20410208 - Biologia marina

The course is one of the optional training activities of the Master’s Degree in “Biodiversity and management of Ecosystems” and allows students to acquire a basic knowledge of Marine Biology and of the marine environment conservation, with a specific attention given to the Mediterranean Sea.
Educational objectives of the course are:
1) to acquire basic skills of Oceanography, related to the physico-chemical factors and the movement of the sea;
2) to acquire basic skills related to the biology and adaptations of marine organisms, as well as the most important Mediterranean species and habitats of conservation interest and Mediterranean biogeography;
3) to improve knowledge about monitoring and data collection techniques in the marine environment;
4) to acquire the concepts and skills related to the critical issues existing in the Mediterranean Sea, and the tools availablefor its management and protection.
teacher profile | teaching materials

Programme

1) INTRODUCTORY LIMNOLOGY: PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF WATER (TEMPERATURE-DENSITY, TRANSPARENCY, SALT COMPOSITION, SALINITY, CONDUCTIVITY, HARDNESS); WATER BODY THERMAL BALANCE; AQUATIC MOVEMENTS (CURRENTS, TIDE, SEICHE); DISSOLVED OXYGEN AND REGULATING FACTORS; CARBON DIOXIDE, BICARBONATE, CARBONATE, BUFFER SYSTEM, MINERAL ACIDITY AND ALKALINITY; NUTRIENT CYCLES; ORGANIC MATTER, TOTAL SOLIDS, SUSPENDED MATERIAL, SEDIMENTS, BOD AND COD.
2) AQUATIC LIFE: PLANCTON, NECTON E BENTHOS; CLASSIFICATION, METABOLISM AND LIFE CYCLES, COLLECTION METHODS AND TOOLS, ABUNDANCE AND BIOMASS ASSESSMENT; WATER COLUMN AND SEDIMENT ECOLOGY: PRIMARY PRODUCTION, SCRAPERS, SHREDDERS, AND SCAVENGERS: ENERGETIC FLOW IN FOOD PYRAMIDS AND WEBS; EXAMPLES OF SEA AND COASTAL AREAS


Core Documentation

Cognetti G., Sarà M., Magazzù G. - Biologia Marina. Edizioni Calderini, Roma, 1999. 596 pagine.

Reference Bibliography

MATERIAL AND HANDBOOKS PROVIDED DURING THE COURSE

Type of delivery of the course

The course will take place with lectures and computerized classroom exercises with the help of PCs and specific programs (PowerPoint / Excel / EcoSim)

Attendance

attendance is not mandatory but is strongly recommended

Type of evaluation

The test will consist of a test concerning the concepts learned during the course.