CONSERVAZIONE DELLA FAUNA MARINA CON LAB. ITTIOLOGIA
Written examination.
The first objective (3 ECTS) of the course is to provide a general and complete vision of the problems related to the assessment and conservation of marine fauna, with particular emphasis to the problems related to the genetic conservation of marine animals.
The second objective (3 ECTS), to be proposed as part of the English semester, will have the ichthyology as focus. Topics of this course will include the anatomy, elements of physiology, behavior and ecology and systematics of the commonest fish of the Mediterranean.
The third objective (3 ECTS) provides for the acquisition of specific operational expertise in the field (visual census) and in the genetics lab.
-Problems related to the conservation of marine fauna. The importance of MPAs for the connectivity between threatened or rare species. The importance of genetic studies in conservation genetics. Notes on: molecular markers; usefulness of molecular markers in the study of biodiversity and conservation; methods and molecular techniques for the study of genetic diversity; dominant and co-dominant markers.
Some molecular methods widely used in molecular systematics and conservation genetics. Practical cases of application of molecular methods to the conservation genetics (3 ECTS).
-Ichthyology: External and internal morphological features of fish. Anatomy and elements of physiology and systematics of Cyclostomata (lampreys and hagfish). Lampreys of the Mediterranean. Anatomy and elements of physiology and systematics of Chondrichthyes (sharks and rays). Main sharks and rays of the Mediterranean. Anatomy and elements of physiology and systematics of Osteichthyes (bony fish). Main teleost fish of the Mediterranean (3 ECTS).
-Knowledge of the main components of fish species of the Mediterranean. Workshop on the recognition in the field (visual census) of fish. Laboratory of molecular biology (3 ECTS).
1) Cognetti G., Sarà M. & G. Magazzù, 1999. Biologia Marina. Calderini Ed., Bologna.
2) Riedl R., 1991. Fauna e Flora del Mediterraneo. Franco Muzzio editore, Padova.
3) Richard B. Primack. 1998. Essentials of conservation biology. Second edition. 1998. Sinauer Associates.
The slides and other materials used for lectures will be made available to the students.
The course is composed by three sections:
- The first comprises frontal lessons on 1) conservation of marine fauna and conservation genetics of rare or threatened species (3 ECTS), and 2) ichthyology (3 ECTS).
- The second, in relation to available funds, provides for field activity in Sardinia, aimed to observe and recognize species of fish in their natural habitat (1 ECTS).
- The third, to be performed at the laboratory of molecular biology, provides for practical activity related to the collection and management of genetic data linked to problems of conservation of rare and/or protected marine species (2 ECTS).
Contacts:
Dipartimento di SCIENZE DELLA NATURA E DEL TERRITORIO
VIA MURONI 25 SASSARI
Tel. 079 228924; Fax 079 228665 ;
e-mail: marcasu@uniss.it
Supervision hours:Please, contact the lecturer by e-mail.
Readiness to offer individual assistance in a foreign language to incoming students (English): YES
Availability of supporting material and bibliographic references also in a foreign language (English): YES
Readiness to accept examination of incoming students also in a foreign language (English) : YES