Mountain Ecosystems and Biodiversity Valorization
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
Acquisition of knowledge regarding mountain biodiversity and ecosystems, and their valorization. This includes knowledge of the mountain fauna and of its management in relation to its impact on the mountain environment and on related human, animal and plant components, and knowledge of the forces that create and destroy plant biodiversity, analysis of plant and vegetation responses to multiple external factors in montane contexts, and practical methods for plant, vegetation and habitat valorization and conservation.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding of mountain biodiversity (plant and animal), biodiversity issues (threats, mitigation, conservation) and ecosystem functioning and management. Ability to judge how and when resources should be used for the management or enhancement of biodiversity, taking into account the specificities of the mountain context. Communication and learning skills in relation to the appropriate use of scientific literature.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
12 Credits, organized as Unit 1 (Animal Resources in Mountain Environments; 5 credits of lectures, 1 credit of fieldcourse) and Unit 2 (Plant Resources in Mountain Environments; 5 credits of lectures, 1 credit of fieldcourse).
The course aims to provide knowledge on mountain fauna and on its management in relation to its impact on mountain environment and on all its human, animal and plant components.
Lectures
· Introduction to the concept and principles of management of animal resources (1 h)
· Biodiversity of animal resources and adaptation to life in mountain environment (3 h)
· Morphology, biology and behaviour of the main species of alpine mammals and birds (12 h)
· Relationships among different animal species (interspecific competition, cross-breeding, predation...) (2 h)
· Ecosystem services provided by wild (e.g. meat, tourism, hunting, biodiversity...) and domestic (e.g. meat, milk, wool, biodiversity, landscape...) animals in the mountain (4 h)
· Economic and social impact of animals (crop damage, predation, car accidents, transmission of diseases...); prevention methods (4 h)
· Wildlife monitoring (6)
o signs of presence
o census methods
o evaluation of nutritional and health conditions
o behavioural observations
· Management of wild animal resources (4)
o captures
o translocations (re-stocking, re-introductions, introductions)
o culling plans
· Management of domestic animal resources (4)
o grazing management (rotational grazing, leaders-followers...)
o choosing the most suitable species and breeds
· Understanding plant diversity - taxonomic and phylogenetic basics
· Understanding plant diversity - how evolution and speciation create biodiversity
· Understanding plant diversity - prominent plant taxa in mountain areas
· Understanding plant diversity - principal vegetation types and habitats in mountain areas
· Understanding plant diversity - cultivars and crop biodiversity at high altitude
· Mountain ethnobotany - traditional uses of alpine plants and plant products
· Plant environmental responses - adaptations to montane environments
· Plant environmental responses - understanding and measuring plant growth and stress
· Plant environmental responses - measuring plant functional traits and ecological strategies
· Plant ecology - analysis of community and vegetation properties in montane environments
· Plant ecology - montane ecosystem processes, a lesson from Chernobyl
· Plant ecology - reproductive ecology, pollination, seed dispersal and germination
· Plant ecology - herbaceous plants and ecosystem services
· Anthropogenic impacts - land use change and habitat fragmentation
· Anthropogenic impacts - invasive species
· Anthropogenic impacts - species and vegetation responses to climate change
· Plant conservation - legal protection, protected areas and project funding
· Plant conservation - management and in situ conservation of species and populations
· Plant conservation - ex situ conservation and cultivation methods
· Plant conservation - landscape restoration and habitat intervention methods
The course aims to provide knowledge on mountain fauna and on its management in relation to its impact on mountain environment and on all its human, animal and plant components.
Lectures
· Introduction to the concept and principles of management of animal resources (1 h)
· Biodiversity of animal resources and adaptation to life in mountain environment (3 h)
· Morphology, biology and behaviour of the main species of alpine mammals and birds (12 h)
· Relationships among different animal species (interspecific competition, cross-breeding, predation...) (2 h)
· Ecosystem services provided by wild (e.g. meat, tourism, hunting, biodiversity...) and domestic (e.g. meat, milk, wool, biodiversity, landscape...) animals in the mountain (4 h)
· Economic and social impact of animals (crop damage, predation, car accidents, transmission of diseases...); prevention methods (4 h)
· Wildlife monitoring (6)
o signs of presence
o census methods
o evaluation of nutritional and health conditions
o behavioural observations
· Management of wild animal resources (4)
o captures
o translocations (re-stocking, re-introductions, introductions)
o culling plans
· Management of domestic animal resources (4)
o grazing management (rotational grazing, leaders-followers...)
o choosing the most suitable species and breeds
· Understanding plant diversity - taxonomic and phylogenetic basics
· Understanding plant diversity - how evolution and speciation create biodiversity
· Understanding plant diversity - prominent plant taxa in mountain areas
· Understanding plant diversity - principal vegetation types and habitats in mountain areas
· Understanding plant diversity - cultivars and crop biodiversity at high altitude
· Mountain ethnobotany - traditional uses of alpine plants and plant products
· Plant environmental responses - adaptations to montane environments
· Plant environmental responses - understanding and measuring plant growth and stress
· Plant environmental responses - measuring plant functional traits and ecological strategies
· Plant ecology - analysis of community and vegetation properties in montane environments
· Plant ecology - montane ecosystem processes, a lesson from Chernobyl
· Plant ecology - reproductive ecology, pollination, seed dispersal and germination
· Plant ecology - herbaceous plants and ecosystem services
· Anthropogenic impacts - land use change and habitat fragmentation
· Anthropogenic impacts - invasive species
· Anthropogenic impacts - species and vegetation responses to climate change
· Plant conservation - legal protection, protected areas and project funding
· Plant conservation - management and in situ conservation of species and populations
· Plant conservation - ex situ conservation and cultivation methods
· Plant conservation - landscape restoration and habitat intervention methods
Prerequisites for admission
No particular prerequisites are necessary.
Teaching methods
Lectures, including the projection of photos and videos. In-depth seminars are planned. The course will include fieldwork activities.
Teaching Resources
The teaching material is represented by the pdf files of the slides presented in class, supplemented by the lecture notes. For further information you can refer to the texts, scientific articles and websites mentioned in the slides.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exams will consist of an oral interview aimed at ascertaining the acquisition of a correct understanding and the ability to re-elaborate the contents of the course. The exam will take place orally through the formulation of questions aimed at verifying the knowledge of the subject, capacity to explain pertinent arguments, and ability to critically analyze the course contents. The exam will be graded out of thirty and the final grade will take into account the accuracy and quality of the answers, as well as communication skills and the ability to adequately justify statements, analyzes and judgments during the interview.
AGR/19 - ANIMAL SCIENCE
BIO/03 - ENVIRONMENTAL AND APPLIED BOTANY
BIO/03 - ENVIRONMENTAL AND APPLIED BOTANY
Field activity: 16 hours
Laboratories: 16 hours
Lessons: 80 hours
Laboratories: 16 hours
Lessons: 80 hours
Professors:
Mattiello Silvana, Pierce Simon
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)