The course will first provide an introduction to climate change science, with a focus on the effects of global change on European and Mediterranean ecosystem functions and services, and then it will address the observed and anticipated impacts of global climate change on Italian ecosystems. During the course, the students will acquire an in-depth knowledge of conservation and management issues related to vulnerable Italian ecosystems.
Essentials of Conservation Biology, Fifth Edition. Richard B. Primack. Sinauer Associates, Inc, 2010.
Ecoystems and human well-being. Vol 1: Current States and Trends. The Millenium Ecosystem Assessment. Island Press, 2005.
Learning Objectives
Knowledge acquired:
General information on the effect of climate changes on natural systems. Predictive models about the impacts of global warming, ocean acidification and purported enhanced frequency of hypoxic events on ecosystems
Competence acquired:
Ability to understand the relationships between climate change and human impact. Ability of dentify the climate change effects on ecosystems.
Skills acquired (at the end of the course): ability to discriminate the effects of the various climate change components on the Mediterranean biological
Prerequisites
Courses to be used as requirements (required and/or recommended):
Total hours of the course (including the time spent in attending lectures, seminars, private study, examinations, etc...): 150
Hours reserved to private study and other indivual formative activities: 60
Contact hours for: Lectures (hours): 48
Contact hours for: Laboratory (hours):
Contact hours for: Laboratory-field/practice (hours): 42
Seminars (hours):
Stages:
Intermediate examinations:
Further information
Frequency of lectures, practice and lab: suggested
Teaching tools: overhead projector
. laptop, dissection microscopes, in field monitoring tools
Type of Assessment
Oral examination on the topics explained in the lectures and on the methods shows during the in field practices.
Evaluation of the assumption of concepts and rationale beyond the acquired knowledge
Course program
Introduction to the physical settings, geological, biological and ecological characteristics of the natural systems occurring in Italy.
Effects of multiple human stressors on Italian ecosystems. I, Climate change: its effects on natural systems, perception of stake holders and policy makers, management issues.
Effects of multiple human stressors on Central Italy ecosystems. II, pollution, direct anthropogenic stresses, conservation efforts.
Multiple impacts to the Tyrrhenian sea: current threats to marine systems, with a special emphasis on the coastal species and habitats
Conservation and restoration approaches and ecosystem-based management. Overview and study-cases from Italy