L. Migliore

ECOLOGY AND ECOTOXICOLOGY (Bachelor in Biotechnology)
Definitions and history of Ecology. Abiotic factors in natural ecosystems: light, temperature, oxygen, pH, CO2, etc.. Biotic factors in natural ecosystems: intra- and inter-specific relationships (competition, predation, parasitism, mutualism). Levels of organization in the living matter. Populations: definition, statistical characteristics (fertility, mortality, survival curves, growth curves, spatial distribution, etc.). Community: definition, structure and composition, variations along environmental gradients. Biomes; ecotones, ecoclines and ecotypes. Ecosystem: definitions, trophic structure, energy flow, diversity in space and time, ecological succession, bio-geochemical cycles. Alteration of ecosystem functions and services.
Case study: global warming, GMOs, antibiotic drug pollution. Biotechnology devoted to understand and solve environmental problems: the 'omics' techniques in ecology. Environmental contamination: water, soil, air, including agroecosystems. Ecology and economic theories: sustainability and biodiversity.
Concepts and definitions of Ecotoxicology. The dose-response relationship, hormesis. Toxicity testing. Data processing. Tests on Daphnia, Artemia and of Vibrio, theory and laboratory tests.

BIOLOGY FOR LIBRARY HERITAGE (Master Degree in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage)

General Biology. The interactions between biology and cultural heritage. Organic constituents of the books. Study of the living. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Monera and fungi. Genetic code, reproduction, development.
Basic Ecology. Definitions and concepts. Ecological niche, habitat, distribution range. Resources and limiting factors. Abiotic and biotic factors. Levels of organization: population, community, ecosystem. Selection, adaptation, evolution. The environment of libraries and archives. Influence of microclimate on the colonization and development of detrimental organisms. Preventive measures.

Additional Courses

ECOTOXICOLOGY (Master’s Degree in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology)