Sciences and Teaching of Natural Systems

1 Biological invasions and global change. Introduction. Double trouble: invasive species as a component of global changes; the effects of global changes on invasions. 1.1 Invasive species and biodiversity conservation. The biodiversity paradox: local increases and global loss of biodiversity. Invasions and biotic homogenization: biodiversity is not just the number of species. Phylogenetic and biogeographical diversity. Diversity resistance theory. Biotic interactions, facilitation and invasional meltdown between invasive species. Are biodiversity hotspots the most invaded sites? Threat to the conservation of species and habitats. The impact of invasive predatory mammals on global biodiversity. Invasion debt. 1.2 Vulnerability of island systems to invasions. Invasions and threats to biodiversity in island ecosystems. The example of the Mediterranean. Invasions of species in the small Italian islands. 1.3 Biological invasions and climate change. Temperature and distribution of species on a global scale and in Europe. Facilitation of the establishment and spread of invasive species due to climate change. The expansion of invasive thermophilic plants in Italy: the spread of evergreen species in the region of the Insubric lakes, of woody nitrogen-fixing plants and succulents in the Mediterranean. Reduction in the resilience of natural and man-made habitats to climate change due to invasive species. 1.4 From the global to the local scale. Case studies of particular relevance will be selected during the course. 2 The invasion process. From the introduction to the invasion stages. Recent acceleration of the process and flows of alien species on a global scale; exchange between continents, donors and acceptors of species. 3 Invaded habitats. Terrestrial, riparian and aquatic environments, natural and man-made environments. Urban areas as centers of introduction and stabilization of invasive species. 4 Impacts of invasive species. General aspects and case studies. 4.1 Ecological impacts. The IUCN EICAT (Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa) classification. Applications and case studies. 5 Management of biological invasions. Prevention, control, eradication, communication. 5.1 Management tools for invasive species. Competent Bodies: European Commission, Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV), Ministry of the Environment and Land Protection ( MATTM), ISPRA, Regions, Autonomous Provinces and National Parks. Prioritization and Pest Risk Analysis. The legislation on invasive species. International, national and regional legislation. Strategic guidelines. The European Union Regulation 1143/2014 on invasive species. Main animal and plant species of Union relevance. The European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN). The regulations in Italy: implementation and application of invasive species policies, coordination of management and monitoring of biological invasions. Citizen Science. Voluntary codes of conduct: pets, horticulture and ornamental greenery, zoological gardens, aquariums, botanical gardens. 5.2 Post-introduction management techniques. Mechanical, chemical and biological control of invasive plants. General notes, methods compared. The EU LIFE programme. LIFE projects on the management of invasive species in Italy. Management of invasions in islands as a key factor for the conservation of biodiversity. Eradication of the rat and other animal and plant species for the conservation of habitats, seabirds and other taxa of flora and fauna. LIFE projects in Italy. The Ponderat project on the Pontine islands. 6 The information sources on biological invasions, from museums to social networking. Scientific literature: citational databases (Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar), social network platforms (ResearchGate and Academia.edu), bibliometric codes (DOI, ISBN) and Authors’ identifiers (ORCID); databases, websites, technical reports, legislation; libraries, museums, herbaria and botanical gardens.

Basic knowledge of General Ecology, particularly: species adaptations to biotic and abiotic factors, biotic interactions (competition, mutualism, predation, parasitism)

During the course scientific articles, texts, websites, databases, technical and regulatory documents as well as other teaching materials for exam preparation will be provided. - Nentwig W. et al 2018. More than ‘100 worst’ alien species in Europe. Biological Invasions 20: 1611-1621 - Pyšek P. et al. 2000. Scientists warnings on invasive alien species. Biological Reviews 95: 1511 – 1534. - Sage R.F. 2019. Global Change Biology: a primer. Global Change Biology 26: 3-30.

Attendance is recommended but not mandatory.

The exam consists of an oral test at the end of the course, during which the student's actual achievement of the course objectives is ascertained. For the purposes of the evaluation, the comprehension of the course contents, the correctness of the scientific language adopted, the ability to synthesize, to reason and to study autonomously are taken into account. To achieve a score of 30/30, the students have to show they have acquired an excellent knowledge in all subjects in the program, they can connect them and can reason independently. At the student's choice, this test may include the presentation of a specific topic, coordinated and agreed with the teacher during the course, in the context of a monographic topic that is chosen each year among the most relevant topics of the current international research

Bellard C. et al. Alien species as drivers of recent extinctions. Biology Letters 12. Doherty T.S. et al. 2016. Invasive predators and global biodiversity loss. PNAS 113: 11261-11265. Vitousek P. et al. 1996. Biolgical Invasions as Global Environmental Change. American Scientist 84:468-478

The course includes lectures, laboratory exercises and field work. The information provided during the lectures will be integrated with the illustration of case studies, with references to a wide range of material, including scientific articles, websites, technical reports, and regulatory and video material. Exercise activities and field experiences will be aimed at the direct observation and understanding of the issues addressed, and in particular the direct observation of establishment and invasion processes in progress.

1 Biological invasions and global change. Introduction. Double trouble: invasive species as a component of global changes; the effects of global changes on invasions. 1.1 Invasive species and biodiversity conservation. The biodiversity paradox: local increases and global loss of biodiversity. Invasions and biotic homogenization: biodiversity is not just the number of species. Phylogenetic and biogeographical diversity. Diversity resistance theory. Biotic interactions, facilitation and invasional meltdown between invasive species. Are biodiversity hotspots the most invaded sites? Threat to the conservation of species and habitats. The impact of invasive predatory mammals on global biodiversity. Invasion debt. 1.2 Vulnerability of island systems to invasions. Invasions and threats to biodiversity in island ecosystems. The example of the Mediterranean. Invasions of species in the small Italian islands. 1.3 Biological invasions and climate change. Temperature and distribution of species on a global scale and in Europe. Facilitation of the establishment and spread of invasive species due to climate change. The expansion of invasive thermophilic plants in Italy: the spread of evergreen species in the region of the Insubric lakes, of woody nitrogen-fixing plants and succulents in the Mediterranean. Reduction in the resilience of natural and man-made habitats to climate change due to invasive species. 1.4 From the global to the local scale. Case studies of particular relevance will be selected during the course. 2 The invasion process. From the introduction to the invasion stages. Recent acceleration of the process and flows of alien species on a global scale; exchange between continents, donors and acceptors of species. 3 Invaded habitats. Terrestrial, riparian and aquatic environments, natural and man-made environments. Urban areas as centers of introduction and stabilization of invasive species. 4 Impacts of invasive species. General aspects and case studies. 4.1 Ecological impacts. The IUCN EICAT (Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa) classification. Applications and case studies. 5 Management of biological invasions. Prevention, control, eradication, communication. 5.1 Management tools for invasive species. Competent Bodies: European Commission, Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV), Ministry of the Environment and Land Protection ( MATTM), ISPRA, Regions, Autonomous Provinces and National Parks. Prioritization and Pest Risk Analysis. The legislation on invasive species. International, national and regional legislation. Strategic guidelines. The European Union Regulation 1143/2014 on invasive species. Main animal and plant species of Union relevance. The European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN). The regulations in Italy: implementation and application of invasive species policies, coordination of management and monitoring of biological invasions. Citizen Science. Voluntary codes of conduct: pets, horticulture and ornamental greenery, zoological gardens, aquariums, botanical gardens. 5.2 Post-introduction management techniques. Mechanical, chemical and biological control of invasive plants. General notes, methods compared. The EU LIFE programme. LIFE projects on the management of invasive species in Italy. Management of invasions in islands as a key factor for the conservation of biodiversity. Eradication of the rat and other animal and plant species for the conservation of habitats, seabirds and other taxa of flora and fauna. LIFE projects in Italy. The Ponderat project on the Pontine islands. 6 The information sources on biological invasions, from museums to social networking. Scientific literature: citational databases (Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar), social network platforms (ResearchGate and Academia.edu), bibliometric codes (DOI, ISBN) and Authors’ identifiers (ORCID); databases, websites, technical reports, legislation; libraries, museums, herbaria and botanical gardens.

Basic knowledge of General Ecology, particularly: species adaptations to biotic and abiotic factors, biotic interactions (competition, mutualism, predation, parasitism)

During the course scientific articles, texts, websites, databases, technical and regulatory documents as well as other teaching materials for exam preparation will be provided. - Nentwig W. et al 2018. More than ‘100 worst’ alien species in Europe. Biological Invasions 20: 1611-1621 - Pyšek P. et al. 2000. Scientists warnings on invasive alien species. Biological Reviews 95: 1511 – 1534. - Sage R.F. 2019. Global Change Biology: a primer. Global Change Biology 26: 3-30.

Attendance is recommended but not mandatory.

The exam consists of an oral test at the end of the course, during which the student's actual achievement of the course objectives is ascertained. For the purposes of the evaluation, the comprehension of the course contents, the correctness of the scientific language adopted, the ability to synthesize, to reason and to study autonomously are taken into account. To achieve a score of 30/30, the students have to show they have acquired an excellent knowledge in all subjects in the program, they can connect them and can reason independently. At the student's choice, this test may include the presentation of a specific topic, coordinated and agreed with the teacher during the course, in the context of a monographic topic that is chosen each year among the most relevant topics of the current international research

Bellard C. et al. Alien species as drivers of recent extinctions. Biology Letters 12. Doherty T.S. et al. 2016. Invasive predators and global biodiversity loss. PNAS 113: 11261-11265. Vitousek P. et al. 1996. Biolgical Invasions as Global Environmental Change. American Scientist 84:468-478

The course includes lectures, laboratory exercises and field work. The information provided during the lectures will be integrated with the illustration of case studies, with references to a wide range of material, including scientific articles, websites, technical reports, and regulatory and video material. Exercise activities and field experiences will be aimed at the direct observation and understanding of the issues addressed, and in particular the direct observation of establishment and invasion processes in progress.