28768 - Principles of Biological Conservation

Academic Year 2010/2011

  • Docente: Carlo Ferrari
  • Credits: 3
  • SSD: BIO/03
  • Language: Italian
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Biological Sciences (cod. 8012)

Learning outcomes

Basic information on theoretical and applied aspects of conservation biology, from genome to landscape.

Course contents

Main aspects of biological diversity: genetic, taxonomic and environmental diversity. Geographic distribution of biodiversity: hot spots. Factors affecting biodiversity. Red and Blue lists. Conservation in-situ and ex-situ. Extinction. Conservation and management of ecosystems. Types of species diversity. Focal points. Biodiversity in ecotones and ecoclines. Biodiversity and time: turnover, fugacity. Landscape as a paradigm for the conservation biology. Quantitative analysis of a landscape. The percolation theory. Source-sink systems. Connectivity and contiguity. Types of protected areas. The man's impact. Biological invasions. Ecological indicators of sustainability.

Readings/Bibliography

Ferrari C., Biodiversità: dal genoma al paesaggio. Zanichelli, Bologna 2010

Teaching methods

Oral lessons

Assessment methods

Oral examination

Office hours

See the website of Carlo Ferrari