ANIMAL DIVERSITY

Course objectives

Dublin 1. Knowledge and understanding - The student will acquire the morpho-functional knowledge of the body plans of the animal phyla, essential to the interpretation of the adaptations and the evolutionary history of the Metazoa. Dublin 2. ability to apply knowledge and understanding - The student will acquire the diagnostic skills for the identification of animal groups and the critical skills for the selection of appropriate animal models for experimental biology. Dublin 3. Critical and judgmental capacities - During the laboratory practices, the student will develop critical and judgmental skills by coping with museum and in vivo samples of the main animal phyla, through macroscopic and microscopic observation of morphologies and behaviors and drawings of anatomical parts. Dublin 4. ability to communicate what has been learned - Students, especially during the laboratory practices, are encouraged to interact with each other and with the teachers to implement practical activities (observation, identification, analysis and critical comment of the samples). Dublin 5. ability to continue the study independently in the life - The student will acquire the language of Zoology, in terms of both taxonomic nomenclature and descriptive nomenclature of morphologies and functional and evolutionary processes of animals. These skills will make the student able to face future biological and environmental studies, including experimental activities where animals are the model of study.

Channel 1
LUIGI MAIORANO Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
The syllabus includes a first part dedicated to general zoology and a second part for systematics General Part: The animal cell: cellular organelles and their functions. Meiosis and mitosis. Main tissues and animal organs. Symmetry. Main apparatuses. Pseudoceloma and celoma. Metamery. Sexual reproduction and its adaptatnive meaning with evolutionary consequences; primary and secondary sexual characters; sex determination; internal and external fecundation. Embryonic and post-embryonic development, metamorphosis. Asexual reproduction. Biological evolution and origin of the animal diversity. The synthetic evolutionary theory. Mutations, natural selection, genetic drift, emetico flux. Biological species concept. Geographic speciation and sympatric. Micro-evolution and macro-evolution. Taxonomic categories. Basis of ecology: biotic community and ecosystems, habitat and ecological niche. Intraspecific relationships: colonies and societies. Interspecific relationships: predations, competition, symbiosis and parasitism. Systematics: Physical organisation of Protozoa and of the main Metazoan phyla (ecdisozoa and Cordata excluded). Ecology, description and recognition of the following taxa: Protozoi (Flagellati, Ciliati, Sporozoi, Sarcodini) Poriferi. Cnidari: Idrozoi (Idroidi, Sifonofori), Scifozoi, Antozoi (Esacoralli e Ottocoralli). Ctenofori. Platelminti (Turbellari, Trematodi, Cestodi). Nemertini. Molluschi (Caudofoveati, Solenogastri, Poliplacofori, Monoplacofori, Gasteropodi, Cefalopodi, Bivalvi, Scafopodi). Anellidi (Policheti, Oligocheti, Irudinei). Rotiferi. Acantocefali. “Lofoforati” (Briozoi, Brachiopodi, Foronidei). Gastrotrichi.
Prerequisites
No prerequisite is required
Books
Hickman et al. 2020. Zoologia. McGraw-Hill
Teaching mode
The course will be developed with a series of traditional lectures and with a set of practicals aimed at learning animal characteristics for the main taxa
Frequency
Attending lectures is not obligatory but strongly suggested
Exam mode
The exam is made up with a written exam and the recognition of photos of the main animal phyla
Bibliography
The literature will be indicated during the lectures and usually it consists in a series of scientific papers to be read.
Lesson mode
The course will be developed with a series of traditional lectures and with a set of practicals aimed at learning animal characteristics for the main taxa
  • Lesson code1016320
  • Academic year2024/2025
  • CourseEnvironmental Sciences
  • CurriculumSingle curriculum
  • Year1st year
  • Semester2nd semester
  • SSDBIO/05
  • CFU9
  • Subject areaDiscipline biologiche