AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The sub-module aims to define the fields of landscape ecology in the marine environment and to understand the ecological processes that support metapopulations and metacommunities and their spatial organization. The main survey methods for benthos mapping, the principles of cartographic representation of the seascape, and Geographic Information Systems for seascape analysis and management will be described. Examples of marine environmental cartography, including historical and diachronic mapping, will be provided. The semiotics and diagnostics of the seascapes will be explained, defining ecological indicators and indices and their importance in environmental monitoring and assessment of the state of coastal marine habitats. Particular attention will be given to habitats of conservation interest in the European Union, such as coastal lagoons, seagrass meadows, rocky reefs, and submerged caves.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The student will be able to:

· Apply the concepts and principles of landscape ecology to the submerged marine landscape (i.e., seascape)

· Plan cartographic survey activities in the marine environment according to specific objectives, the scale of representation, and the benthic species to be mapped

· Describe the main seascapes and the habitats that constitute them, identifying the characteristic species, both animal and plant

· Understand, interpret, and describe the distribution of benthic organisms in a seascape, analyse community composition, and comprehend species adaptations to the environment based on interactions among organisms and environmental gradients

· Apply basic knowledge acquired to issues related to environmental monitoring and diagnostics for the conservation of marine habitats

· Assess the health and vulnerability of an ecosystem by identifying indicator species and analysing biological responses to environmental gradients

· Summarize, structure, and organize observations in group presentations and develop critical thinking skills.

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching consists of lectures and exercises carried out in class. The classroom lessons are delivered through multimedia presentations. Since the adoption of a reference text is not foreseen, attendance at classes is strongly recommended, while attendance at practical and laboratory activities is mandatory at 75%.The student will be able to make use of the material made available on Aulaweb. Since classroom exercises are planned on a periodic basis to apply the knowledge acquired, attendance at lessons and exercises is strongly recommended. The exercises also constitute a self-assessment test. The planned exercises are:

Exercise 1: Measures of connectivity

Exercise 2: Polygonal construction

Exercise 3: Topographic restitution of the seabed surveyed through a depth transect

Exercise 4: Habitat suitability in lagoons

Exercise 5: Shoot density of Posidonia

Exercise 6: Phenology and epiphytism of Posidonia

Exercise 7: Ecological indices of Posidonia

Exercise 8: Restitution of the data collected through a bionomic transect

The way lessons are taught may be modified due to emergencies that prevent in-person lessons from being held. In this case, classes will be held via the Teams platform using suitable substitute teaching tools.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The teaching program includes:

Introduction: definitions and fields of seascape ecology. Principles and methods of seascape ecology. Marine cartography. Basic cartography concepts. Planning and positioning of thematic marine cartographic surveys. Remote sensing. Ground truthing. Integrated surveys and emerging techniques. Three-dimensional surveying and photogrammetry. GIS (Geographical Information System) and its use for seascape analysis and management. Semiotics and diagnostics of the seascape. Indicators and indices. Habitat approach, with particular reference to habitats of conservation interest in the European Union. Estuaries and lagoons. Posidonia meadows. Rocky reefs. Submerged and semi-submerged marine caves. Seascape analysis. Bionomic maps and territorial maps. Marine environment assessment.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The adoption of a reference text is not envisaged. Copies of all the presentations used during the lessons, of the teaching material and of the scientific articles to be used for further study and for the preparation of the critical presentation of a case study required during the exam are available (downloadable from Aulaweb). The teaching material therefore consists of personal notes and the material available on Aulaweb. As a reference text, to integrate the contents of the lessons, the following is recommended:

O. Musard, L. Le Dû-Blayo, P. Francour, J.P. Beurier, E. Feunteun, L. Talassinos. Underwater Seascapes. From Geographical to Ecological Perspectives. Springer International Publishing, 291 pp. ISBN 978-3-319-03439-3

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

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

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of an oral test. The exam will begin with the presentation of a scientific article provided as supporting material on Aulaweb (exposed with the support of a short digital presentation, e.g. power point format or similar), and will continue with a further 2/3 questions asked by the teacher on the topics covered during classes and detailed in the program.

The grade of the MARINE LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY sub-module will be averaged with the grade of the QUANTITATIVE ECOLOGY sub-module to obtain the final grade of the MARINE ECOLOGY AND ANALYSIS module.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Details on how to prepare for the exam and the level of knowledge required for each topic will be provided at the beginning of the teaching and reiterated during the classes. The oral exam will mainly focus on the topics covered during the lectures and will aim to evaluate the achievement of the adequate level of knowledge. The ability to present the topics clearly and with correct terminology will also be assessed. The oral exam starts from the critical report of a scientific article (among those provided by the teacher and available on Aulaweb) presented in the form of a Power Point presentation, to evaluate the ability to understand a scientific text dealing with topics of marine landscape ecology and develop landscape information on the basis of knowledge of the fundamentals of the subject, the propensity to connect the various topics, and the mastery of the application aspects. The completeness and correctness of the exercises proposed in class will also be positively evaluated by those who bring them to view during the exam.

FURTHER INFORMATION

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.