B5567 - CONSERVATION PALEOBIOLOGY: L’USO DEI FOSSILI PER MONITORARE GLI ECOSISTEMI ATTUALI

Learning outcomes

This course is designed to introduce students to the emerging discipline of Conservation paleobiology. It involves the use of historical data and fossil records to address questions related to biological conservation. Paleoecological data can provide highly detailed records of ecosystem changes and variations over a long period of time, which is beyond the limits of ecological monitoring. This helps in the reconstruction of ecological baselines and the long-term trajectories of ecosystem states. Through this course, students will learn about the fundamental concepts of conservation paleobiology and its applications to habitat restoration, invasion biology and biodiversity management. They will also gain knowledge of the importance of the time perspective in conservation biology and acquire the necessary skills to utilize the historical and fossil records for conservation science.

Course contents

The course will focus on the principles of paleontology, historical ecology, and conservation biology. They will involve developing hypotheses, identifying appropriate methods for testing those hypotheses, collecting and analyzing real-world data, making observations of live, dead, and fossil specimens, and interpreting and reporting the results. Main topics: Introduction -Putting the Dead to Work; Is the Past the Key to the Future?; Baselines and Shifting Baselines; Live-Dead Analyses as fingerprints of human impacts; Measuring Biodiversity: Sampling Past & Present Ecosystems; Dating fossil remains in the Quaternary; Are we in the 6th Mass Extinctions?; End-Permian Mass Extinction as an Analogue for 21st Century Global Change (Extinction Drivers).

Conservation Paleobiology as an applied science (relevant case studies): Conservation Paleobiology in Action: Restoration of the Colorado River Delta; Conservation Paleobiology in Action: Restoration of the Everglades.

Readings/Bibliography

Lecture notes and bibliographic material will be provided during the course.

Teaching methods

ectures; Laboratory exercises and field trips

As concerns the laboratory unit of this course unit, all students must attend Module 1, 2 [https://www.unibo.it/en/services-and-opportunities/health-and-assistance/health-and-safety/online-course-on-health-and-safety-in-study-and-internship-areas] online, while Module 3 on health and safety is to be attended in class. Information about Module 3 attendance schedule is available on the website of your degree programme

Assessment methods

The exam is based upon a multiple-choice/open answer written test.

Teaching tools

Video projector; PC; blackboard; Microscope; Fossil collection; demonstration of the use of instruments (in the lab and on the field).

Office hours

See the website of Daniele Scarponi