Laboratory of Inland Water Biodiversity and Ecology is mainly focusing on providing students a solid basic knowledge of both abiotic and biotic features of diverse inland waters’ habitats. Furthermore, it will try to develop the ability to identify both native and non-native aquatic animals and plants, analyzing their different strategies and ways of colonization and adaptation to different environmental drivers. Students will develop the ability to use the environmental monitoring tools for aquatic habitats and will acquire the basics for (i) planning and carrying out water chemical-physical analyses and (ii) sampling aquatic organisms and banks, with the ability to analyze and represent data. Finally, students will have the opportunity to learn and test some application aspects related to hydrobiology, and the sector of ecosystem services and biomonitoring in the aquatic environments.
Prerequisiti
Knowledge of the basic concepts of the Botany, Zoology and Ecology.
Prerequisiti
Knowledge of the basic concepts of the Botany, Zoology and Ecology.
teacher profile teaching materials
Programme
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. AQUATIC LIFE: PLANCTON, NECTON E BENTHOS; CLASSIFICATION, 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 LACUSTRINE AND RIVER SYSTEMS.Core Documentation
Bettinetti R., G. Crosa, S. Galassi. 2007. Ecologia delle acque interne. Edizioni CittàStudiReference Bibliography
Teaching materials provided during the courseType of delivery of the course
the course includes frontal laboratory lessons and field activitiesAttendance
attendance is highly recommendedType of evaluation
the exam consists in a written test with multiple choice questions and open-ended questions teacher profile teaching materials
Life in waters. Elements of classification of dominant animal and plant species in freshwater environments, metabolism and life cycles, forms of specific adaptation to lentic and lotic environments, methods of biological sampling and data collection, qualitative-quantitative measures of abundance and biomass, energy transfers and transformations, food chains and networks (primary production, consumers, breakers). Examples of ecological characteristics of lake and river systems. Application aspects relative to biodepuration and biomonitoring of water quality.
2. Teaching materials provided during the course
Programme
Knowledge of the main physical (current water movements, tides and seiches, temperature, heat balance of water bodies, density, transparency, luminosity, salinity, conductivity, hardness) and chemical properties of freshwaters (dissolved oxygen and factors regulating its solubility, carbon dioxide, bicarbonates and carbonates, pH, nutrient cycle and organic matter, BOD, COD, contaminants). Instrumental methodologies for physico-chemical sampling of water.Life in waters. Elements of classification of dominant animal and plant species in freshwater environments, metabolism and life cycles, forms of specific adaptation to lentic and lotic environments, methods of biological sampling and data collection, qualitative-quantitative measures of abundance and biomass, energy transfers and transformations, food chains and networks (primary production, consumers, breakers). Examples of ecological characteristics of lake and river systems. Application aspects relative to biodepuration and biomonitoring of water quality.
Core Documentation
1. Bettinetti R., G. Crosa, S. Galassi. 2007. Ecologia delle acque interne. Edizioni CittàStudi.2. Teaching materials provided during the course
Type of delivery of the course
The course includes lectures in classroom, practical exercises in laboratory and field excursions.Attendance
Frequency at lessons, exercise in laboratory and field excursions is not mandatory but highly recommended.Type of evaluation
Oral exam on topics covered during the course.