81995 - Laboratory of plant monitoring and conservation

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will gain a thorough understanding of the key concepts and methods of plant conservation biology and management techniques.

In particular, the student is able to:

- Know the policies, programs and conservation strategies of rare and endangered plants;

- Analyse the biology and ecological requirements of the study plant species, with particular attention to the critical stages of the life cycle: pollination, fertilization, dissemination, germination;

- Collect field data on natural plant populations demographic structure;

- Identify threats to the survival of wild populations;

- Set up appropriate management actions.

- Set up an experimental protocol aimed at drafting a scientific manuscript.

Course contents

Introduction: distribution of global diversity, threat factors. Policies and strategies for plant conservation. Policies and strategies for the conservation of plant diversity. Spermatophytes' life cycle, critical bottlenecks identification and assessment. Reproductive strategies of flowering plants. Pollination and dissemination. Intraspecific variability. Plant rarity, population fragmentation, isolation, minimum viable population. Demographic analysis of wild plant populations. Risk assessment and conservation priorities. IUCN categories and criteria. In-situ conservation: examples and visits to project sites (in Emilia-Romagna). Ex-situ conservation: theory and practice.
Setting up an experimental research protocol aimed at collecting data for the writing of a scientific article.
Educational field trips and specific practical workshops and surveys in the field are planned.

Readings/Bibliography

Bibliographic material will be distributed during the course.

On-line distribution of didactic material, available at AMS Campus - AlmaDL - UniBo

Specific topics can be deepened by consulting the following textbooks:

- Judd, Campbell, Donogue "Systematic Botany - A phylogenetic Approach" 2nd edition

- Strasburger "Trattato di botanica per le università" Vol. 2 "Evoluzione, Sistematica ed Ecologia", Antonio Delfino Editore

- Frankel, Brown, Burdon "Plant Biodiversity Conservation", Cambridge University PRess

- Silverton, Charlesworth "Introduzione alla Biologia delle popolazioni vegetali" IV edizione, Antonio Delfino Editore

Teaching methods

Lessons and seminars

Practical workshops (indoor and outdoor) 

Field trips and didactic excursions

Assessment methods

Preparation of a short scientific paper followed by oral discussion

Teaching tools

Power-Point presentations. Botanic garden collections.

Equipment for laboratory and field surveys.

Office hours

See the website of Marta Galloni