NATURE CONSERVATION
Learning outcomes of the course unit
[object Text] The aim of the course is toprovide the basis of knowledge on problems that afflict both biologicaldiversity and ecosystems, and provide the most recent tools for theirconservation and management. Il corso si propone di fornire i fondamenti per lacomprensione dei problemi che affliggono la diversità biologica e gliecosistemi e fornire gli strumenti più moderni per la loro conservazione egestione
Prerequisites
To have passed the exam of:Botany, Ecology, Genetics, and Zoology.
Course contents summary
Part I: Introduction (0,5 CFU)
Populations,resources, deterioration of the environment and pollution
Culturalchanges, Sustainable development and biological diversity
Part II: Biologicalconservation concepts (0,5 CFU)
Biologicalconservation, biological diversity
Conservationand evolution: the extinction process
PartIII: The value of biological diversity(0.5 CFU)
Directand indirect economic values of diversity
Theethical value of biological diversity
PartIV: Threats to biological diversity (1,5CFU)
Lossof biological diversity: past rates of extinction, human-caused extinctions,island
biogeographyand modern extinction rates, local extinctions
Habitatdestruction, fragmentation, and degradation
Forestfragmentation and conservation of biological diversity
Habitatfragmentation in the temperate zone
Exoticspecies introdutions, disease, and overexploitation
Endemicspecies, the legal status of rare species
Vulnerabilityto extinction
PartV: Conservation at the population level (1 CFU)
Theproblems of small populations: loss of genetic variability, demographicvariation,
environmentalvariation, extinction vortices
Populationbiology of endangered species
Exsitu conservation strategies
Establishingnew populations
PartVI: Conservation at the community/ecosystem level (1 CFU)
Methodsfor establishing, designing, and managing protected areas
Restorationecology
Conservationand human societies: current state of species and habitats protection
Part VII: Non-biologicalresources (1CFU)
Evaluationof energy resources: perpetuable, renewable, and exhaustible resources
Airas a resource and air pollution
Climate,global overheating and ozone layer depletion
Wateras a resource and water pollution
Soilas a resource and probems linked to its use
Foodresources
Recommended readings
[object Text] The teacher suggests thefollowing books:
a) Part I and VII:
Miller G.T., 1997. Ambiente, Risorse, Sostenibilità.Piccin, Padova.
b) Part II, III, IV, V andVI:
Primack R.B., 2003. Conservazione della natura.Zanichelli Editore, Bologna.
Other books:
Marchetti R. (Ed.), 1993. Ecologia Applicata. CittàStudi Ed., Milano.
Garaguso G.C. & Marchisio S. (Eds.), 1993. Rio1992: Vertice per la Terra. Franco Angeli, Milano.
Frankel O.H. & Soulé M.E., 1981. Conservation andevolution. Cambridge University Press.
Soulé M.E. (ed.), 1986. Conservation Biology. TheScience of Scarcity and Diversity. Sinauer Ass. Inc., Sunderland.
Warren A. & Goldsmith F.B., 1991. Conservation inPerspective. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester.
Fiedler P.L. & Jain S.K. (eds.), 1992.Conservation Biology. Chapman & Hall, New York.
