2019/2020

2019/2020

DM270

BIO/05 (ZOOLOGY)

DEPARTMENT OF EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

NATURAL SCIENCES

PERCORSO COMUNE

1°

2nd semester (02/03/2020 - 12/06/2020)

6

68 lesson hours

Italian

WRITTEN AND ORAL TEST

FASOLA MAURO (titolare) - 3 ECTS
PELLITTERI ROSA DANIELE - 3 ECTS

The course assumes that students have acquired the fundamental knowledge of Zoology, Ecology and Ethology. Moreover, knowledge of the R environment, as well as of the main features of linear models, is strongly advised.

The course aims to develop the concepts of conservation biology and ethology from an applied zoological point of view. The themes are treated starting from a general framework and proceeding with in-depth studies and practical examples. The aim of the course is to bring the student to acquire skills that enable research and controls on the fauna and on the animal behaviour through the following tools: census and data collection techniques, data analysis techniques, acquisition of documentation on the investigated topic, communication of the obtained results. Furthermore, the student will be provided with detailed information about which factors could influence the risk of extinction of animal populations, such as the effects of habitat destruction and fragmentation, as well as about several conservation tools, including the European directives on biodiversity and their application. Hence, the final objectives of the course include the deepening of the methodologies of investigation proper of the zoological groups treated in the course, together with the enhancement of the ability to elaborate a research evaluating both theoretical and practical aspects, through a correct use of literature and cartographic references, and to work both in autonomy and in groups, proposing a project concerning wildlife monitoring or ethological research.

The course is characterized by a strong practical connotation, with active participation of the student in field activities, data collection and analysis through statistical and modelling approaches that will be treated with interactive and highly educational seminars, as well as in the preparation of a research project to be presented at the end of the course. In the first period the themes related to the conservation of the fauna will be addressed: biology, ethological aspects, legislation, Natura 2000 and European Directives. Lessons and practical laboratories will then be dedicated to sampling methods, monitoring techniques, ethological methodology, calculation of ecological indices, statistical and modelling approach. Between April and May, participation in a 5-days field activity in an area of the northern Apennines (Oltrepò Pavese) is required and mandatory. In this period, the student will work both independently and in groups, collecting ethological and ecological data, processing the collected data and producing a research project that must be presented as part of the final exam.

The lessons will address both the theoretical and practical aspects of each topic, with different examples and case studies related to faunal monitoring, applied ethological research and management and conservation projects carried out in recent years on particularly threatened groups. Seminars will be held on specific topics and taxonomic groups by sector experts. The census techniques of animal biodiversity will be deepened for all the main animal taxa, from arthropods to vertebrates. In addition to the mandatory period of 5 consecutive days planned in the Apennines, educational trips are scheduled to illustrate the sampling methods explained during the frontal lessons. Furthermore, specific tutorials are planned in order to actively involve the student in the analysis of the data with a statistical and modelling approach through the use of the software R (GLM, occupancy models/N-mixture, mixed models, Bayesian inference).

- Sutherland WJ. 2006: Ecological Census Techniques. A handbook. Second Edition. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521606263

- Primack RB, Boitani L. 2013. Biologia della conservazione. Zanichelli Ed. ISBN: 9788808171146

- Kéry, M. (2010). Introduction to WinBUGS for ecologists: Bayesian approach to regression, ANOVA, mixed models and related analyses. Academic Press.

- Lambert, B. (2018). A student’s guide to Bayesian statistics. Sage.

Lectures on the various topics will also be provided by the teacher. On the UNIPV KIRO e-learning page, the pdf versions of all the presentations used for the lessons will also be provided; useful bibliographic materials and R scripts of data analysis programs used during lessons and exercises are also provided.

The exam will consist of two learning tests. The first consists in a written exam on the more general contents of the course. The second part consists of the oral discussion of a specific wildlife monitoring project or an applied behavioural study that will be prepared by the student based on the data collected during the field activities in Oltrepò Pavese. Both tests will be held on the same day.

The exam will consist of two learning tests. The first consists in a written exam on the more general contents of the course. The second part consists of the oral discussion of a specific wildlife monitoring project or an applied behavioural study that will be prepared by the student based on the data collected during the field activities in Oltrepò Pavese. Both tests will be held on the same day.