OVERVIEW

Geobotany analyzes interactions of plant species with abiotic and biotic factors (autoecology), the geographical distribution of plants (chorology) and the study of plant communities, habitats and plant within landscapes (plant synecology). The teaching provides fundament of geobotany and its application to evaluate of the responses of plant populations to different types of disturbances and environmental pressures.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching aims to provide the theoretical bases and methodological tools for the knowledge of the main geobotanical, floristic, vegetational and mycological aspects of ecosystems. Geobotany enables the students to interpret the natural and anthropic causes affecting the evolution of the aforementioned ecosystems. Finally, the study of geobotany allows acquiring the skills to address applied topics such as the assessment and monitoring of the quality of environments, design, restoration and environmental recovery. Specific attention will be given to the analysis of biodiversity of vegetation series to better understand the influence of human activities and management strategies on the biodiversity of plant populations.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course provides the tools to i) interpret the interactions between ecological factors (climate, soil, anthropic activities) and distributional patterns and how these influence the phytocoenoses associations from the local scale (plant associations) to the global one (biomes) and vegetation dynamics; ii) collect, understand and use data regarding flora, funga and vegetation from different sources: specialistic literature, bibliographic data, scientific publications, floristic and vegetation cartography, management plans of institutions and protected areas and green technologies. These knowledge bases will find application through the acquisition of data in the field (floristic, mycological and phytosociological surveys).

Specifically, the teaching aim developing an approach that considers both the interactions between ecological factors and the distribution of plant communities, as well as their influence on species and plant communities at different scales and vegetation dynamics. These dynamics allow us to understand the tendency of plant populations to change over time until they reach an equilibrium with local ecological conditions (vegetation series).

Specifically, students will:

- evaluate the environmental complexity and the degree of naturalness/alteration of the plant component;

- process the data collected in relation to the context and purpose of the investigation;

-address issues relating to the most innovative and eco-sustainable technologies for the use of plants and fungi in applied environmental contexts.

PREREQUISITES

Passing the Systematic Botany exam should ensure sufficient knowledge of the main tree and shrub species characteristic of the different types of vegetation in Italy. An in-depth study of mycology is advisable and a general knowledge of the concepts and language of ecology, in particular plant ecology, is essential; However, the most important elements of the aforementioned topics are recalled at the beginning of the course.

TEACHING METHODS

The course includes 7 CFU (ECTS credits) of lectures and 1 CFU of field and laboratory exercises. The lectures are delivered with the aid of PowerPoint presentations that illustrate the concepts and content explained orally by the instructors. These materials are made available on Aulaweb.

The course includes exercises carried out in the field and on-site laboratory activities aimed at putting into practice the theoretical knowledge provided and discussed during the teaching.

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.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Principles of plant ecology: environmental factors and plant adaptations; biological forms.

Chorology: range types; geographical and taxonomic relics; endemism; geographical and ecological vicariance. Chorotypes of the Italian flora; chorological spectra. Floristic areas. Changes in ranges; biogeographical models of dispersal, vicariance, ecological and model integration.

Biodiversity: concept and evaluation criteria; specific richness and variety, gradients of diversity in space and time. Biomes.

Study of vegetation: structural and functional characteristics of phytocoenoses; vegetation dynamics: successions, mature stages. Planes or bands of vegetation in Italy and Liguria; typical species of the main plant environments in Liguria.

Phytosociology: criteria and methods, nomenclature, syntaxonomy, main classes of European vegetation; notes on vegetation cartography; notes on the description of plant landscapes: symphytosociology.

Applied mycology: notes on the main taxonomic groups of fungi of applied interest; saprotrophic fungi and their role in natural ecosystems and those subjected to anthropic pressure; methods of studying and monitoring fungi in different application contexts.

Applied botany: technologies and application approaches in relation to biomonitoring, green technologies, Nature-based Solution.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

For exam preparation, it is recommended to read specialized texts on the topics included in the syllabus, among which the following are noted:

UBALDI D., 2012 - Guida allo studio della flora e della vegetazione. CLUEB. Bologna.

(eventually, previous editions, eg. UBALDI D., 2003 – Flora, fitocenosi e ambiente.  Elementi di Geobotanica e Fitosociologia. Clueb. Bologna.)

PIGNATTI S.,1976 - Geobotanica. In: CAPPELLETTI, Botanica, vol. II. UTET. Torino.

PIGNATTI S. et al., 1995 -Ecologia vegetale. UTET. Torino.

PIGNATTI S., 1994 - Ecologia del paesaggio. UTET. Torino

other sources:

EHRENDORFER, 1979 – Geobotanica. In: STRASBURGER, Trattato di Botanica, parte sistematica. Delfino Editore.

CANEVA G. (a cura di), 2005 – La biologia vegetale per i Beni culturali. Vol II. Conoscenza e valorizzazione. Nardini Editore. Firenze. 500 pp. (per la Geobotanica storica, specialmente cap. 10, ma anche capp. 1,3,8).

POLUNIN O. e WALTERS M., 1987 – Guida alle vegetazioni d'Europa. Zanichelli. Bologna.

GIACOMINI V., FENAROLI L., 1958 - La Flora. Collana "Conosci l'Italia.". T.C.I. Milano.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Refer to the detailed timetable below link: https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/

Class schedule

GEOBOTANY AND ELEMENTS OF APPLIED BOTANY

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The acquisition of the concepts covered in the course and the ability to present them correctly are assessed through an oral exam, which typically includes three to four questions spanning the entire syllabus and the exercises performed. In addition to knowledge of the topics covered, the ability to correlate them with each other and with the principles of plant ecology is evaluated.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

In addition to the oral exam, which determines the final grade, written tests could be done throughout the year to periodically assess learning. A starting assessment test will provide an overview of the students' botanical knowledge, allowing for basic supplementation, if necessary.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Regular attendance is strongly recommended, especially for the field exercises; attendance is mandatory (at least 70% of the classes) to participate in the Naturalistic Campaign scheduled at the end of the third year. For this purpose, each student's presence at lectures and exercises is recorded.