99873 - Functional Diversity and Ecosystem Services

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will know the importance of functional biodiversity and the strategies for the conservation of ecosystem services. The student will possess the basic notions for the enhancement of the biological control of pest species, the conservation of rare species and the management of organic matter

Course contents

PREREQUISITE

The student attending this course has a good knowledge on agricultural entomology and the principles of crop protection from arthropod pests, both in integrated production and organic farming. This information is provided by the three-year degrees and by teachings of the Master's Degree in "Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie", preparatory to this course.

Modul 1: FUNCTIONAL DIVERSITY FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AND OTHER ECOSYSTEM SERVICES 

Functional biodiversity and ecosystem services. Insect biodiversity and spatial scale: alpha, beta and gamma diversity. Methods for measuring and comparing biodiversity: diversity indices, species distribution models and multivariate methods. Sampling methods to quantify the ecosystem services provided by insects. The concern of biodiversity decline: global review and analysis. Habitat directive.

The strategies to enhance the functional biodiversity in rural farm and to implement pest control. Enhancement of conservative biological control against insect pest. The role of ecological infrastructures for the conservation of beneficial insects. Composition and configuration of agricultural landscape. Landscape management at different scales of intervention, with practical examples. Functional biodiversity in the organic farm.

Other exemples of functional biodiversity within circular economy. The use of Hermetia illucens in the bioconversion of wastes. 

 

MODULE 2: AGRICULTURAL ZOOLOGY FOR PLANT DEFENSE

Fundamentals of general and systematic zoology. Concepts of living systems, ecosystems, and evolution. Anatomy and functional physiology of animals. Overview of comparative anatomy, zoogeography, and animal protection. Classification and comparative ecology of the main animal phyla: Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Nematodes, Mollusks, Annelids, Arthropods, Chordates.

Agricultural nematology: elements of nematodes classification, functional classification of phytoparasitic nematodes, bioecology of major species of agricultural interest, their agroecological relationships, and biocontrol. Entomopathogenic nematodes. Agricultural acarology: bioecology of major species of agricultural interest, their agroecological relationships, and biocontrol. Predatory mites. Additionally, the main mollusks, birds, and mammals of agricultural interest will be discussed. Functional zoological biodiversity, the role of certain animals in agroecosystems and their provision of ecosystem services (e.g., earthworms, spiders, insectivorous birds, bats, etc.). Zoosemiotics and chemical ecology applied to agroecosystems

Readings/Bibliography

For the preparation of the course, the teachers will provide the Power Point learning material used for the lectures, which will be available in: RISORSE DIDATTICHE SU VIRTUALE.
For further information and consultations, the following texts are recommended:

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005. Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Biodiversity Synthesis. World Resources Institute, Washington, DC.

Burgio G., Magagnoli S., Bazzocchi C., 2020. Le infrastrutture ecologiche in agroecologia: analisi delle ricadute sulla biodiversità funzionale. In BIOREPORT 2020 L'agricoltura biologica in Italia:273-306 pp.

Gurr G., Wratten S., 2000. Biological Control: Measures of success. Kluwer Academic Publishers

AA.VV. 2015 - Nematologia agraria generale e applicata - Società Italiana di Nematologia

Baccetti B. 2000 (a cura di) - Manuale di Zoologia Agraria - Antonio Delfino Editore, Roma.

Laffi F., Ponti I. 1997 - Acari Dannosi alle Piante. Edizioni L'informatore Agrario

Vacante V. 2016 - The Handbook of Mites of Economic Plants: Identification, Bio-ecology and Control. CABI, Wallingford, UK.

Teaching methods

The course includes theoretical and practical lectures in the classroom and laboratory.

- Lectures (40 hours) treat the program in a theoretical way.

- Practical activities (20 hours) such as: identification of taxa through photographic, audiovisual material and entomological boxes; case study analysis with examples of strategies to enhance ecosystem services in the rural farm; use of the Serious Games "SEGAE" to simulate an agroecological farm.

Assessment methods

The learning assessment of the course is based on a final examination, which tests the acquisition of knowledge and skills expected by two phases:

1) the presentation of a project 10 minutes long, on a topic chosen by the candidate, and

2) 2 questions within the program of both moduls.

Through the project (phase 1), are avaluated: the ability of the student to explain and discuss the topics of the teaching; the critical skill in dealing with issues of functional biodiversity conservation, plant protection using an ecological approach, and agroecology. Through the oral examination (phase 2), it is ascertained the general preparation on both the moduls of the teaching.

Evaluation criteria for the examination and votation ranking

- generic report; poor preparation on the topics: 18-19;

- in-depth report; poor preparation but analytical skills: 20-24;

-in-depth report; good preparation and analytical skills: 25-29;

- excellent report; very good preparation and analytical skills: 30-30L

 

Teaching tools

PC, projector

Office hours

See the website of Giovanni Burgio

See the website of Giovanni Giorgio Bazzocchi