BOSSOLETO: EXTREME ENVIRONMENT AS DIDACTIC LABORATORY FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Bossoleto is a small doline located in the Siena-Radicofani basin (Tuscany, Italy). The area is characterized by high hydrothermal circulation with several thermal sites of water rich in carbonate. Close to Rapolano Terme, Bossoleto has the peculiarity to be an undisturbed biotope, where the high concentrations of carbon dioxide in atmosphere have been modifying the biotic communities and affecting the environment. Atmospheric CO2 changes over the year and the day, however over 800 ppm during daylight and reaching in certain conditions nighttime concentrations of almost 70%. So far, Bossoleto is considered a worthy site for microbiology, geology, plant physiology research investigations. The Institute of Biometeorology has a long experience on ecophysiological research in that site and counts several collaborations with foreign institutions. Moreover, years ago, it started to carry on didactic activities with local schools due to the appreciated characteristics. Bossoleto might be considered a natural didactic laboratory to understand greenhouse effect and observe the effects of high concentrations of CO2 on the environment with a multidisciplinary scientific approach. Geology, meteorology, ecology, botany, plant physiology, chemistry, physics are the matters linked to its features and a multiplicity of activities can be performed: scientists deepening seminars and explanations, experiments in loco or hands-on activities of longer duration. In the past didactic activities for instance, pupils run experiments on CO2 chemical and physical properties, measured the real greenhouse effect due to the higher concentration of the greenhouse gas at the bottom of the doline, monitored the differences in growth and allocation of organic matter in plants exposed to high CO2, compared to ambient concentration (pupils planted barley seeds in pots, they exposed half of them to high CO2 in Bossoleto and half at school at ambient concentration), saw the effects of high concentrations of CO2 on plant and species distribution inside Bossoleto and on animals. To conclude, visiting Bossoleto, pupils approach to real scientific results but also get knowledge through observation, experimentation and by doing.