The biology, succession, developmental cycles of arthropods in matters of criminal prosecution. Emphasis will be laid on the analysis of arthropods from crime scene, and its importance in establishing a time and place of death. The course will explain what is the Wildlife Forensic Science and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). It will also explain the main strategies to prevent poaching and trafficking of wildlife animals and their parts as well as the food frau
Forensic Ecology Handbook: From Crime Scene to Court. 2012. Editors: Nicholas Márquez-Grant, Julie Roberts. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ISBN: 9781119974192.
Scientific papers.
Learning Objectives
- deep knowledge in the field of forensic zoology
- knowledge on how to carry out surveys and assessments on crime scenes.
- to be able to use theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of forensic zoology.
- to use scientific research skills in research related to forensic sciences
- to apply critical thinking, problem solving, creative thinking, decision making to the field f forensic sciences
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of zoology and animal ecology
Teaching Methods
Lectures
Further information
Case studies. Critical reading of scientific papers. thematic in-depth studies by students
Type of Assessment
Half-couse group presentation
Oral examination
Course program
Introduction to the forensic applications of applied zoology and entomology
Forensic entomology: definition
Elements of ecology. Corpses as ecosystems
Introduction to forensic entomology:
- insects and criminal investigations
- applied techniques on the crime scene
- breeding techniques
- arthropod successions in terrestrial environment, Post-Mortem Interval (PMI) calculations
- arthropod successions in lentic environment, PMI calculations
- experimental design applied to PMI calculations
- zoologial techniques applied to animal trafficking .
-Wildlife Forensic Sciences
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and its application purposes. Implementation of CITES in Italian legislation.
Lawful and illicit trafficking of protected animals and their products or parts.
The application of forensic DNA analysis techniques for supporting CITES. Species identification. Geographical origin/population identification. Individual identification. Reconstruction of individual relationships. Paternity-maternity molecular tests. Captive breeding.
Food Frauds