Biological Sciences

This course explores the impact of human population growth on Earth's species and habitats, and the current approaches to conservation of biodiversity. It discusses the impacts of the earliest human migrations into previously uninhabited lands, to the current and future projected impacts of climate change on biodiversity. Topics include: the primary drivers of change in ecological systems; secondary processes and synergistic feedbacks this change creates; strategies and actions to raise awareness of humanity's dependence on biodiversity; goal for conservation and management of biodiversity in the 21st century.

This course is part of the Laurea Magistrale degree program and is intended for advanced level students. Enrollment is by permission of the instructor. Students will know the effects of global climate change on key organisms, biodiversity, and ecosystems, particularly on marine species, including the effects on human societies and economies. Models and forecasts are presented considering different scenarios predicted by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). Students will know how organisms interact, as components of the structure and function of ecosystems, including the consequences of human interactions with the environment. Marine organisms are traced from the Earth’s primordial oceans, to their response to the warming and acidifying oceans.

The course content is divided into two modules:

MODULE 1: 

• Conflicts and Security Risks of Climate Change in the Mediterranean Region - Projections and Impacts of Future Climate Change in the Mediterranean; Impact of Climate Change on Water Supply and Water-Related Conflicts; Consequences for Food Security; Population and Migration in the Mediterranean; Human Security, Environmental Conflict and Climate Adaptation; Energy Security as Field of Conflict and Cooperation; Political and Economic Frameworks for Cooperation in the Mediterranean.
• Socioeconomic Aspects: Human Migrations, Tourism and Fisheries - Coastal Commercial Fisheries and Aquaculture; Tourism; Migrations.
• Ecological and evolutionary considerations regarding corals in a rapidly changing environment - Comments on the Evolution of Corals in the Atlantic Versus the Pacific Oceans; Climate Change, Changes in the Oceanic Climatic Zones, and Their Effects; Comments on Evolution of the Immune System in Corals.
• Coral population dynamics - Ecological modes in corals; Why study population biology?; How to model population dynamics?; The introduction of an age-based population dynamics model into coral reef ecology: the Beverton and Holt model; The case study of mushroom corals at Eilat; Correlations between demographic characteristics, environmental parameters, and implications with climate change; Relationships between growth, population structure and sea surface temperature in temperate solitary corals; What about calcification and temperature?; What about non-zoox corals?; Zoox coral versus non-zoox coral; The Panarea underwater crater: a laboratory for the study of ocean acidification and warming effects; The ocean acidification; Calcifiers and ocean acidification; Coral biomineralization and calcification; The Panarea transplant experiment; Long term effects of acidification on growth of corals naturally living along a pH gradient.

MODULE 2:

• Strategies of acclimatization to ocean acidification in Mediterranean corals - The carbon dioxide volcanic vents of Ischia Island; Community shifts at Ischia Island; Impact of ocean acidification on the morphology of non-zooxanthellate corals; The problem of age determination in colonial organisms; Impact of ocean acidification on polyp and colony growth in non-zooxanthellate corals; Different acclimatization strategies to ocean acidification in zooxanthellate vs non-zooxanthellate corals; the impact of ocean acidification on coral-associate microbial ecosystems.

The goals of this course are 1) Basic understanding of immune responses in human and mouse. 2) Immunological tools to analyze immune cells and immunological responses against pathogens in animal and human models 3) Basic and clinical analysis of immunological diseases and inhibitory roles of viruses and cancer in induction of immune responses, 4) Development of novel immunotherapeutic reagents to modulate in vivo immune responses or immunological diseases.

Prerequisite: Taking Biochemistry, Cell Biology or Molecular Biology course is recommended.

This course provides an understanding of the probable origins and evolution of vertebrates belonging to the phylum Chordata, as well as their taxonomy and systematics, anatomical, and ecological characteristics. Using a comparative approach, the course covers the phylogenetic relationships among the three subphyla of chordates and the seven vertebrate classes, notably jawless fishes, cartilaginous fishes, bony fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The course expands from the evolution of marine Protochordates through to the terrestrial vertebrates with mammals as the pinnacle.

The course highlights the impact of habitat loss on biodiversity and the basis for formulation of effective conservation management strategies. It also introduces the theory of current conservation biology as illustrated by applications in tropical areas, species conservation issues, ecological challenges, role of zoological gardens, legal challenges etc. The course also covers conservation of tropical biota, management of local and regional environmental problems, appreciation and consideration of the socio-economic issues. Conservation priorities and developmental needs at the national level are also be discussed, with emphasis on Singapore and SE Asia. 

This multi-disciplinary course treats the question of life in the Universe. Where can life have developed? Must it be on a planet similar to Earth? How does life on a planet develop and evolve? Under what extreme circumstances can life persist? We discuss these and similar questions from physical, biological, and social perspectives. This course also reviews the methods to find and explore planets around other stars (exoplanets) and the search for intelligent life in the Universe as well as possible philosophical and other consequences of its possible discovery. Entry requirements: at least 60 credits of approved courses within the faculties of either science, technology and/or medicine. Earlier studies in astronomy or biology are not presumed.

This course is part of the Laurea Magistrale program. The course is intended for advanced level students only. Enrollment is by consent of the instructor. Students learn the conceptual foundations to understand the interactions between natural and social systems in globally changing urban landscapes (terrestrial, freshwater and marine), and gain analytical basic urban-ecology tools to be applied in urban monitoring, planning, and restoration. The students are introduced to urban areas as novel ecosystems, and learn about the unique ecological conditions and functioning of cities and waterfronts, the environmental challenges and opportunities of a sustainable urban development, and the principles and strategies for biodiversity conservation, restoration and management in a human-modified context. They are introduced to ecosystem services concepts and how to use them in an interdisciplinary analysis. They also learn the direct and indirect effects of human impact with particular attention to freshwater ecosystems as Highly Modified Bodies (WFD 2000/60/CE definition). Students obtain the ability to read and understand articles in the field of urban ecology, sustainability and restoration science, to synthesize and communicate interdisciplinary research, and gain insight on how to identify appropriate solutions for urban planners, policy makers, and managers. Students also get the opportunity to develop a field-work proposal for a restoration project in an highly modified area. Course topics: principles of urban ecology and the concept of novel urban ecosystems; unique (man–made) ecological conditions of urban ecosystems– land (and sea) use cover; urban climate and the heat island effect; changes in the physical environment (soil/sediment properties, hydrological processes and (sea)water characteristics); impacts of pollution, noise, artificial light and electromagnetic fields; patterns of urban biodiversity and controlling factors– impacts of urbanization on biodiversity and changes in biodiversity along urban-rural gradients; losers and winners in urban habitats, homogenization and the susceptibility of urban ecosystems to species invasions; effects of altered disturbance regimes; habitat transformation, fragmentation and loss in urban land/seascapes, altered connectivity, and dispersal barriers and corridors; ecosystem functions and services in urban landscapes- urban biodiversity and ecosystem services; valuing the role of natural ecosystems in flood risk reduction and nature-based adaptation; ecosystem management options to enhance resilience of society and the environment to future climate conditions; principles of sustainable urban development–urban footprint, sustainability, and governance-related challenges in urban environments; natural capital and strategies for biodiversity conservation; indicators of environmental quality in urban environments (e.g. the city biodiversity index, the Ocean health index, etc.); management of multiple stressors and stakeholders; bioengineering, multifunctional blue/green infrastructures; conservation and restoration in an urban context; ecological concept from natural to modified freshwater ecosystems structure and functions, impact of human activities; HMWBs and AWBs (highly modified and artificial water bodies) in the Water Directive WFD (2000/60 EU); reservoirs and dams–impact and benefit; ecosystem services of natural versus modified rivers within sustainable development strategy; the blue imprint of cities and water scarcity; monitoring of HMWBs and AWBs: hydromorphology and biomonitoring; biodiversity conservation in HMWB and AWBs; multifunctional natural infrastructures; Common European implementation strategy on HMWBs; restoration of HMWBs and AWBs; Navile and canals of Bologna: opportunity to develop restoration proposals.

This course examines the ways insects interact with microbes—bacteria, fungi, protozoans, parasites, viruses, etc. This includes symbiotic microbes that assist insects in digestion, metabolism, detoxification; pathogenic microbes that harm insects; vector-pathogen relationships; and potential uses of microbes by humans to control insects or study them in the laboratory.