37906 - Sea Turtles and Cetaceans Biology

Learning outcomes

The Integrated Course (IC) Large Marine Vertebrates aims at giving student a general vision on anatomical, physiological and biological characteristics of Large Marine Vertebrates, focusing mainly on Cetaceans. This knowledge will be integrated with ascpects on animal health, both under human care and in the wild. This will allow students to gain knowledge on the right approach to large marine vertebrates, both as regards their conservation and the zoonotic implications of public health.

Upon completion of the course on the Biology of Sea Turtles and Cetaceans (Single-Discipline Course for the Master’s Degree in Marine Biology), students will be able to:

• describe the biological and ecological characteristics of the main groups of large marine vertebrates;
• interpret evolutionary adaptations to marine life;
• compare feeding, reproductive, and behavioral strategies among different groups;
• assess the ecological role of large marine vertebrates in ecosystems;
• critically analyze the main threats to their conservation;
• understand the role of public perception and communication in the protection of marine biodiversity;
• locate, synthesize, and present scientific information related to a marine species.

Course contents

Syllabus

1. Sharks (4 hours)

Adaptations to marine life

• Morphology and functional anatomy
• Evolution of elasmobranchs

Biology and ecology

• Feeding strategies
• Reproductive strategies
• Ecological role of apex predators

Conservation

• Major threats
• Conservation status
• Management and protection

2. Sea turtles (4 hours)

Adaptations to marine life

• Functional morphology
• Evolution of marine chelonians

Biology and ecology

• Life cycle
• Feeding
• Reproduction
• Migration and orientation

Conservation

• Threats in the Mediterranean
• Conservation programs

3. Seabirds and penguins (2 hours)

Adaptations to marine life

• Locomotion
• Feeding

Biology and Ecology

• Reproductive Strategies
• Trophic Ecology

Conservation

• Impacts of Climate Change
• Population Status

4. Marine Mammals (8 hours)

Evolution and Diversity

• Cetaceans
• Pinnipeds
• Sirenians

Ecology and Behavior

• Distribution and Habitat
• Population Dynamics
• Social Behavior
• Feeding Strategies
• Reproductive Strategies

Communication and bioacoustics

• Sound production
• Echolocation
• Acoustic monitoring

Research and monitoring techniques

• Photo-identification
• Telemetry
• Citizen science

5. Conservation and human-wildlife interactions (3 hours)

Conservation of large marine vertebrates

• Bycatch
• Pollution
• Marine litter
• Collisions with vessels
• Climate Change
• Anthropogenic Noise

Animal Perception in Controlled Environments and in the Wild

• Zoos, Aquariums, and Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers
• Anthropomorphism and the Interpretation of Animal Behavior
• “Charismatic” Animals and “Inconvenient” Animals

The “Disneyfication” of Marine Wildlife

• The Influence of the Media on the Perception of Species
• Flagship Species and Conservation
• Case Study Analysis

Readings/Bibliography

Mandatory for the exam preparation:

1. Lessons notes

2. Chapters from the book Marine Mammals Evolutionary Biology, 3rd Edition, Annalisa Berta James Sumich Kit Kovacs, which will be uploaded by the professor on Virtuale.

To prepare the species profile, students will be required to consult primary scientific literature and the major international databases dedicated to marine wildlife conservation (IUCN Red List, CMS, ACCOBAMS, FAO, and other sources indicated during the course).

Suggested lecture as integration and for personal culture:

1. Mark A. Simmons, 2014 Killing Keiko, Callinectes Press

2. Notarbartolo di Sciara G., Demma M., 1994. Guida dei Mammiferi marini del Mediterraneo. Franco Muzzio Editore, Padova.

3. Affronte M., Dominici C., Montanari C., 2001. Tartarughe marine. Biologia e conservazione. CTS-Edi.tur, Roma, 156pp.

4. Lipej L., De Maddalena A., Soldo A. « Sharks of the Adriatic Sea»

5. Lutz P.L., Musick J.A. «The Biology of sea turtles » Vol. I, II

6. Klimley A.P., "The Biology of Sharks and Rays", University of Chicago Press, Chicago and London

7. Wyneken J. « Anatomy of sea turtles » http://courses.science.fau.edu/~jwyneken/sta [http://courses.science.fau.edu/~jwyneken/sta/] / [http://courses.science.fau.edu/~jwyneken/sta/]

8.Hoelzel A.R. «Marine mammal biology . An evolutionary approach »
9. Shirihai H. «Whales dolphins and other marine mammals of the world»
 

All material necessary for the exam and most of suggested readings will be uploeaded on the virtuale.unibo.it platform of the course

Teaching methods

The course will consist of lectures supported by multimedia presentations, images, videos, and case study discussions.

Throughout the course, real-world examples of marine species management and conservation will be analyzed, and case studies related to conservation in the Mediterranean will be discussed.

Assessment methods

The assessment for the Integrated Course ‘Large Marine Vertebrates’ consists of four parts:

• The first part, relating to the teaching of Cetacean Biology (Prof. Zaccaroni), consists of a multiple-choice written test, which includes 20 questions on the topics covered in the course and is designed to assess the acquisition of the expected knowledge, and the preparation of a description card of a species.
• The second part, relating to the teaching of Transmissible Diseases of Marine Mammals (Prof. Gustinelli), consists of a multiple-choice written test, which includes 20 questions on the topics covered in the course and is aimed at assessing the acquisition of the expected knowledge.
• The other two parts relating to the courses on Cetacean Anatomy (Prof. Bombardi) and Cetacean Physiology (Prof. Parmeggiani) consist of an oral exam aimed at verifying the acquisition of the expected knowledge.

Please refer to the web guides for each course for details on how the exam is conducted.

The exam is considered passed if a positive result has been obtained in all the tests and the final mark is given by the average of the marks obtained in the different parts of the exam, expressed in thirtieths. A minimum final mark of 18/30 is required.

For Marine Biology students, the grade obtained will be recorded directly.

A negative assessment does not result in a grade being awarded, but only a judgement (withdrawn or rejected) recorded in the electronic report compiled on AlmaEsami, and therefore does not affect the student's academic career.

The assessments of the individual tests and the final exam grade will be published on the Virtual Platform (https://virtuale.unibo.it) of the designated course contact for this course within 5 working days of the exam date.

Students may reject the grade at least once by notifying the recording teacher by email within 5 working days.

The designated course contact for this course is Prof. Zaccaroni.

 

The Cetacean Biology exam includes a closed-ended test with multiple or open-ended questions and a description card of a species, which can also be prepared in advance and loaded. A score will be obtained for each section and the final grade will be given by the weighted evaluation of the two parts. The closed response test section "weighs" by 40%, while the description sheet "weighs" by 60%.

The test duration is maximum 2 hours.

CLOSED-ENDED TEST EVALUATION GRID

Multiple-choice questions automatically give the score, while open-ended questions will be evaluated by the teacher with a score of 1 to 5. For each question will be indicated in the text of the question the score that will result for the correct answer (unanswered questions are considered as a wrong question and give a score of 0).

GRID EVALUATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIES

The description sheet of the species will be evaluated on the basis of some principles:

Accuracy in reporting information 10

Correctness of classification.

Use of bibliographic references.

Evidence of a verification of the sources used

Correctness of the use of Italian 3

Synthesis capacity 2

Adherence to the topics presented in the lecture 10

Correctness of the sources used 5

Graphical presentation 5

 

Oral exam as eventual integraton of the mark obtained, if the student wants to.

Final note, if oral exam is given, derives from the mean of the two marks.

It is underscored that although not mandatory and not affecting the final mark, course attendance can certainly facilitate the preparation of the exam.

Students with learning disorders and/or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (University's Student Services for SLDs and Disabilities) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Frontal lessons, practical work, visit to an aquatic park, seminars. 

There will be a large use of immages and video.

Students with learning disorders and/or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (University's Student Services for SLDs and Disabilities) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

For further information, you can also contact the representative for the Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Dr Fabiana Trombetti (fabiana.trombetti@unibo.it), or the representative for the Master's Degree in Marine Biology, Prof. Chiara Samorì (chiara.samori3@unibo.it).

 

Office hours

See the website of Annalisa Zaccaroni