COMPARATIVE ECOLOGY AND ETHOLOGY

-Population Ecology: proprieties of populations, population growth and intraspecific population regulation, population dynamics and species interactions, community ecology;
-The nature of ecology and principle of animal adaptation to the terrestrial and aquatic environment.
-Ecosystem ecology: ecosystem definition, ecosystem dynamics, preservation, study of the effects of anthropic activities on aquatic ecosystems, major indicators of the health status of aquatic environments, climate change, ecotoxicology, toxicogenomics, contaminants and biotic compartments. Effects of contaminants on biological systems. Definition of bioindicator and biomarker.
-Measures of biodiversity, extinction dynamics,
invasive species, genetic and spatial connectivity of populations, ecosystem resilience and resistance.
-Some zoo/wild animal species will be selected as examples and an overview of their relevant species-specific behavioral features, which could affect their management will be given. The overview will include social organization and behavior, communication, group dynamics, use of space, reproductive strategies, parental care, predatory and anti-predatory behavior, foraging strategies, other maintenance activities, behavioral signs of possible conflict between behavioral needs of the species and actual management. Examples of studies on species-specific environmental enrichment strategies will also be given. The target animals will include mainly species belonging to the clade Laurasiatheria, but also primates, birds and Testudines..
-Methods to study, measure and evaluate behavior in animals
-Animal-human relationship and training (including medical training) in wild species


The course lab sessions and practical activities cover:
-Recognizing behavioral patterns in wild animals. Recognizing behavioral signs of possible conflict between relevant behavioral features of the species and actual management.
-Designing a correct data collection plan, actual data collection and evaluation.
-Basics of medical training