BIODIVERSITY LABORATORY

This course belongs to the disciplinary groups of biological and ecological sciences and it is one of the basic training and laboratory activities of the Bachelor Degree in Environmental Sciences. In relation to the training activities characterising the degree class 32, the Graduate in Environmental Sciences should possess an environmental systemic culture. Being the biological diversity a central component of ecosystem functioning, the main goal of this course is to provide fundamental principles and conceptual background for the understanding of systematics, phylogeny and diversity of living organism, with a particular focus on Plant and Animal Kingdoms.
The course contributes to the achievement of the learning outcomes specified in SUA-CdS frameworks A4.b.1 and A4.b.2 by providing knowledge and operational tools for the analysis and monitoring of biodiversity at different organisational levels, with particular emphasis on applied, critical and multidisciplinary aspects.

1. Knowledge and understanding:

• Understanding of the phylogenetic relationships and systematic positions of plant and animal species
• Understanding of the evolution of body plans, morphology and organic systems in the main plant and animal groups
• Understanding of taxonomic approaches and methodologies, based on the use of dichotomous keys

2. Ability to apply knowledge:
• Ability to use optical instruments, such as stereoscopes and microscopes
• Applying zoological and botanical knowledge in morphology, systematics and taxonomy to identify organisms
• Ability to work on phenotypic traits to identify and discriminate the main groups of organism at the level of the different systematic categories
• Interpretation of phylogenetic trees, with a cladistic approach

3. Judgement skills
• Skills to use approaches and methods useful to discriminate and classify living organisms in biological communities

4. Communication skills
• Ability to describe the morphological and systematic characteristics of the organisms studied in appropriate scientific language.

5. Learning skills
• Ability to independently identify animal and plant organisms through the guided use of dichotomous keys and scientific sources.

It is important that students have a solid foundation in animal and plant biology. The knowledge acquired in the courses "Principles of Animal and Plant Biology – Animal Module" and "Principles of Animal and Plant Biology – Plant Module" is a fundamental prerequisite for successful participation in the course "Biodiversity Laboratory".

Animal biodiversity:
Main characters and traits, diversity and phylogeny of the main animal groups.
Practice of microscopy, with vision of moss and plankton samples and identification of the organisms found.
Molluscs: general characteristics and identification exercises on bivalves and gastropods.
Arthropods: general characteristics and monographic exercise on crustaceans.
Fish: general characteristics and identification exercises.
Tetrapods: tricology exercise
Cladistics: construction of a cladogram

Plant biodiversity:

General characteristics, diversity and principles of systematics of the main groups of plant organisms: Bryophyta, Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae and Angiospermae.
Vegetative and reproductive traits: Analysis of the distinguishing features and their functions.
Characteristics of the main Angiosperm families: Rosaceae, Ranunculaceae, Brassicaceae, Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae and Poaceae.
Use of dichotomous keys for the identification of vascular plants.

W. Westheide, R. Rieger. Zoologia sistematica. Filogenesi e diversità degli animali. Zanichelli

Casiraghi M., De Eguileor M, Cerrano C., Puce S. Zoologia. II Ed. Utet, 2023.

Pasqua G., Abbate G., Forni C., Botanica generale e Diversità vegetale, 2015, Piccin 3 Ed., Padova.

Animal biodiversity:
The verification of learning will be assessed by means of a written test, based on three questions. These questions consist of three zoological tables or illustrations, to be completed and commented in a default space. In the default space students should describe the main traits characterising the zoological taxon reported in the figure. The test should be completed within two hours.

Plant biodiversity:
The assessment of learning takes place through an oral examination. To be eligible for the oral exam, students must submit a herbarium with 10 specimens from at least 5 different plant families. The examination will focus on the description of the characteristics of the submitted specimens and will include direct questions to assess the course content.

written and oral

In relation to the grading scale (the criteria according to which grades are awarded), regardless of whether the student is attending or not:

A. Scores in the range of 18–22 are awarded in the presence of:
- Sufficient knowledge and applied understanding related to course content;
- Limited ability to collect and/or interpret data, with limited ability to make independent judgements;
- Sufficient communication skills, particularly with regard to the use of specialised language.
B. Scores in the 23–26 range will be awarded if the following requirements are met:
- Adequate knowledge and applied understanding in relation to the course content;
- Adequate ability to collect and/or interpret data, with an appropriate capacity for independent judgement;
- Adequate communication skills, particularly with regard to the use of specialised language.
C. Scores in the range 27–30 will be awarded if the following requirements are met:
- Good or excellent knowledge and applied understanding in relation to the course content;
- Good or excellent ability to collect and/or interpret data, with the ability to exercise independent judgement;
- Fully adequate communication skills, particularly with regard to the use of specialised language.
D. Distinction (cum laude) is awarded for excellent knowledge and applied understanding of course content, excellent judgement and excellent communication skills.

The lectures are using teaching modules (ppt slides), provided by means of the moodle platform. These modules contain the different topics of the course, subdivided into the different lectures, and provided as ppt slides and pdf files. The files contain the exercises and the dichotomous keys provided during the laboratory lectures.
During the practical part, students will be organised in work pairs. Each pair will be assigned the samples and the exercise to be conducted within that particular lecture. Each pair will be followed by the teacher and the tutors during the conduction of the lab exercise. Each exercise should produce a brief report of the results obtained during each lab exercise.

Accessibility, disability and inclusion

Adaptations and support services for students with disabilities or specific learning difficulties:
Ca’ Foscari complies with Italian law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) on support services and adaptations for students with disabilities or special learning difficulties.
If you have a motor disability, a visual or hearing impairment or any other type of disability (Law 17/1999) or a specific learning disability (Law 170/2010) and need assistance (help in class, technical aids for exams, individualised exams, materials in accessible format, note-taking services, special tutoring, interpreters or other support), please contact the Office for the Disabled and SLD at: disabilita@unive.it.

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