CODE 34041 ACADEMIC YEAR 2024/2025 CREDITS 2 cfu anno 2 SCIENZE AMBIENTALI E NATURALI 9916 (L-32) - GENOVA 2 cfu anno 2 CONSERVAZIONE E GESTIONE DELLA NATURA 10589 (LM-60) - GENOVA SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINARY SECTOR BIO/05 LANGUAGE Italian TEACHING LOCATION GENOVA SEMESTER 2° Semester TEACHING MATERIALS AULAWEB OVERVIEW Active participation to proposed training activities (lectures, technical visits and field activities) together with the individual study will allow the student to - understand the main biological characteristics of amphibians and reptiles (ecology, distribution) - understand the evolutionary relationships of these animals - apply the knowledge to the identification of amphibians and reptiles of Liguria 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 AIMS AND CONTENT LEARNING OUTCOMES Active participation to proposed training activities (lectures, technical visits and field activities) together with the individual study will allow the student to - understand the main biological characteristics of amphibians and reptiles (ecology, distribution) - understand the evolutionary relationships of these animals - apply the knowledge to the identification of amphibians and reptiles of Liguria PREREQUISITES The following basic knowledge is necessary to effectively address the teaching content: nomenclature and zoological systematics anatomy of amphbians and reptiles evolution of amphbians and reptiles TEACHING METHODS The teaching consists of lectures, for a total of about 14/15 hours, practical field activity, technical field visit to the Natural History Museum and for 4/5 hours, for a total of 18/20 hours. Attendance at lessons and practical activities is not mandatory. The laboratory is held by the official teacher. In the practical laboratory activities, students in pairs have at their disposal a binocular stereoscope and personal copies of the dichotomous recognition keys (the latter supplied by the teacher). Students must identify preserved specimens of amphbians and reptiles of Liguria. Each identification is immediately confirmed by the teacher. The organization and dates of laboratory "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 General introduction (structure and contents of the course; Aul@ web and resources, importance of the technical visits and laboratories, methods of examination) Characteristics of amphibians and reptiles Egg structure Fecundation Parental cares: definition Active and passive nest defense Egg and larvae transport Juvenile feeding Egg brooding RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY Lecture slides are available on Aulaweb. Recommended books Zoologia dei Vertebrati. Pough, Janis e Heiser (2001). CEA Casa Editrice Ambrosiana Biology of amphibians. Diuellman, Trueb, (1994). McGraw Hill Publishing. Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles. Vitt, Caldwell (2013). Academic Press. The Ecology and Behavior of Amphibians. Wells (2007). University of Chicago, Press. TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD SEBASTIANO SALVIDIO Ricevimento: Teacher available on request. LESSONS Class schedule The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy EXAMS EXAM DESCRIPTION The exam consists of an oral discussion of the lectured topics. There will be 2 exams in the winter session (mid-January-February) and 5 in the summer session (June, July and September). No extraordinary exams will be granted outside the periods indicated, with the exception of out-of-course students. ASSESSMENT METHODS The exam consists of an oral discussion of the lectured topics.
