This course aims to provide basic knowledge about animals and their relationships with the other organisms and the environment using an evolutionary and adaptive approach. Cultural and educational objectives of this course is the acquisition of basic knowledge on: zoological classification and systematics; structural and functional organization of animals; methods of reproduction; development; behavior; phylogeny; distribution. Other objectives are also the acquisition of methodological skills, such as the recognition of the main animal taxa, monitoring techniques, comparative analysis of macro and microscopic anatomy and the preparation of samples to be observed with optical microscopes. The expected learning outcomes concern in-depth knowledge of animal biodiversity, in order to develop an awareness of their fundamental ecological role and the need of monitoring and protection for the sake of the survival of all ecosystems
teacher profile teaching materials
1. General Zoology – history of zoology, evolution and mechanisms of natural selection, gene flow and genetic drift, phylogeny, fundamentals of ecology, and main interspecific interactions. The anatomical and functional organization of major animal systems, as well as basic physiology and ecological adaptations, will also be covered.
- Animal biodiversity: concepts and approaches to biodiversity studies
- Introduction to disciplines dealing with biodiversity
- History and concepts of evolutionary thought
- Concept of diversity and inter- and intraspecific variability
- Concept of species and speciation
- Evolution and mechanisms of natural selection
- Genetic drift, inbreeding, founder effect, bottleneck effect
- Evolutionary processes: extinction, adaptive radiation
- Adaptive processes and ecological niche
- Interactions among organisms (predation, parasitism, sociality, etc.)
- Concepts of community ecology
2. Systematic Zoology – comparative study of the main metazoan animal phyla, with particular focus on:
Porifera
Cnidaria
Ctenophora
Platyhelminthes
Nemertea
Nematoda
Annelida
Mollusca
Lophophorata (Ectoprocta, Brachiopoda, Phoronida)
Onychophora
Arthropoda
Echinodermata
Chordata (with special emphasis on Vertebrates)
Rupert et al. Zoologia degli invertebrati, Ediotore: Piccin
Programme
The course is divided into two main sections:1. General Zoology – history of zoology, evolution and mechanisms of natural selection, gene flow and genetic drift, phylogeny, fundamentals of ecology, and main interspecific interactions. The anatomical and functional organization of major animal systems, as well as basic physiology and ecological adaptations, will also be covered.
- Animal biodiversity: concepts and approaches to biodiversity studies
- Introduction to disciplines dealing with biodiversity
- History and concepts of evolutionary thought
- Concept of diversity and inter- and intraspecific variability
- Concept of species and speciation
- Evolution and mechanisms of natural selection
- Genetic drift, inbreeding, founder effect, bottleneck effect
- Evolutionary processes: extinction, adaptive radiation
- Adaptive processes and ecological niche
- Interactions among organisms (predation, parasitism, sociality, etc.)
- Concepts of community ecology
2. Systematic Zoology – comparative study of the main metazoan animal phyla, with particular focus on:
Porifera
Cnidaria
Ctenophora
Platyhelminthes
Nemertea
Nematoda
Annelida
Mollusca
Lophophorata (Ectoprocta, Brachiopoda, Phoronida)
Onychophora
Arthropoda
Echinodermata
Chordata (with special emphasis on Vertebrates)
Core Documentation
Hickmann et al. Zoologia, Editore: McGraw-Hill Education (a cura di di Arizza Vincenzo, Coppellotti Olimpia, Guidolin Laura)Rupert et al. Zoologia degli invertebrati, Ediotore: Piccin
Attendance
Attendance is highly recommended. Classes are held twice a week in the classroom, and practical laboratory sessions are also scheduled.Type of evaluation
Assessment is based on an oral examination with open-ended questions on topics of general and systematic zoology. Students will also be required to recognize and describe zoological specimens previously analyzed during laboratory practical sessions. teacher profile teaching materials
- Animal biodiversity (concepts and approach to the study of biodiversity)
- Introduction to disciplines studying biodiversity
- History and concepts of evolutionary thought
- Concept of inter- and intraspecific diversity and variability
- Concept of species and speciation
- Genetic drift, inbreeding, founder effect, bottleneck
- Evolutionary processes: extinction, adaptive radiation
- Adaptive processes and ecological niche
- Interaction between organisms (predation, parasitism, sociality, etc.)
- Concepts of community ecology
Rupert et al. Zoologia degli invertebrati, Ediotore: Piccin
Programme
Zoology (general part)- Animal biodiversity (concepts and approach to the study of biodiversity)
- Introduction to disciplines studying biodiversity
- History and concepts of evolutionary thought
- Concept of inter- and intraspecific diversity and variability
- Concept of species and speciation
- Genetic drift, inbreeding, founder effect, bottleneck
- Evolutionary processes: extinction, adaptive radiation
- Adaptive processes and ecological niche
- Interaction between organisms (predation, parasitism, sociality, etc.)
- Concepts of community ecology
Core Documentation
Hickmann et al. Zoologia, Editore: McGraw-Hill Education (a cura di di Arizza Vincenzo, Coppellotti Olimpia, Guidolin Laura)Rupert et al. Zoologia degli invertebrati, Ediotore: Piccin
Attendance
MandatoryType of evaluation
The examination will consist of an oral assessment consisting of theoretical questions and recognition of zoological specimens.