ID:
510415
Duration (hours):
55
CFU:
6
SSD:
ECOLOGIA
Year:
2025
Overview
Date/time interval
Secondo Semestre (02/03/2026 - 12/06/2026)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
The course provides students with basic theoretical and practical knowledge of marine and freshwater ecology, through lectures, practical laboratory work and field activities (Goals 14 and 15 of the UN AGENDA 2030 for Sustainable Development).
APPLIED KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
One of the aims of the course is to help students develop taxonomic skills on the main marine and freshwater groups of animals and plants, as well as encouraging them to interpret the discipline of the course through an ecosystem approach for the conservation of Oceans, Seas and freshwater environments. In addition, this course aims to make students more aware about the UN AGENDA 2030 for Sustainable Development goals, with particular regard to Goal 14 " Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development" and Goal 15 “Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss”.
AUTONOMY OF JUDGMENT:
The autonomy of judgment will be developed through laboratory and field activities, learning how to recognize marine and freshwater organisms and observing their peculiar morphological characteristics in relation to the environment in which they live.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
During the course, attention will be paid to the students’ skills in describing aquatic organisms and environments, stimulating discussions on possible conservation actions for the preservation of these environments.
ABILITY TO LEARN:
During the course, the Wooclap platform will be used to stimulate students' ability to learn specific topics and/or terminologies, as well as improving the taxonomic identification of organisms with laboratory and field work activities.
The course provides students with basic theoretical and practical knowledge of marine and freshwater ecology, through lectures, practical laboratory work and field activities (Goals 14 and 15 of the UN AGENDA 2030 for Sustainable Development).
APPLIED KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
One of the aims of the course is to help students develop taxonomic skills on the main marine and freshwater groups of animals and plants, as well as encouraging them to interpret the discipline of the course through an ecosystem approach for the conservation of Oceans, Seas and freshwater environments. In addition, this course aims to make students more aware about the UN AGENDA 2030 for Sustainable Development goals, with particular regard to Goal 14 " Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development" and Goal 15 “Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss”.
AUTONOMY OF JUDGMENT:
The autonomy of judgment will be developed through laboratory and field activities, learning how to recognize marine and freshwater organisms and observing their peculiar morphological characteristics in relation to the environment in which they live.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
During the course, attention will be paid to the students’ skills in describing aquatic organisms and environments, stimulating discussions on possible conservation actions for the preservation of these environments.
ABILITY TO LEARN:
During the course, the Wooclap platform will be used to stimulate students' ability to learn specific topics and/or terminologies, as well as improving the taxonomic identification of organisms with laboratory and field work activities.
Course Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of the fundamental concepts of ecology, and of zoological and botanical classification are required. These are achieved by passing the respective exams in the bachelor degree.
Teaching Methods
Frontal lessons, and practical laboratory works, field activities.
Attendance at the theoretical lectures and laboratory activity is strongly recommended.
The theoretical lectures will be presented with Power Point presentations; students participation will be stimulated through direct questions and self-evaluation tests. During the laboratory activities, the students will be trained to the observation of macroinvertebrates with the use of a stereoscope.
During the field work it will be possible to try sampling techniques in snorkeling.
Students participating the DIDATTICA INCLUSIVA program will have reserved access to video-recordings of all lectures.
Attendance at the theoretical lectures and laboratory activity is strongly recommended.
The theoretical lectures will be presented with Power Point presentations; students participation will be stimulated through direct questions and self-evaluation tests. During the laboratory activities, the students will be trained to the observation of macroinvertebrates with the use of a stereoscope.
During the field work it will be possible to try sampling techniques in snorkeling.
Students participating the DIDATTICA INCLUSIVA program will have reserved access to video-recordings of all lectures.
Assessment Methods
The oral exam on the contents of both modules comprises also a practical text on the taxonomical identification of marine and freshwater organisms shown during the laboratory activities.
Texts
PETER CASTRO, MICHAEL E. HUBER Biologia Marina. Edizione italiana a cura di Roberto Sandulli, Giuseppe Giaccone, Angelo Tursi. ISBN: 9788838666513 Prezzo: Euro 53.00, Pagine:568.
BERTONI R. Laghi e scienza: introduzione alla limnologia. Casa Editrice Aracne 2006. ISBN:
978885480473 Prezzo: Euro 19.00, pagine 268.
Additional working material will be directly provided by the teachers on UNIPV KIRO website (http://kiro2014.unipv.it/idcd/).
BERTONI R. Laghi e scienza: introduzione alla limnologia. Casa Editrice Aracne 2006. ISBN:
978885480473 Prezzo: Euro 19.00, pagine 268.
Additional working material will be directly provided by the teachers on UNIPV KIRO website (http://kiro2014.unipv.it/idcd/).
Contents
The course is composed by theoretical lectures, laboratory activities and one final field trip at the sea.
The LM-60 degree course in "Biodiversity Conservation, Teaching and Scientific Communication" requires the attendance Module 1 only (Marine Ecology).
Module 1 – Marine Ecology
Historical evolution of oceanographic sciences. Major abiotic factors in marine waters. Origin and morphology of the seabed. Morphological, physiological and ethological adaptations of the organisms to the marine environment, their distribution in relation to water depth. Primary and secondary production in marine environment. Fisheries and aquaculture. Pollution and coastal zone management. Role of marine protected areas and marine parks in coastal water conservation.
Module 2 – Freshwater Ecology
The river/lake web and hydrographical basins. Major lakes and rivers of the world and of the national territory, their morphological characteristics. Environmental factors affecting inland waters and their influence on the biota. Plankton, Benthos, Necton: main characteristics, distribution and study methods. Biological productivity. Pollution and mitigation. Biological indices of environmental quality in waters. Anthropic alterations of freshwater environments.
The LM-60 degree course in "Biodiversity Conservation, Teaching and Scientific Communication" requires the attendance Module 1 only (Marine Ecology).
Module 1 – Marine Ecology
Historical evolution of oceanographic sciences. Major abiotic factors in marine waters. Origin and morphology of the seabed. Morphological, physiological and ethological adaptations of the organisms to the marine environment, their distribution in relation to water depth. Primary and secondary production in marine environment. Fisheries and aquaculture. Pollution and coastal zone management. Role of marine protected areas and marine parks in coastal water conservation.
Module 2 – Freshwater Ecology
The river/lake web and hydrographical basins. Major lakes and rivers of the world and of the national territory, their morphological characteristics. Environmental factors affecting inland waters and their influence on the biota. Plankton, Benthos, Necton: main characteristics, distribution and study methods. Biological productivity. Pollution and mitigation. Biological indices of environmental quality in waters. Anthropic alterations of freshwater environments.
Course Language
Italian
More information
Within the practical activities of this course, a field trip to a natural park is also being organized, where students can learn to recognize the main habitats and related organisms and to apply non-destructive sampling techniques (i.e. visual census), which are usually applied as a monitoring tool in research activities.
Degrees
Degrees (2)
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION, SCIENCE EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION
Master’s Degree
2 years
2 years
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People
People (3)
Teaching staff
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