BIOMONITORING AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY

The course of "Environmental Biomonitoring and Biotechnology" is one of the main lessons of the "Environmental control and restoration" curriculum.
The course contributes to provide the conceptual bases, approaches, methods and bio-ecological techniques usable in the field and in the laboratory for: 1) monitoring and evaluation of environmental quality; 2) the design of environmental recovery and rehabilitation interventions and the evaluation of their effectiveness.

The course is divided into two sections. The first aims to provide students with the theoretical foundations and methodological framework of the main procedures used in the Biovalutation and Biomonitoring of air, soil, inland and marine-coastal aquatic environments that are required by environmental regulations or in any case are widely consolidated and used at international and national level for environmental assessment and control. The second will deal with the main techniques of Bioremediation of contaminated waters and soils, with particular attention to consolidated technologies, technologically sustainable and fundamental to the redirection of environmental processes for the optimization of the ecological services provided by them.
Specifically, the main learning outcomes expected are:

Knowledge and understanding:
To know at a theoretical and practical level the main bio-ecological methodologies and techniques used in the monitoring, management and recovery of compromised environments with particular attention to wastewaters, soils and sediments, accumulation and pollutant integration compartments.

Judgment skills:
Knowing how to evaluate the merits and limits of the various techniques. Identify the most appropriate techniques to be used on a case-by-case basis.

Learning skills:
Acquire the ability to re-elaborate the concepts and application examples presented in class, adapting them to various environmental situations. Know how to critically read scientific articles in the sector. Knowing how to properly connect the topics.

Communication skills:
Acquire the ability to expose the topics covered with appropriate terminology.

Basic knowledge of ecology and applied ecology, biochemistry and microbiology are required.

a) Bioassessment and biomonitoring: general principles and approaches.
b) Biomonitoring of chemical pollution: the measurement of toxic effects and bioaccumulation. Ecotoxicological indicators.
c) Biomonitoring of air quality: Bioindicators and used approaches, focus on lichens and IBL index.
d) Soil biomonitoring: Bioindicators and approaches used in soil biomonitoring. The biological communities and the QBS_ar index. Impact indicators for contaminated soils.
e) Biomonitoring of watercourses: focus on the Star_cmi Index. Impact indicators for fresh waters.
f) Biomonitoring of macrobenthos in marine-coastal and transition environments in accordance with European Directives.
g) Biomonitoring of sediments and discharges: impact indicators, quality scales and integrated assessments.
h) Main groups of microorganisms used in environmental biotechnologies.
i) Microbial ecology of biological wastewater treatment processes. Suspended and adhered biomass technologies. Centralized and decentralized treatment plants.
l) Extensive, widespread and localized phytodepuration.
m) Bioremediation of contaminated sites: in situ biological remediation techniques (bioventilation, permeable biobarriers) and ex-situ (landfarming, composting, bioreactors). Phytoremediation processes and techniques.

Some laboratory experiences are foreseen in the biomonitoring field.

Bargagli R. (2012). Ecologia applicata. Per un uso consapevole dell’aria, dell’acqua e del suolo. Ed. Amon, pp. 272.

Madoni P. Depurazione biologica nei fanghi attivi. Ed. Enia.

Borin M. (2003). Fitodepurazione. Ed. Edagricole, pp. 196

Brugnoli E. Massarelli C., Uricchio V. Zurlini G. (2014). Tecnologie di bonifica dei siti contaminati. Ed. Cacucci (anche in formato e-book), pp. 312

Selected material (scientific articles and application manuals) will be provided by the teacher.

The verification of learning takes place through an oral exam. The oral exam includes the presentation and discussion of one scientific article chosen by the student on the basis of interest in the topics. The preparation will then be verified through questions on the rest of the program.
Intermediate tests with discussion in the classroom of specific topics will be provided.

The course is organized in lectures, practical experiences in the laboratory and presentation of case studies. The course will be supplemented by seminars held by experts in the field and by didactic field trips.

Italian

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