Unit BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT
- Course
- Sustainable agriculture
- Study-unit Code
- A002191
- Curriculum
- Agricoltura biologica ed ecocompatibile
- Teacher
- Valeria Negri
- CFU
- 9
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2021
- Offered
- 2022/23
- Type of study-unit
- Obbligatorio (Required)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa integrata
BIODIVERSITY AND VEGETABLE DIVERSITY
| Code | A002192 |
|---|---|
| CFU | 6 |
| Teacher | Valeria Negri |
| Teachers |
|
| Hours |
|
| Learning activities | Caratterizzante |
| Area | Discipline del miglioramento genetico |
| Academic discipline | AGR/07 |
| Type of study-unit | Obbligatorio (Required) |
| Language of instruction | Italian |
| Contents | Agro-biodiversity, primary, secondary and tertiary gene pools, plant genetic resources, in situ, on farm ed ex situ conservation concepts. Knowledge of the binding documents and treaties that rule plant genetic resource use and safeguard. Awareness that plant genetic resources should maintain their utility for human kind over time. Awareness that biodiversity conservation poses ethical problems. The student should also: Learn to be respectful of biological resources of the planet. Be able to rationally use the gene pool concept in plant breeding, conservation and research activities. Be able to plan in situ, on farm ed ex situ conservation activities. Be able to find and use information relative to genetic resources (database finding and use). |
| Reference texts | Notes provided by the teacher (UNISTUDIUM) Smartt J and Simmonds N W, 1995, Evolution of crop plants, II edition, Longman Scientific &Technical publ. Harlan JR, 1992, Crops and man, ASA_CSSA, Madison Maxted, N., Dulloo, M.E., Ford-Lloyd, B.V., Frese, L., Iriondo, J.M. and Pinheiro de Carvalho, M.A.A. (eds) 2012 Agrobiodiversity Conservation: Securing the Diversity of Crop Wild Relatives and Landraces. CAB International, Wallingford Maxted N., Dulloo M.E. and Ford-Lloyd, B.V. (eds.) 2016 Enhancing UNISTUDIUM MATERIALS Crop Genepool Use: Capturing wild relative and landrace diversity for crop improvement. CAB International, Wallingford |
| Educational objectives | Understanding of agro-biodiversity, primary, secondary and tertiary gene pools, plant genetic resources, in situ, on farm ed ex situ conservation concepts. Knowledge of the binding documents and treaties that rule plant genetic resource use and safeguard. Awareness that plant genetic resources should maintain their utility for human kind over time. Awareness that biodiversity conservation poses ethical problems. The student should also: Learn to be respectful of biological resources of the planet. Be able to rationally use the gene pool concept in plant breeding, conservation and research activities. Be able to plan in situ, on farm ed ex situ conservation activities. Be able to find and use information relative to genetic resources (database finding and use). |
| Prerequisites | basic genetics knowledge |
| Teaching methods | lectures, practicals, seminars |
| Learning verification modality | oral examination |
| Extended program | Lectures: Fundamental concepts of genetics and plant population genetics, genetic make up of commercial varieties of main crops (recall). Biodiversity: - definition, loss, conservation needs - gene pools, - plant genetic resources. Political and legislative context for conservation activities In situ conservation of spontaneous species: - aims and priorities, - location and dimensioning of protected areas , - harmonization of conservation activities with human needs , - integrated management, small populations management, - monitoring and evaluation of conservation actions. On farm conservation of landraces: - Role of agriculture, research and traditions in preserving and promoting landrace cultivation, - seed system. Ex situ conservation: - exploration, collection and storing of germplasm, - regeneration and distribution of germplasm, - characterization and evaluation of germplasm, - ex situ collection management. Use of plant genetic resources. Bioethics and conservation ethics. Practicals: - Planning and management of in situ, on farm and ex situ conservation actions. - Visit to a protected area (eventual). - Visit to the genebank of the DSA3. - Use of database for genebank management. - On line search of plant genetic resources for breeding and research. |
ANIMAL DIVERSITY
| Code | A002193 |
|---|---|
| CFU | 3 |
| Teacher | Francesca Maria Sarti |
| Teachers |
|
| Hours |
|
| Learning activities | Affine/integrativa |
| Area | Attività formative affini o integrative |
| Academic discipline | AGR/17 |
| Type of study-unit | Obbligatorio (Required) |
| Language of instruction | Italian |
| Contents | Biodiversity Biodiversity loss Political and legislative context for conservation activities Animal Genetic Resources In situ and ex situ conservation and management |
| Reference texts | G. Pagnacco Genetica animale. Applicazioni zootecniche e veterinarie, Casa Ed. Ambrosiana, Milano, 2020. Bigi D., Zanon A. Atlante delle razze autoctone. Bovini, equini, ovicaprini, suini allevati in Italia, Il Sole 24 Ore Edagricole, 2008. Lecture notes provided by the teachers. |
| Educational objectives | Understanding of the following concepts: biodiversity and agro-biodiversity, populations, gene pools, genetic resources, in situ, on farm ed ex situ conservation. Knowledge of the binding documents and treaties that rule genetic resource use and safeguard. Awareness that plant genetic resources should maintain their utility for human kind over time. Awareness that biodiversity conservation poses ethical problems. The student should also: Learn to be respectful of biological resources of the planet. Be able to rationally use the provided concepts in breeding, conservation and research activities. Be able to plan in situ, on farm ed ex situ conservation activities. Be able to find and use information relative to genetic resources (database finding and use). |
| Teaching methods | lectures, practicals, seminars |
| Learning verification modality | oral examination |
| Extended program | Lectures Description of the main endangered species and breeds (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry). Conservation of domestic animal resources; economic, scientific and socio-cultural advantages and reasons for conservation; the national and international rules; ethical aspects of animal biodiversity conservation. Inbreeding and heterosis; genetic management of small populations. Description of the main endangered species and breeds (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry). Conservation techniques: • in situ (maintenance of breeds within livestock production systems and environmental contexts, through the enhancement of their productive characteristics; conservation of live animals in zoological gardens, natural parks, experimental farms, etc.); • ex-situ (conservation of genetic material in haploid or diploid form); • criteria for the management of small livestock populations. Conservation as a source of valorization of productions (examples of studied cases). Actions taken and future prospects. Practicals Calculation of the effective population size; classification criteria based on the risk of extinction; methods for controlling inbreeding. Dedicated software for the analysis of population genetics data starting from pedigrees or molecular data; methods for containing homozygosity. Practical examples of the protection and conservation programs in situ and ex situ of endangered breeds. |