28309 - Applied Marine Botany

Academic Year 2022/2023

  • Moduli: Rossella Pistocchi (Modulo 1) Franca Guerrini (Modulo 2)
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Ravenna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Marine Biology (cod. 8857)

Learning outcomes

After attending the course the student will have acquired knowledge on the role of the photosynthetic organisms in organic matter production, in the relationships between photosynthesis and primary production and on the different environmental abiotic factors as well as biotic interactions, climate changes and pollution effects influencing such production. The student will have acquired expertise in methods of study of phytoplankton which are applied in cultures or in the field (biomass, growth rate, photosynthetic eficciency) and on methods used in oceanography strictly related to phytoplankton physiology (chlorophyll analysis and fluorescence, global primary production evaluation, remote sensing). The student will also know the organic matter flux dynamics and the influence of phytoplankton ecophysiology on biogeochemical cycles and on common water column measurements.

Course contents

Marine plants and their environment. Characteristics of the algae: cells, reproduction and evolution. Anatomy, life cycle and ecology of main marine photosynthetic taxa. Importance and use of phytoplankton in oceanographic studies and methods of measurements of: biomass, growth rate, primary production, respiration and excretion. Phytoplankton growth dynamics and satellite observations. Structure, organization and role of photosynthetic and fotoprotective pigments. Photosynthesis irradiance relationships, photoinhibition and fotoacclimation events. Macronutrient absorption and utilization, limitant nutrients, Redfield ratio, influence of nutrients on species competition. Carbon concentrating mechanisms and organication. Effect of climate changes (CO2 and temperature increase, acidfication) on phytoplankton growth and photosynthesis.

Readings/Bibliography

Power point files will be available in the teaching material, they will be integrated with lecture notes and papers.

Teaching methods

The course is composed of 2 parts:

  • 3 CFU of frontal lectures and 1 CFU of practical teaching held from Prof. Pistocchi
  • 1 CFU of frontal lectures and 1 CFU of practical teaching held by Prof.ssa Guerrini

Prof.ssa Pistocchi will hold the theoretical lessons illustrating how phytoplankton and its specific components/parameters are used for studies and monitoring at the coastal and oceanographic level; the CFU of exercises consists in taking water in the field, in different sites and/or at different depths using various sampling methods (net, Niskin bottle, integrated sampler), in measuring some parameters of the water column (oxygen, salinity, temperature, irradiance) and in carrying out analyzes in the laboratory regarding the study of phytoplankton (biomass measurements and identification principles). Prof. Guerrini holds a Module called METHODS OF STUDY OF PHYTOPLANCTON consisting in lectures on the biodiversity of marine plants, while the CFU of exercises is strongly integrated with the module of Prof. Pistocchi and consists in setting up microalgae cultures exposed to different amounts of light and nutrients, therefore in observing the phenomenon of photoacclimation through cell composition analysis, in particular in terms of chlorophyll and carbon, and in evaluating the growth rate.

The exercises will be held partly in the field and partly in the laboratories (mainly the teaching laboratories will be used however  some instruments useful to carry out specific analyzes are located in the research laboratories) and will end with the processing of data in the computer room.

Students will be divided into 2 or more groups based on the activities, at the end of which they will be asked to deliver the spreadsheet developed under the guidance of the teacher. The attendance of the exercises is not compulsory, however the students who do not participate in presence must still deliver the spreadsheet and during the exam the learning of this partwill be verified.

In consideration of the types of activities and teaching methods adopted, the attendance of this training activity requires all students to complete the e-learning modules 1 and 2 [https://www.unibo.it/it/servizi-e-opportunita/salute-e-assistenza/salute-e-sicurezza/sicurezza-e-salute-nei-luoghi-di-studio-e-tirocinio], and to participate to module 3 on specific training on safety and health in the places of study. Information on dates and methods of attendance of module 3 are reported in the specific section of the degree program website.

Assessment methods

The final examination aims to the following objectives evaluation:

  • Knowledge of the characteristics of the marine plant taxa
  • Knowledge of the ecophysiological aspects of phytoplankton and the use of cell parameters for the study of the water column
  • main monitoring methods

The exam is oral, the teacher will ask 3 questions comprising the evaluation of a graph with the results obtained during the practical or shown during lectures and included in the slides.

Teaching tools

Power point files and scientific papers

Laboratory application of physiological aspects of the phytoplankton

Office hours

See the website of Rossella Pistocchi

See the website of Franca Guerrini

SDGs

Climate Action Oceans

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.