedule

BENTONOLOGY

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of an oral test, and is aimed at assessing the knowledge of the fundamental elements of the subject and the ability to connect between the various topics. The final mark is given by the arithmetic average between the marks of the three modules of KNOWLEDGE AND MANAGEMENT OF MARINE BIODIVERSITY.

The test can be taken independently of the other two modules. The exams published on the UNIGE website include 5 dates in the summer session (June, July, September).

Please refer to the AulaWeb / TEAMS specific application of the course for any updates due to changes in the health and epidemiological situation.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Details on how to prepare for the exam and the degree of in-depth analysis required for each topic will be provided during the lessons. The exam will focus mainly on the topics covered during the lectures and will aim to assess not only if the student has reached an adequate level of knowledge, but also if he/she has acquired the ability to recall theoretical notions by applying them to simple contexts, such as the description of images of aquatic environments presented and discussed during the examination. The ability to present arguments clearly and with correct terminology will also be assessed.

 

FURTHER INFORMATION

Constant and regular attendance to lectures and related laboratory exercises is strongly recommended.