Biomonitoring and Biodiversity Conservation

Biomonitoring and Biodiversity Conservation

Academic year 2020/2021

Sommario del corso

• Course objectives
• Results of learning outcomes
• Course delivery
• Program
• Notes
• More information
• Teaching tools

Course objectives

The "Biomonitoring and Biodiversity Conservation" course aims at providing basic notions on field sampling methods to assess the integrity of Alpine environments and main threats at local and global scale. Students will participate in several field activities concerning terrestrial (plants and lichens) and aquatic (algae, insects and fish) communities.

Results of learning outcomes

Students will learn concepts and application of biomonitoring techniques applied to aquatic and terrestrial Alpine ecosystems and possible strategies for habitat integrity and biodiversity conservation.

The course is designed as a summer school in the heart of the Alps and is aimed at increasing important soft skills of PhD students such as  Teamwork, Communication, Problem-solving and Critical thinking

Course delivery

The course is organised in two days  in Valle Po (Parco del Monviso) at Alpstream  Centre in Ostana (Cuneo) at the altitude range of 1200 – 1800 m asl. in summer

Program

The course is organized into 2 modules:

Module 1:   Day 1  (28^th June h 9.30-17.30)

Biomonitoring  and biodiversity conservation in running waters (Prof Francesca Bona – Stefano Fenoglio)

• Introduction on field methods in stream ecology (Alpstream lab)
• Field activities for stream habitat characterisation (Po river)
• Sampling and first analysis of aquatic organisms: benthic algae, chlorophyll, aquatic insects and fish (Po river- Alpstream lab)
• Strategies for conservation: the no-kill reserve in the Po river- Parco del Monviso (Po river)
• Discussion on data collected on biodiversity and ecological processes (Alpstream lab)

Module 2: Day 2 (29^th June h 9.30 -17,30)

   Biomonitoring and biodiversity conservation of Alpine vegetation (Prof Sergio Favero Longo – Consolata Siniscalco)

• Introduction on field methods for the survey of alpine vegetation (Alpstream lab)
• Field activities for monitoring plant and lichen diversity (grasslands and larch woods near Ostana)
• Sampling and first analysis of data (grasslands and larch woods near Ostana)
• Discussion on plant and lichen functional traits, environmental drivers, vegetation dynamics and biodiversity conservation (Alpstream lab)

Class schedule

Note

All practical aspects will be presented in an upcoming  Webex meeting. Updates will be posted here and emailed to students.

More information

• Teaching materials
• Exams and finals
• Go to Moodle
• Visit the forums