Lectures are given in Italian. To attend the course, students will need to read the international scientific and technical literature on the subject published in English.
Course Content
Aim of the Laboratory is to explore the effects of global-scale environmental change on emergence and severity of forest diseases. We will study a few known cases of tree diseases whose development is limited by climatic factors. Then we will analyse the most recent literature to review the scientific evidence that the recent emergence of some forest diseases is driven by global environmental changes. Strategies for risk reduction and management of disease emergence will be discussed.
Scientific papers will be provided during the course
Handouts and readings will be available online on the Moodle platform via website
https://www.agraria.unifi.it/vp-110-e-learning-con-moodle.html
Learning Objectives
The Laboratory is intended to present to participants, and future forest managers, evidence about how anthropogenic disturbance and climate change drive emerging forest tree diseases, and provide them with understanding about possible strategies for facing the complex challenge that global environmental changes pose to forest health worldwide.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge in microbiology, forest pathology, forest botany, tree physiology, and forest management.
Teaching Methods
The Laboratory will include (i) frontal lectures reviewing the scientific literature about the drivers of currently emerging forest disease and presenting some known examples of diseases limited by climatic factors; (ii) class discussion of scientific papers presenting current evidence of how the impact of some diseases (host and pathogen interactions) are responding or might respond to climate change; (iii) class discussion of review papers about environmental factors possibly involved in the emergence or re-emergence of forest tree diseases; (iv) class presentation and analysis of assigned literature searches; (v) revision of the draft of the final report.
Type of Assessment
The Final Exam will include both a written and an oral part. The candidates (in groups of maximum three students) will deliver a report (at least a week before the day of the Final Exam) on a case study chosen among forest pathogens causing emerging disease of international relevance, and previously agreed upon with the teachers. The report will be compiled in the form of a technical document of pest risk analysis according to a scheme provided by the teachers. On the day of the Final Exam the candidates will be asked to give an oral presentation (max 15 min) of their report, to discuss their results and conclusions and to answer questions about all case studies and general concepts on environmental effects on forest health addressed during the classes..
The final grade will be based upon performance on the Final Exam (scientific and formal quality of the report, content of the presentation and quality of exposition, capacity to answer questions about contents of the report and about all themes discussed during classes and lab activities). Active participation in class discussions will concur to determine the final grade. Attendance is not mandatory, but strongly encouraged.
Course program
Global climate change is a major challenge for humanity in the near future. In forest ecosystems, which play a most important role in the control of global climate, climate and environmental changes might influence the severity and the incidence of known diseases or else start new diseases through conditions favourable to latent microorganisms as well as the outbreak of alien species, whether they have naturally migrated or they have been introduced by human activity. The Course aims at: I) investigating how climate factors like temperature, precipitation, humidity and wind might influence the outbreak of forest diseases, ii) studying the case of known pathogens whose development is limited by climate factors, iii) analysing scientific literature so as to gather evidence available on pathogens whose recent epidemic outbreak might be ascribed to climate and environment change. The experimental proofs of forest diseases due to climate change will be analysed, and scenarios of future impact of other diseases will be tested. Possible strategic options (monitoring, diagnose, modelling, planning and mitigation strategies) to increase the resilience of forest ecosystems and urban trees to emerging diseases will be discussed. The Course aims at enabling participants and future forest managers to respond with awareness and competently to the complex challenge that forests and urban trees undergo due to climate change.