THE ECOSYSTEM OF THE VENETIAN LAGOON

The course is is addressed to students coming from all study areas.

Develop the knowledge necessary for understanding lagoon ecosystem services, effects of anthropogenic pressures on it, and management requirements in the context of global changes.

No prerequisites are expected for the course.

The course provides an overview on the Venice lagoon environment from an ecological perspective.
Firstly, an introduction on basic ecological principles is provided, by using specific examples from marine ecology. There are different levels of focus, i.e. individual, population, community, ecosystem and landscape.
Secondly, the course helps the understanding of:
• adaptations of plant and animal organisms in the lagoon environment
• the factors that regulate population growth and the spacial distribution of species in different habitats
• the role of biological interactions in determining the structure of communities and the functioning of food chain
• the biogeochemical cycle of elements in the lagoon ecosystem

Elements of ecology, 9th edition, by Thomas Smith, Robert Smith, Pearson, 2015.
Marine ecology. Processes, systems and impacts (second edition). M.J. Kaiser et al., 2011. Oxford University Press.

1/3 Evaluation of the home assignment and small group interactions (classroom).
2/3 Final exam (December 10th). written test (1/3 closed-ended questions; 1/3 open-ended questions).

The course consists of 12 frontal lectures.

• Ecology as a science, an introduction. Mediterranean lagoons. The lagoon of Venice, geo-morphological aspects, historical introduction;
• Ecology of the organisms: aquatic and terrestrial environment;
• Adaptations of individuals: limiting factors and ecological niches;
• Primary production in the lagoon: phytoplankton, macroalgae, seagrasses;
• Secondary production in the lagoons: benthos, fish;
• Populations: examples of interactions in the lagoon, competition and predation;
• Grazing versus detritus chains: food webs in the lagoon of Venice;
• Seasonality, the role of physical factors in controlling the dynamics of the lagoon ecosystem;
• Biogeochemistry of the Venice lagoon: the role of sediments, detritus and nutrient cycles;
• Submerged macro and micro habitats of the lagoon: dominant species and their abundance, structure of the community;
• Salt marshes and dunes, birds, vegetation and associated ecosystem services;
• Fisheries and aquaculture in the lagoon and in the nearby “Valli da pesca”;
• The Venice lagoon: history of interventions, conservation and restoration activities.
• Climate change and the lagoon, expected impacts and adaptation.

written and oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Natural capital and environmental quality" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development