Environmental Monitoring and Recovery

1 An introduction to biological invasion: biological invasions, a rapidly expanding recent phenomenon. Differences with respect to the natural expansion and colonization of species. Pet to pest: changing perspectives towards introduced species, from “exotic” to “invasive” plants. The international debate. 2 The invasion process in vascular plants: The main international frameworks to represent the invasion process. The different stages in the invasion process of non-native plant species. The most recent scientific terminology on alien and invasive plants. 2.1 Introduction. Differences between human-mediated diffusion and natural species dispersion. Dispersal rate, type, selection, global flows of species exchange. Periods of introduction of non-native species. Archaeophytes and neophytes. Pathways of introduction; model implemented in CBD: release, escape, contaminant, stowaway. Voluntary and accidental introductions. 2.2 Spontaneization. Plant strategies in relation to the invasion process. Application of Grime's strategies to invasive plants. Modes of vegetative reproduction. Comparing sexual and vegetative reproduction, advantages and disadvantages in the invasion process. Casual species. Casual species in the flora of Italy. Reasons for monitoring casual species. 2.3 Naturalization. Factors influencing the naturalization (establishment) of alien species. Environmental compatibility, propagule fitness, propagule pressure. Naturalized species, the naturalized species in the flora of Italy. 2.4 Invasion. Dispersal modes of invasive plants. Secondary, natural and human-induced dispersal; extension of the surface, formation of new populations. Dispersal as a key factor in the invasion process. Dispersal strategies in vascular plants in relation to the invasion process; advantages of anemochory, hydrochory, autochory, endo- and ecto-zoochory. Transport routes as preferential pathways for the spread of invasive species. 3 Determinants of the invasion process. General criteria and main theories on the invasion process. Biotic relations. The absence of coevolution. Biotic resistance. Facilitation; invasional meltdown. Time lags. Enemy Release Hypothesis. Novel Weapon Hypothesis; examples; succulence, allelopathy. Human action: pathways, propagule pressure, the role of natural and anthropogenic disturbance in the invasion process; plant adaptations to disturbance. Characters of the environment; vulnerability, natural and man-made environments more prone to invasions. The case of the islands: island susceptibility hypothesis. Traits of the species that determine their invasiveness; invasiveness in other regions, biogeography and habitat compatibility, size of the area. Ability to adapt, competitiveness, reproduction and dispersal strategies. 4 An introduction to the impacts and management of invasive species. The main types of impact of invasive plants. Environmental and socio-economic impacts. Major impact of invasive plants in Italy. Prioritization. The main international, national and local regulatory instruments. Notes on post-introduction management techniques. 5 Plant invasion in Italy. Environmental heterogeneity and species richness; main trends in relation to environmental parameters. The main invasive plants of the flora of Italy. Analysis of 7 case studies: origin, introduction, spread, characters that determine invasiveness, invaded environments, impacts and management of: Ailanthus altissima, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, the genus Carpobrotus, Pontederia crassipes (Eichhornia crassipes), Oxalis pes-caprae, Reynoutria japonica (Fallopia japonica) and Robinia pseudacacia.

Basic knowledge of General Botany and Ecology : plant organs and functions, plant adaptations to biotic and abiotic factors, biotic interactions (competition, mutualism, herbivory)

During the course scientific articles, texts, websites, databases, technical and regulatory documents, as well as other teaching materials for exam preparation will be provided Lockwood et al 2013. Invasion Ecology 2nd Edition. Wiley-Blackwell

Attendance is recommended but not mandatory.

The final test 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 reason and study autonomously are taken into account. To achieve a score of 30/30, 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

- Blackburn et al. 2011. A proposed unified framework for biological invasions. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 26: 333-339. - Hulme et al. 2008 Grasping at the routes of biological invasions: a framework for integrating pathways into policymanagement. Journal of Applied Ecology 45: 403–414 - Mack R.N., Londsdale W.M. 2001 Humans as Global Plant Dispersers: getting more than we bargained for Bioscience 51: 95-102. - Simberloff et al. 2011. Non-natives: 141 scientists object. Nature 474: 153-154 - van Kleunen et al 2018 The changing role of ornamental horticulture in alien plant invasions. Biol Rev 93:1421–1437. - van Kleunen et al. 2015. Global exchange and accumulation of non-native plants. Nature 525: 100–103 doi:10.1038/nature14910

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 some invasive species of the flora of Italy.