Patrick Della Croce
Associate Professor, Biology and Environmental Sciences
Department Chair, Environmental Sciences and Studies
Ph.D. Montana State University, United States
M.S. Swiss Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland
Office: Villa, North Campus, Loft
Phone: +41 91 986 36 62
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Profile:
Dr. Della Croce joined Franklin University Switzerland in August 2013 and is currently Assistant Professor of Biology and Environmental Sciences. He teaches courses in Franklin University's Environmental studies program, including core courses such as Introduction to Biology, Ecology and Freshwater Conservation. He has a M.S. in Environmental Sciences with a focus on the Biology of Aquatic Systems from the Swiss Institute of Technology in Zurich (Switzerland) and a Ph.D. in Ecology and Environmental Sciences from Montana State University in Bozeman (Montana, U.S.A). His scholarly work includes research on river-groundwater interactions, the use of river habitat by fish and the movement of non-native genes across river networks. His current research interests include the use of simulation models in ecological studies, fish biology and fisheries management, groundwater ecology, ecology of invasive species and management and conservation of freshwater systems.
In addition to being a member of the American Fisheries Society and the Società Ticinese di Scienze Naturali, Dr. Della Croce is a scientific consultant for the environmental Consulting firm EcoEng SA and is actively participating in projects involving river and lakes restoration, riparian vegetation management and fish passages.
2019-2020 Courses:
| BIO 301W | Conservation Biology | FALL 2019 |
| This course considers the principles of biological diversity and the application of science to its conservation. It covers conservation concepts at the genetic, species, population, community, and landscape level. The course examines the causes behind the current biodiversity crisis and then focuses on modern conservation and restoration efforts. It employs recent case studies around the globe to illustrate course concepts. May include laboratory sessions and field trips. (This writing-intensive course counts towards the Academic Writing requirements.) |
| ENV 199 | Sushi Anyone? The Past, Present, and Future of Our Last Wild Food | FALL 2019 |
| Where does our food come from? In most cases, nowadays, what we eat is farmed or cultivated. During our history, as population has grown and technology improved, we have increasingly turned to farming to sustain ourselves. Yet, today, there is still one kind of food that is essentially wild: seafood. In fact, whether farmed or wild, our current hunger for seafood is eventually satisfied by wild fish stocks. But can wild fish stocks endure our pressure, and what happens when wild stocks collapse? Using examples from fisheries across the globe, and drawing parallels with the field of herbal medicine, this course will (a) illustrate the effects of seafood harvesting on wild fish stocks and the oceans at large and (b) search for solutions that will allow us to satisfy our demands while maintaining wild fish stocks. Like all First Year Seminars, this course will cultivate the fundamental critical and academic skills necessary for success at the university level. |
| ENV 360 | Research Methods in Environmental Sciences | FALL 2019 |
| This course integrates field, laboratory, computing, and statistical methodologies commonly employed in environmental sampling. The course will also emphasize professional presentation and scientific report writing skills. It includes a mandatory weekend field trip, as well as local field trips. |
| FYS 399 | Academic Mentoring | FALL 2019 |
| This course is for students selected as Academic Mentors in the context of the First Year Experience. Academic Mentors are assigned to individual first-year seminars and work as a group on academic leadership and research. Using the content and classroom of the first year seminars as a context, this 300-level course provides students with the opportunity to learn and practice advanced academic leadership skills including: research, writing, teaching, and tutoring skills. Student will be expected to complete course readings over the summer, before the course begins. During the semester, students will participate actively in class and typically organize and evaluate the final public presentation. Academic Mentors will meet periodically as a group outside of their individual seminars. |
| BIO 101 | Introduction to Biology: Genetics, Evolution, and Ecology | SPRING 2020 |
| An introduction to the biological sciences. Topics include the principles of genetics, evolutionary theory, ecology, and conservation biology. The course has integrated lab exercises. |
| ENV 231T | Introduction to Coastal Ecosystems | SPRING 2020 |
| This course examines the natural history and the ecology of coastal ecosystems, with a special emphasis on coral reefs. It examines the interactions between the terrestrial and marine environments that allow the formation of these biodiverse systems as well as the characteristic species, their evolutionary history, and the complex processes that drive everyday life in these systems. The course also explores the effects that humans have on coral reefs and other coastal systems, both directly (e.g., coastal development, tourism) and indirectly (e.g., climate change). The course will challenge students to critically asses attempts to mitigate such effects. The Academic Travel portion of the course will take place along the East coast of Egypt, on the Red Sea. (Good swimming skills required.)
This Travel carries a supplemental fee: CHF 665 (for students invoiced in CHF) or USD 710 (for students invoiced in USD). |
| MAT 103 | College Algebra | SPRING 2020 |
| The first part of this course reviews the basic concepts of algebra, real numbers, first-degree equations and inequalities, rational expressions, exponents and radicals, and polynomials, systems of equations and inequalities. The second part strongly emphasizes graphs and functions. The most important functions for applications are introduced, such as linear, quadratic, exponential, logarithmic, and rational functions. |
| BIO 297 | Fish Biology and Ecology | SUMMER 2020 |
| This course covers general aspects of fish biology and key principles of fish ecology. Specifically, using examples mainly from local freshwater systems, students first learn about basic aspects of fish anatomy and physiology, and different behavior, feeding, and reproductive mechanisms of fish. Students then examine various inter- and intraspecific relationships among and between fish and at their interactions with the environment. The course will include both in-class lectures as well as local day-trips or a weekend trip.
Course dates: 6 - 24 July 2020 (Monday - Friday). Fridays will be used as field days. |
Awards and Honors:
Swiss National Science Foundation Fellowship (2012-2013)
Western Division of the American Fisheries Society Student Travel Award (2010-2012)
Montana Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Resource Action Fund (2010)
Society for Freshwater Science (former North American Benthological Society) General Fund Award (2010)
Relevant publications:
McGuire, E. and Della Croce, P. (2017). An analysis of changes in the environmental content of Caldecott and Newbery medal winning children’s books, 1922-2016. International Journal of Environmental and Science Education, 12(8), 1879-1894.
Della Croce, P., Poole, G. C., Payn, R. A., & Gresswell, R. E. (2017). Detecting Introgression in Fish Populations: When Sample Size actually matters. Fisheries, 42(1), 44-56.
Della Croce P., Poole, G. C., Luikart, G. (2016) Simplifying assumptions yield overconfidence in detecting and quantifying introgression in hybridized populations. Molecular Ecology Resources, 16, 1287–1302. doi:10.1111/1755-0998.12520
Hale, B. W., Della Croce, P. (2015). In everybody’s backyard? Examining the intersection of invasive species and environmental justice. Intervalla.
Della Croce, P., Poole, G. C., Payn, R. A., & Izurieta, C. (2014). Simulating the effects of stream network topology on the spread of introgressive hybridization across fish populations. Ecological Modelling, 279, 68-77.
