GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY

Course objectives

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).

Channel 1
MORENO DI MARCO Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
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
Prerequisites
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.
Books
Erica Bree Rosenblum (2021) Global Change Biology 1st ed. Oxford University Press
Teaching mode
Lectures and seminars
Frequency
Students can attend the lectures in presence.
Exam mode
- seminars presentations + written examination (attending students) - written examination (non-attending students)
Bibliography
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.
Lesson mode
Lectures and seminars
  • Lesson code10620457
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseSciences and Teaching of Natural Systems
  • CurriculumClima ambiente ed energia - Percorso valido anche per coloro che partecipano al percorso internazionale di titolo multiplo italo-svizzero-svedese-francese con prima iscrizione presso l'Università di Stoccolma)
  • Year1st year
  • Semester2nd semester
  • SSDBIO/05
  • CFU6
  • Subject areaDiscipline biologiche