Characteristics of Birds and Mammals. Physiological mechanisms of thermoregulation. Principles of Wildlife Ecology, Description of the main species of Mammals and Birds of Europe and short account on some species of the other Continents
Textbooks:
- Notes from the lessons held by professor Giorgetti
- CASANOVA P., CAPACCIOLI A., CELLINI L., 1993 – Appunti di zoologia venatoria e gestione della selvaggina. Pagnini Editore, Firenze.
- PETERSON R., MOUNTFORT G., HOLLOM P.A.D., Franco Muzzio editore1983 – Guida agli uccelli d’Europa.
- SIMONETTA A. M., DESSÌ-FULGHERI F., 1998. Principi e Tecniche di Gestione faunistico-venatoria. Greentime, Bologna.
Learning Objectives
Knolewdge acquired:
The course is designed to impart general knowledge on physioclimatology in homeothermic animals, on wildlife ecology and populations dynamics.
Knowledge on main wild species(Mammalians and Birds) in Europe
Skills acquired (at the end of the course) Knowledge on morphological, ecological and ethological characteristics of main wild species, finalized to a correct management
Recognition of different species and subspecies of European mammals and birds.
To be able to evaluate a territory and estimate its carrying capacity for a wild species. To be able to make a census of wild populations.
Prerequisites
Recommended courses: Zoologia generale; Morfologia e fisiologia della fauna.
Teaching Methods
Hours reserved to private study and other indivual formative activities: 102
Contact hours for: Lectures (hours): 48
Further information
Frequency of lectures, practice and lab:
not compulsory but strongly encouraged
Teaching tools
unifiElearning: http://e-l.unifi.it/
Type of Assessment
Oral examination
Course program
1. The Animal kingdom and its taxonomy.
The vertebrate subphylum
Overview on anatomical, morphological and physiological characteristics of Birds and Mammals.
2. Notes on the main Italian institutions for wildlife management and hunting. Ecosystem. Ecological factors. Habitat and ecological niche. Limiting factors. Communities, species, subspecies and populations. Trophic chains. Primary production and carrying capacity. Population dynamics and factors influencing.
3. Heterothermy and homeothermy. Termoregulation. Thermic balance. Mechanisms of production and loss of heat in birds and mammals.
4. Description of key species of the orders of MAMMALS
- CARNIVORA (Mustelidae: Weasel, Ermine, Stone Marten, European Polecat, Eurasian Badger, Marten and Otter; Canidae: Fox and Wolf; Felidae: Lynx and Wildcat).
- LAGOMORPHA: Hare, Mountain Hare, European Rabbit and Arizona cottontail.
- ARCTIODACTYLA:
Bovidae: Mouflon, Wild goat, Alpine ibex, Alpine chamois, chamois of the Pyrenees and Abruzzo chamois.
Cervidae: Red Deer, Fallow Deer, Roe Deer; Reindeer and Moose (overview).
Suidae: Wild boar
Description of key species of the orders of BIRDS:
- Overview on:
Strutioniformes (Ostrich, Cassowary, Emu, Rhea, Kiwi); Tinamiformes; Sphenisciformes; Gaviiformes (Northern Loon, Red-Throated Diver, Black-Throated Diver); Podicepediformes (Grebes); Procellariformes and Pelecaniformes (Cormorants, Pelicans, Boobies, Ibis And Spoonbills).
- CICONIIFORMES: Ardeidae (Herons and Bitterns), Catartidae, Ciconidae (only White Stork);
- PHOENICOPTERIFORMES: Flamingo pink and overview on other species.
- ANSERIFORMES: notes on Animidae and
Anseranatidae;
- Anatidae (Anatinae): Mallard, Garganey, Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler, Pintail, Widgeon;
- Anatidae (Aitinae): Marbled Duck, Red-crested Pochard, Tufted Duck, Common Pochard
observations about Merginae;
- Anatidae (Anserinae): Wild goose, Greater white-fronted goose, Lesser white-fronted goose, Swans. Notes on Stictonectinae and Tadorninae.
- FALCONIFORMES: Accipitridae (Harriers, Marsh Harrier, Golden Eagle, Greater duck eagle, Lesser duck eagle, Eastern Imperial Eagle and Spenish Imperial Eagle, Buzzard, Goshawk and Sparrowhawk, Black kite, Royal kite and White kite, Short-toed snake Eagle, Honey buzzard, Black kite, Red kite and White kite, Cinereous vulture, Griffon vulture, Bearded vulture, Egyptian vulture); Falconidae (Peregrine falcon, Eurasian hobby, Common kestrel, Lesser kestrel); Pandionidae (Western osprey)
- STRIGIFORMES (notes) Tawny owl, Horned Owl, Barn Owl, Little Owl, Boreal Owl, Eurasian Pygmy Owl, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Long-eared Owl
- PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae: Rook, Carrion crow, Common Raven, Jackdaw, Alpine Chough, Red-billed Chough, Magpie, Eurasian Jay, Spotted Nutcracker;
Alaudidae: Sky Lark and Crested Lark;
Turdidae: Eurasian Blackbird, Feldfare, Song Trash, Redwing, Mistle Thrush and their differential characteristics; notes on European Robin, Nightingale, Black Redstart, Rufous-tailed Rock-thrush;
- Notes on the Families: Irundinidae, Motacillidae, Trogloditidae, Prunellidae, Sylviidae, Muscicapidae, Certidae, Oriolidae, Lanidae, Sturnidae, Passeridae, Fringillidae
- GALLIFORMES:
Fasianidae: : taxonomy, morphology, distribution, biology, ethology of:
Pheasant, Grey Partridge, Red-legged Partridge, Rock Partridge, Quail, Francolin. Environmental improvements for the various species. Notes on Odontoforidae, Megapodidae, Cracidae, Meleagridae, Numididae.
- Tetraonidae: Hazel Grouse, Ptarmigan, Black Grouse, Capercaillie.
- CARADRIIFORMES:
- Scolopacidae: Woodcock, Snipe, Curlew, blender, Pittime, Redshank, Ruff.
- COLUMBIFORMES: Common wood Pigeon, Stock dove, European turtle dove, Eurasian collared dove, Wild Pigeon.
- Notes on GRUIFORMES, PICIFORMES, PSITTACIFORMES