Patrick Della Croce

Assistant Professor, Biology and Environmental Sciences

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.

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.