LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to illustrate the different organizational plans of the animals and highlight the relationship between structure - function and environment. The purpose is to show how the diversity of the living organisms is interpretable through an evolutionary-phylogenetic vision. The laboratory aims to integrate and consolidate the knowledge acquired during theoretical lectures through the observation of external morphology and of the organisms belonging to some phyla and field experiences.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The attendance and participation in the planned training activities will allow the student to acquire the knowledge about the general Zoology as well as the systematic of the main groups studied from an evolutionary point of view.

Specifically, the student will be able to:

• To know the current theories concerning the origin of the life, the onset of eukaryotic cells and the evolution of metazoans.

• To know the main evolutionary theories able to explain the evolutionary radiation of the animals.

• To know the relationships among animals and between them and their environment.

• To know the main lines of zoogeography.

• To understand the relationship between form and function at the level of the main organic systems of  the animals.

• To know the taxonomic techniques and the evolution of the species concept.

• To know the phyla of metazoans with specific in-depth analysis of the main classes and orders.

• To know the relationships between animals and humans.

PREREQUISITES

To effectively address the teaching content the following basic knowledge is required: 1) basic chemistry, 2) cell structure and basic principles of cell biology,  3) cell metabolism

TEACHING METHODS

The course consists of lectures and laboratory experiences. Attendance at lessons and laboratory is strongly recommended. Lectures in the classroom are delivered through multimedia presentations. The Laboratory aims to integrate and consolidate the knowledge acquired during the lectures  through the observation of the external morphology of the organisms  and through a more in-depth study of their anatomy thanks to appropriate dissections.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

·       Origin of life;

·       Evolution and extinction;

·       The main evolutionary theories

·       Systematic concepts; Taxonomy; Biological species;

·       Protists and Protozoa;

·       Mixozoans; Placozoans; Mesozoans; Poriferans

·       Cnidarians;

·       Platyhelminthes; Gnatostomulids; Nemerteans; Rotiferans; Ciclioforans;

·       Nematodes; Nematomorpha; Acanthocephala; Gastrotricha; Kinorhyncha; Loriciferans; Priapulidans; Endoprocts

·       Molluscs;

·       Annelids;

·       Lophophorates;

·       Arthropods and Para-arthropods;

·       Chaetognatha; Echinoderms;

·       Urochordata; Cephalochordata; Vertebrates;

·       Nutrition; Gas exchanges; Circulatory system; Excretion;

·       Body surface; Skeleton; Movement; Nervous system; Sensory organs; Hormonal regulation

·       Reproduction;

·       Animal behavior;

·       Animals and environment;

·       Evolution of Man;

·       Anthropic impact; Endangered species and wildlife management

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

All slides used during lessons and other teaching materials will be available on AulaWeb at the end of each lesson cycle.

The following books are suggested as an example, but students can still use other university level texts. The recommended texts are available and can be consulted at the M.F.N. School of Science Library

• Casiraghi M., De Eguileor M., Cerrano C., Puce S. Zoologia UTET
• AA.VV. Zoologia Parte Generale + Sistematica Idelson Gnocchi