Conservation, education, and communication

MARINE ECOSYSTEM AND MARINE BIODIVERSITY

Elements of ecology: marine environment, interactions between plants and animals, food webs. Marine biodiversity. The origin of biodiversity in the Mediterranean Sea.

ALTERATIONS OF MARINE ENVIRONMENT / THREATS TO MARINE BIODIVERSITY

Causes of marine environment alteration: physical (climate change, plastic litter,…), chemical (acidification, hydrocarbon pollution,…), biological (fishing, alien and invasive species,…).

Extinctions.

CONSERVATION OF MARINE ENVIRONMENT AND MARINE FAUNA

Principles of conservation of marine fauna and its environment.

Conservation strategies, marine strategy, protected areas.

Ex situ conservation: importance of zoos and aquariums.

Eradications.

Main protected or endangered marine vertebrate species (emphasis on conservation status, threats, conservation projects).

CASE STUDIES

-     Caretta caretta conservation projects: the case of Calabria as nesting area.

-     Ligurian Sea Cetacean Sanctuary as an example of a functional marine area.