75821 - Ecotoxicology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student acquires knowledge on main contaminats in aquatic environment, on their dynamics and kinetics and on the effects onthe various systems, with particular respect to the immune and the endocrine system. The student is able to recognize the principal poisonings and to apply identification and analytical methods for the confirmation of diagnostic hypothesis. He will also be able to perform an analysis of the toxicological risk deriving from most common environmental pollutants.

Course contents

The Integrated Course (CI) aims to provide students with an overview of farming systems in Aquaculture, in the light of the most advanced technologies and standards, taking into account the impact of these systems on the environment and, conversely, the influence of the environment on food health and safety.

This approach is inserted within the scope of the current legislation, trying to stimulate the student’s ability to identify and critically analyze the legislative evolution of the European Union, national and regional sectors.

The teaching of Ecotoxicology participates to the project for didactic innovation of the University of Bologna. In detail, the topics of the IC will be:

• Introduction to ecotoxicology: definitions, principles, general problems.
• Principles of toxicokinetics.
• Environmental distribution of contaminants.
• Biomarkers and bioindicators: definitions and description of the principal biomarkers.
• Principal classes of contaminants of ecotoxicological interest: pesticides, halogenated compounds, PAH, trace elements, plastics, nanoparticles, drugs, mixtures.
• Immunotoxicity.
• Endocrine disruption.
• Risk assessment.
• Impact of aquaculture on the ecosystems.
• Case studies. Case studies are analyzed in class with the help of the teacher and will constitute the written exam.

NO LECTURE RECORDING IS PROVIDED.

The Ecotoxicology course will be administered in a blended mode. This mode requires students to self-study some topics in the syllabus and then collegially discuss what they have done at home. The detailed modalities of the course will be explained during the first class.

Each period of self-study involves the production of a paper that will contribute to the composition of the final grade, jointly with the evaluation of the group work. The "weight" of each paper, which is to be uploaded to Virtual, will be specified on Virtual itself.

There are some badges (worth 0.25 points) that will allow in case of reaching honors.

Self-evaluation test are periodically given, on the topics explained at the moment, conditioning the access to the study material.

Readings/Bibliography

Mandatory:

Classes notes, downloadable from Virtuale.

Blasco J., Chapman P.M., Campana O., Hampel M. Marine Ecotoxicology. Current Knowledge and future issues. Academic Press 2016

Mark Parnis, Donald Mackay. Multimedia Environmental Models: The Fugacity Approach. Routledge, Taylor and Francis, 2021

Peter G. C. Campbell, Peter V. Hodson, Pamela M. Welbourn, David A. Wright (2022). Ecotoxicology. Cambridge University Press

Suggested but not mandatory:

Sparling D. W. Ecotoxicology essential. Academic Press, 2016

Amiard-Triquet C. Amiard J.C., Mouneyrac C. Aquatic Ecotoxicology. Academic Press, 2015

 

The access to the didactic material is progressive (follows the sequence of classes given) and conditioned to self-evaluation test performance.

 

Be aware that slides of lessons ARE NOT TO BE CONSIDERED AS STUDYING TEXT, THEY ARE JUST AN HELP FOR TEACHING

Teaching methods

Front lessons and seminars.

NO LECTURE RECORDING IS PROVIDED.

The Ecotoxicology course will be administered in a blended mode. This mode requires students to self-study some topics in the syllabus and then collegially discuss what they have done at home. The detailed modalities of the course will be explained during the first class.

Each period of self-study involves the production of a paper that will contribute to the composition of the final grade, jointly with the evaluation of the group work. The "weight" of each paper, which is to be uploaded to Virtual, will be specified on Virtual itself.

There are some badges (worth 0.25 points) that will allow in case of reaching honors.

Although not mandatory, course attendance is strongly recommended as during classes information presented synthetically in the lesson slides are clarified in detail , as well as aspects present in the additional material provided by the teacher and in the chapters of the book indicated as mandatory to study are presented in detailed and explained. The frequency can then certainly facilitate the preparation of the final exam.

Assessment methods

Each period of self-study involves the production of a paper that will contribute to the composition of the final grade, jointly with the evaluation of the group work. The "weight" of each paper, which is to be uploaded to Virtual, will be specified on Virtual itself.
Students will aquire up to 4 badges having a value of 0.25 point to be added to the final mark, based on: 1) performing all self-evaluation tests (automatically assigned); 2) participation during lessons; 3) real participation to group work; 4) quality of the group presentation. Last 3 badges are assigned by the Professor.

Written exam based on the analysis of a case study: the student will be asked to analyze the presented situation based on the concepts acquired during lessons, to be done on EOL platform. Some exam simulation will be done in classroom with the teacher. The grading scheme of the case study analysis will be provided by the professor during the simulations.

Oral exam as eventual integration of the mark obtained.

Final note derives from the mean of the marks (presentation, written exam, oral exam, if any).

For the exam the student should refer to what tought during front lessons, to the text indicated as mandatory and to all integrative material provided by the Professor on virtuale.unibo.it platform.

The final mark of the integrated course will be defined by the weighted average of the marks obtained from each module composing the Course.

Teaching tools

Slides of the lessons. Once again, this material is NOT to be considered as that to be used for exam preparation.

Additional material given by the teacher (for case studies and practicals).

During classes the Professor will using interactive tool like Polleverywhere and Kahoot.

There will be a large use of immages and video. Students with specific need, which might require different supports or material, are invited to contact directly the Professor in order to prepare specific material.

Office hours

See the website of Annalisa Zaccaroni