Natural Sciences

Description of the contents Classification and phylogeny of animals. Introduction to the taxonomically sound morphological characters and phylogenetic reconstructions (cladistic methods and cluster analysis). Homology vs. analogy (the evo-devo perspective). Zoological nomenclature (elements). Taxonomic categories and taxa (the Linnean hierarchy). Taxonomic identification (tools and applications). Relationships between living organisms: intraspecific associations (parental care; differences between colonies and societies; eusociality in insects), interspecific associations (different levels of symbiosis; parasitism and parasitoidism), mimicry, aposematism. Geographical distribution of extant organisms, with particular reference to terrestrial habitats. Island biogeography (principles and applications). Major extinctions and "explosive" radiation events from the Precambrian (Ediacaran) to the Cenozoic, an overview. A thorough treatment of the body plan of arthropods, echinoderms, hemichordates and chordates. Body segments and tagmosis, symmetry, skeleton, digestive system, circulation and gas exchange, excretion and osmoregulation, nervous system and sense organs, reproduction and development. Systematic section – The level of detail is generally that of Class, with further insights into Orders, as follows: Arthropods (overview of all classes), with insights into: 1. Arachnids – scorpions, spiders, pseudoscorpions, harvestmen and mites; 2. Insects – dragonflies, "orthopteroids", earwigs, true bugs, sucking lice, beetles, butterflies and moths, true flies and relatives, fleas, ants, bees and wasps. Echinoderms (overview of all classes), Hemichordates (overview of all classes), Chordates (overview of all subphyla and classes), with insights into Craniata: 1. amphibians (with detailed descriptions of frogs, newts and salamanders, with notes on the Italian fauna); 2. "reptiles" (with detailed descriptions of chelones, Squamata, with notes on the Italian fauna, and crocodiles) 3. mammals (with notes on the groups represented in the Italian fauna). Practicals: Morphology, anatomy and taxonomic identification of the following taxa: - Arthropods: chelicerates, myriapods, crustaceans and insects. - Echinoderms, hemichordates, and chordates.

Basics of evolutionary biology. Natural selection. Concepts of species (biological, phylogenetic). Elements of vector geometry. Pairwise distance matrices.

Lecture slides will be provided in electronic form to the students through e-learning (Zoologia Ambientale). The topics treated in the course cannot be found in a single textbook. The basic notions are contained in a few chapters of the following volumes: Westheide & Rieger 2011. Zoologia sistematica, filogenesi e diversità degli animali. Zanichelli. Ballarin et al. 2023. Manuale di Zoologia. Piccin Editore (15 sett. 2023, in stampa) Brusca et al., 2016. Invertebrates, Third Edition. [In English] Argano et al., 2007. Zoologia. Evoluzione e adattamento. Monduzzi editore Argano et al., 2007. Zoologia. Diversità animale. Monduzzi editore Casiraghi et al. 2023 Zoologia. UTET Universtà Hickman et al., 2016. Zoologia, McGraw-Hill, (XVI° edizione) Pough. et al., 2001. Zoologia dei Vertebrati, Casa editrice Ambrosiana

Credits/hours: 9 CFU. Schedule Types: 7 CFU, lecture (also online); 1 lab excercises; 1 fieldtrips.

Deep knowledge and understanding of animal classification, its principles and practical uses. High quality knowledge of the body plans of the major animal taxa treated during the course. Students will learn some basic methods employed in phylogenetic reconstructions and animal classification. Knowledge of the major invertebrate and vertebrate clades; their anatomical, functional and ecological features. Students will learn how to collect and preserve arthropods and vertebrates for scientific and museological purposes, and will also acquire the skills to identify to genus and/or species level some common "macro-vertebrates" and insects of the Italian fauna. Students should have a good background knowledge of: the principles of systematic zoology and phylogenetic; the ground-plan traits of the major lineages of arthropods and deuterostomes (echinoderms, hemichordates, chordates), down to the rank of class and order. Students must be able to recognize and describe (using appropriate technical terminology) museum specimens belonging to the groups treated during the course. Students will be asked to elaborate and discuss the treated topics within the broad context of evolutionary biology.

Credits/hours: 9 CFU. Schedule Types: 7 CFU, lecture (also online); 1 lab excercises; 1 fieldtrips.

Classification and phylogeny of Ecdysozoa Use of phylogenetic and cladisatic approaches in taxonomy Zoological nomenclature Symbiosis Mimetism Biogeography Mass extinctions Arthropods structures and body plan Arthropod body functions Systematics of Panarthropods, down to the level of class or order (for insects) Organisation of the course Module 1 Evolution of animal life, concepts of Systematic Zoology, Practical applications Module 2 Introduction to ecdysozoa, cycloneuralia, panartropoda (excluding artropoda) Module 3 Artropods: chelicerata, miriapoda, crustacea, esapoda Module 4 Echinodermata (all classes) Practicals (associated to modules 2, 3 and 4) Morfology, anatomy and identification of the following taxa: - Nematoda - Onicofora e Tardigrada - Artropoda: chelicerata, miriapoda, “crustacea” exapoda - Echinodermata

General Zoology, Natural Sciences, 1st year

Course material will be provided during the course, via elearning and google classroom platforms. Adopted text Among the most recent texts, one of the following is recommended: •Ballarin 2023. Manuale di Zoologia. Piccin •Hickman et alii 2016. Zoologia. McGraw-Hill Education. •Westheide & Rieger 2011. Zoologia sistematica. Filogenesi e diversità degli animali. Zanichelli •Brusca, Moore, Shuster 2016. Invertebrates (third edition). Sinauer Associates. Inc., Publishers. [in biblioteca]

frontal classes, and practical lab sessions

attendance is not mandatory but highly encouraged

Written exams, single test, theoretical questions and systematic identification. The student is required to to answer conceptual questions of systematic zoology. The student is required to recognise the various taxa presented during the course.

Course material will be provided during the course, via elearning and google classroom platforms

frontal classes, and practical lab sessions