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.
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
organized and divided into four main parts:
Introduction to Marine Biology and Oceanography. Brief introduction to Marine Biology and Oceanography; origin and formation of the oceans; seabed and marine sediments; physical and chemical characteristics of the oceans; sea movements (currents, tides, waves); focus on the characteristics and circulation of the Mediterranean Sea.
Life in the Sea. Adaptations of organisms to the marine environment; reproduction and life cycles; associations between organisms; benthos and the vertical zonation; plankton; nekton; deep Sea environments; transitional environments, with particular reference to coastal lagoons. Main Mediterranean species and habitats of conservation interest. Biogeography of the Mediterranean Sea.
Sampling and monitoring methods in the marine environment. Main methods for monitoring and data collection in the marine environment; genetics and genomics of marine organisms: classical methods and new frontiers of genomics (environmental DNA and Next Generation Sequencing).
The Mediterranean Sea and the current challenges for its management and conservation. Brief introduction to the Community Directives, the Strategies, and the financing programmes for the protection of the marine environment; Focus on “hot topics”: adaptation and resilience to climate change; introduction of alien species, tropicalization and meridionalization of the Mediterranean Sea; impact of plastics; fishing tools and over-exploitation of fish resources; environmental contaminants and their transfer from the abiotic to the biotic compounds.
2. Castro P., Huber M.E.- Biologia Marina. Mcgraw Hill Education, 2011.
3. Danovaro R. Biologia Marina. Biodiversità e Funzionamento Degli Ecosistemi Marini (seconda edizione). 2019, Edizioni UTET
Programme
In line with the training objectives of the course, the MARINE BIOLOGY course program isorganized and divided into four main parts:
Introduction to Marine Biology and Oceanography. Brief introduction to Marine Biology and Oceanography; origin and formation of the oceans; seabed and marine sediments; physical and chemical characteristics of the oceans; sea movements (currents, tides, waves); focus on the characteristics and circulation of the Mediterranean Sea.
Life in the Sea. Adaptations of organisms to the marine environment; reproduction and life cycles; associations between organisms; benthos and the vertical zonation; plankton; nekton; deep Sea environments; transitional environments, with particular reference to coastal lagoons. Main Mediterranean species and habitats of conservation interest. Biogeography of the Mediterranean Sea.
Sampling and monitoring methods in the marine environment. Main methods for monitoring and data collection in the marine environment; genetics and genomics of marine organisms: classical methods and new frontiers of genomics (environmental DNA and Next Generation Sequencing).
The Mediterranean Sea and the current challenges for its management and conservation. Brief introduction to the Community Directives, the Strategies, and the financing programmes for the protection of the marine environment; Focus on “hot topics”: adaptation and resilience to climate change; introduction of alien species, tropicalization and meridionalization of the Mediterranean Sea; impact of plastics; fishing tools and over-exploitation of fish resources; environmental contaminants and their transfer from the abiotic to the biotic compounds.
Core Documentation
1. Cognetti G., Sarà M., Magazzù G. - Biologia Marina. Edizioni Calderini, Roma, 1999. 596 pagine (O successive ristampe).2. Castro P., Huber M.E.- Biologia Marina. Mcgraw Hill Education, 2011.
3. Danovaro R. Biologia Marina. Biodiversità e Funzionamento Degli Ecosistemi Marini (seconda edizione). 2019, Edizioni UTET
Reference Bibliography
Additional documents will be provided during the courseType of delivery of the course
The course will be divided into theoretical lessons and activities in fieldType of evaluation
the final examination will be conducted exclusively through an oral exam