AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course will provide basic knowledge on Conservation Physiology (CP), a rapidly expanding discipline that utilizes the approaches and tools of comparative and environmental physiology , to understand and help solving the conservation problems through the study of the organism responses to environmental changes induced by human activities that can cause or contribute to population decline. The basic approach of Conservation physiology in contributing to biomonitoring, management, and restoration of animal populations will be illustrated; a summary of the tools currently available in the conservation physiology toolbox will be provided, in particular the main biomarkers of environmental changes, and the mechanisms underlying responses to such perturbations, in order to develop proactive conservation strategies. The role of CP in tackling diverse conservation issues ranging from monitoring environmental stress, predicting the impact of climate change, understanding disease dynamics, improving captive breeding, reducing human–wildlife conflict, will be discussed. Due to the large variety of taxa and environments, case studies on vertebrates and invertebrates will be illustrated.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Conservation physiology is a rapidly expanding multidisciplinary field that applies physiological knowledge and tools to understand and address challenges related to biodiversity conservation. This course provides an overview of its scope, objectives, and main methodologies, with a particular focus on wildlife.

Attendance and participation in the planned learning activities (lectures), supported by the analysis of a series of case studies from different regions of the world, will enable students to:

• understand the major avenues of development and the advances through which conservation physiology contributes to the monitoring, management, and restoration of wild animal populations;
• acquire the knowledge necessary to understand how the major anthropogenic environmental changes affect different groups of animals, including both invertebrates and vertebrates inhabiting freshwater, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems;
• understand how the tools and approaches of conservation physiology can be applied to address a wide range of conservation issues, including monitoring environmental stress, predicting the impacts of climate change, understanding disease dynamics, improving captive breeding programs, and reducing human–wildlife conflicts;
• identify opportunities for further growth in the field and recognize key areas that require future research and investigation.

PREREQUISITES

Knowledge of basic physiological mechanisms on animals from cellular to organism level

TEACHING METHODS

The course includes lectures given using multimedia presentations; analysis and discussion of scientific articles in English.

Attendance at classes is strongly recommended.

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 course includes lectures covering the following main topics:

• Introduction to the Course
• Applications of physiological tools in conservation: selected examples
• Tools of conservation physiology: biomarkers and their applications
• Conservation physiology and climate change: organism–environment heat exchange
• Physiological plasticity and adaptive responses
• Endocrine systems: vertebrate hormones, reproduction, hormonal regulation of vitellogenesis, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals

Case Studies

• Social insects: the honey bee as a model species
• Bivalve mollusks
• Marine and freshwater fish
• Amphibians: physiological responses to hydration and temperature
• Reptiles: physiological responses to hydration and temperature

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

All teaching materials (ppt presentations, scientific articles) will be available to the students on Aulaweb.

Recommended reading: Conservation Physiology: Applications for Wildlife Conservation and Management Christine L. Madliger, Craig E. Franklin Eds.  Oxford University Press, 2020, 368 pp.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

LAURA CANESI (President)

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral examination. Two exams in the winter session and 4 in the summer session.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Further information on exam preparation and the level of depth required for each topic will be provided throughout the course lectures.

Assessment of learning goals will consist in an oral examination, that will evaluate the acquired knowledge on the basal aspects of the subject, the capacity to connect the different topics, and to apply theoretical knowledge to simple practical context. The quality of public, speaking, the correct utilization of scientific language and the capacity of critical reasoning will be also evaluated.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students who have submitted a certification of a physical disability or a learning disability (Specific Learning Disorder, SLD) to the University can find information about support services on the webpage https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa, provided by the Student Inclusion Services for Students with Disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD).

Students may also contact Prof. Cristina Carbone (cristina.carbone@unige.it), the DISTAV departmental contact person for disability support.