Course Unit Page
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Teacher Laura Pezzolesi
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Credits 3
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SSD BIO/01
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Teaching Mode Traditional lectures
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Language Italian
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Campus of Ravenna
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Degree Programme Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Marine Biology (cod. 8857)
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Course Timetable from Nov 03, 2021 to Dec 15, 2021
SDGs
This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.




Academic Year 2021/2022
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student will acquire competence on algal species that cause environmental problems (species producing toxins or other harmful substances, invasive organisms, or able to cause excessive proliferation) and on the dynamics leading to negative effects on the environment and on the human health. Students will learn the main methods of monitoring and management of harmful species and any mitigation methods.
Course contents
Main problems related to the presence of harmful algae: blooms of microalgae (organisms involved, consequences for the environment and for humans, abiotic and biotic triggers); biointoxications and toxic algae (distribution, biology of the main groups, cell cycles, growth and nutrition strategies, chemical structure of toxins, mechanisms of action, relationship with other organisms, allelochemical interactions). Cyanobacteria and water treatments. Effects of climate change on the presence of algae. Methods of determination of toxins and problems related to their determination. Molecular methods for the classification and identification of algae and their use in monitoring activities.
Readings/Bibliography
Ecology of Harmful Algae, Graneli e Turner, Springer
Handbook of Microalgal culture. Applied phycology and biotechnology. Richmond e Hu. Wiley Blackwell
Teaching methods
The course includes 16 hours of lectures and 12 hours of practice. The practical part is carried out in the didactic laboratories and foresee the preparation of algal cultures for the development of a toxicity test with a standard method.
Assessment methods
Oral exam aimed at verifying the learning of the topics covered in class.
Teaching tools
Powerpoint slides will be used for the lectures, and scientific articles of relevance on some topics will be used and commented.
Office hours
See the website of Laura Pezzolesi