AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course provides basic knowledge of a flora and plant biodiversity in a territory and its conservation needs. The above notions are complementary to the other exams of this study course and other exams based on botanical topics.

At the end of the course, students will be able:

- to build a flora of a territory;

- to draw up a floristic map of a territory;

- to know the main biodiversity conservation techniques;

- to know the different monitoring techniques implemented through a flora or elements of specific taxonomic groups.

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons

Exercises in the classroom and in the field

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

What is a flora? Description and construction of a flora. Biological forms and biological spectrum. Distribution area of a species. Corotype and chorological spectra. Indigenous and exotic species. Endemic species. Exotic species. Floristic richess how to express it.

Flora publications and other floristic information. Historical fonts in magazines, prints, WEB sites, amateur associations, databases.

Floristic cartography. Ladder. Accuracy. Digital cartography. Introduction to the GIS. Chorological floristic cartography. Grid and plots. Administrative floristic maps. Maps of species distribution. Selection of species. Patrimonial species.

Current situation and need to conserve elements of Flora. Monitoring as a main tool. The red lists and the definition of a standard method. IUCN what it is and what it is for. Evaluation categories and award criteria. Method: geographical elements, threats, evaluation. Examples

Overview of environmental monitoring. Why monitor biodiversity. Biodiversity. Monitoring phases. Specific biodiversity. Examples of species monitoring. Ecosystem biodiversity.

Genetic biodiversity: how to sample, phylogenetic diversity, relations between entities in a territory, phytogeography of neighbour entities and populations. Regulations on monitoring and bodies responsible for its implementation.

Use of indices for the evaluation of macrophytes as an expression of the conservation status of water courses.

What is the cartography and what is the GIS. GIS cartography examples. Use of Qgis and its applications for floristic and vegetational cartography. Practical test applications.

Flora detection techniques: Briophytes, Mushrooms and Lichens, vascular species.

Ex situ conservation  of germoplasm: Why to conserve biodiversity. How to conserve biodiversity. Origin of seed conservation. Seed conservation: harvesting, processing and storage. What is preserved in seed banks? In vitro conservation of plant germoplasm. The examples of Pancratium, Campanula and Leucojum.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

A copy of the slides projected during the lectures are available (download from the WEB).

Exam Board

MAURO MARIOTTI (President)

LUIGI MINUTO (President)

MIRCA ZOTTI

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons

Exercises in the classroom and in the field

LESSONS START

From October 15, 2018 (I Semester)

Exam description

Oral exam. The exam is aimed at assessing the knowledge of the fundamental elements of the subject, the ability to link the various topics and the mastery of the applicative aspects.

Assessment methods

Regular attendance is strongly recommended especially for field exercises.