Sciences and Teaching of Natural Systems

MORENO DI MARCO

To provide basic knowledge on the biological implications of global change, from a macroecological perspective, a conservation perspective, and a sustainability perspective. To understand the effects of global change on biodiversity, and the links between environmental change, biodiversity loss, and risks to humanity. To interpret global change under a multi-scale lens, both temporally (past to future) and spatially (local to global).

The student acquires basic and applied knowledge on the biological implications of global change. The student acquires the ability to interpret anthropogenic pressures on a global scale under a macroecological, conservation and sustainability key.
The student is able to evaluate the political and social solutions to the problems of global change, proposed both at a national and international level.
The student learns to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the main international environmental policies.
The student learns to use scientific evidence to support their opinions.
The student is able to read and understand a scientific text and summarise its contents. The student is able to follow a scientific seminar, understanding the main messages, and is able to formulate critical and relevant questions about the contents.

The Global Change Biology course is a course for Master's degree students. There are two prerequisites to access the course: 1) having obtained at least 6 ECTS in Ecology courses (one or more courses) during the three-year degree, 2) having a knowledge of the English language of at least CEFR B2 “independent user” level.

Module 1: Global change and its drivers
- what is global change
- human worldwide colonisation, defaunation in the anthropocene
- sixth mass extinction
- climate change
- socio-economics trends & land-use change


Module 2: How do species respond to global change?
- what is biodiversity?
- biodiversity response to global changes:
- phenology
- evolution
- geography

Module 3: Ecosystem response and impact on Nature's Contributions to People
- ecosystem-level and community level response
- what are NCPs?
- response of the NCPs + risk for humanity
- zoonotic disease risk
- climate risk (flooding, droughts, inundation, heatwave etc)
- fire (climate + land-use change)
- pests (locusts)
- crops and pollination

Module 4: Solutions
- Action (management + societal)
- Rewilding, Restoration, Protected Areas
- Societal Change & Bending the Curve
- Policy
- UNFCCC, Paris Agreement
- Convention on Biological Diversity + EU Green Deal + Common Agricultural Policy
- Sustainable Development Goals + One Health

Module 5: Thematic seminars

Erica Bree Rosenblum (2021) Global Change Biology 1st ed. Oxford University Press

Lee Hannah 2021. Climate change biology. Academic Press
Thomas E. Lovejoy & Lee Hannah. 2005. Climate change and Biodiversity. Yale University Press
Bibliographic material (papers and reports) will also be provided during the course.

Lectures and seminars

Students can attend the lectures in presence.

- seminars presentations + written examination (attending students)
- written examination (non-attending students)

What are the consequences of land use change on biodiversity?

• • Books: Erica Bree Rosenblum (2021) Global Change Biology 1st ed. Oxford University Press


• • Books: Lee Hannah 2021. Climate change biology. Academic Press.