In this lesson, we will explore the use of resident species as ecological indicators of habitat quality. We will focus specifically on how to assess the quality of coastal habitats by using cortisol levels as an indicator of physiological stress. Cortisol, a hormone produced in response to stress, provides an important measure of species well-being and the health of the environment they inhabit. Finally, we will see how this approach can be applied in contexts beyond the coastal marine environment.
Luca Altavilla, is a PhD student at the Ca' Foscari University of Venice. He hold a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences, and after a period of study in Australia, he completed his Master's degree in Coastal and Marine Management at UW University. His research mainly focuses on habitat conservation, restoration, and behavioural analysis.
The presentation will take place in the cafeteria at the University Centre of the Westfjords and will start at 12:10. The presentation will also be streamed via a Zoom link, which can be found here: https://eu01web.zoom.us/j/69947471079
The lunch lecture will be held in english