Science at Museo delle Scienze - Museo Tridentino di Scienze ...

1R
2R
3R
4R
5R
6R
Science at Museo delle Scienze: Research Report 2010-2011
The research activities of Mds are grouped in six general Programmes (1R-6R) accounting
each a variable number projects and involving each different section of
the museum. A brief description of these Programmes is given.
Programme 1r
ecology and biodiversity of mountain ecosystems in
relation to environmental and climate change
in the framework of the Programme 1, research activities on the biodiversity of terrestrial
and freshwater ecosystems of mountain areas in italy and abroad are carried
out in collaboration with regional, national, and international outstanding research
institutes. These investigations are mostly fundamental research, devoted to ecosystems
and to organisms (from morphology to physiology, genetics and bioorganic
chemistry), to their distribution (both in the individual habitats and global from a
biogeographic perspective), to their ecological preferences (including their eventual
use as biological monitors), and to the community they belong to (structure, diversity,
characteristic assemblages). The projects included in this Programme focus
on specific environments, such as with reference to aquatic systems spring-habitats,
spring-fed streams, rivers, lakes and high-mountain lakes, and with reference to terrestrial
systems grasslands, woodlands, and glacier forelands.
Benthic cyanobacteria and diatoms, bryophytes, chironomid midges and other
aquatic insects, and carabid beetles are the groups of organisms on which a highly
developed expertise has been achieved as concerns their taxonomy, distribution,
physiology, genetics. one of the main goals is the use of target species as indicators
of environmental change caused by local and global impacts (warming, increasing
uV radiation, acidification, diversion of water for hydroelectric purposes, eutrophication,
habitat fragmentation, agriculture pressures, etc.).
This Programme includes also bird population studies (reproductive biology and
raptors overwintering, trends of local and migrating populations in Trentino) again
in relation to climate change and land use.
The results of these investigations are made available to institutes and Agencies
in charge for the monitoring, control, management, protection of the territory of
the Autonomous Province of Trento to foster a land-use planning oriented to the
respect of organisms and natural systems in a perspective of sustainable development.
This Programme also includes several bachelor and M.sc. theses, doctoral
and post- doctoral studies etc. that Mds runs in co-operation with italian and foreign
universities. The topics investigated are manifold, because ecology is per se
a multi-disciplinary and trans-ecosystemic study, in which, as a consequence, all
biological sections of the Mds are involved.
Programme 2r
documenting and conserving nature
The Programme 2 is dedicated to research on distribution, ecology and conservation
of the flora and fauna of Trento Province, with marked applied implications. it aims to
document and monitor biodiversity over time, through field data collection, analysis
of both historical (from collections or project reports) and recent data-sets (collected
during monitoring campaigns) and predictive modelling. The research elaborates the
databases in support of sustainable land use planning, with particular relevance to
Rete Natura 2000 and other protected areas. To this end the Programme collaborates
with local parks and other relevant Government agencies (such as the nature con-
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