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INTRODUCTION TO HERPETOLOGY

CODE 34041
ACADEMIC YEAR 2022/2023
CREDITS
  • 2 cfu during the 2nd year of 10589 CONSERVAZIONE E GESTIONE DELLA NATURA(LM-60) - GENOVA
  • 2 cfu during the 2nd year of 9916 SCIENZE AMBIENTALI E NATURALI (L-32) - GENOVA
  • SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINARY SECTOR BIO/05
    LANGUAGE Italian
    TEACHING LOCATION
  • GENOVA
  • SEMESTER 2° Semester
    TEACHING MATERIALS AULAWEB

    OVERVIEW

    Active participation to proposed training activities (lectures, technical visits and field activities) together with the individual study will allow the student to

    - understand the main biological characteristics of amphibians and reptiles (ecology, distribution)

    - understand the evolutionary relationships of these animals

    - apply the knowledge to the identification of amphibians and reptiles of Liguria

    AIMS AND CONTENT

    LEARNING OUTCOMES

    Active participation to proposed training activities (lectures, technical visits and field activities) together with the individual study will allow the student to

    - understand the main biological characteristics of amphibians and reptiles (ecology, distribution)

    - understand the evolutionary relationships of these animals

    - apply the knowledge to the identification of amphibians and reptiles of Liguria

    PREREQUISITES

    The following basic knowledge is necessary to effectively address the teaching content:

    • nomenclature and zoological systematics
    • anatomy of amphbians and reptiles
    • evolution of amphbians and reptiles

    TEACHING METHODS

    The teaching consists of lectures, for a total of about 14/15 hours, practical field activity, technical field visit to the Natural History Museum and for 4/5 hours, for a total of 18/20 hours. Attendance at lessons and practical activities is not mandatory. The laboratory is held by the official  teacher. In the practical laboratory activities, students in pairs have at their disposal a binocular stereoscope and personal copies of the dichotomous recognition keys (the latter supplied by the teacher). Students must identify preserved specimens of amphbians and reptiles of Liguria. Each identification is immediately confirmed by the teacher. The organization and dates of laboratory

    SYLLABUS/CONTENT

    General introduction (structure and contents of the course; Aul@ web and resources, importance of the technical visits and laboratories, methods of examination)

    Characteristics of amphibians and reptiles

    Egg structure

    Fecundation

    Parental cares: definition

    Active and passive nest defense

    Egg and larvae transport

    Juvenile feeding

    Egg brooding

     

    RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

    Lecture slides are available on Aulaweb.

    Recommended books

    Zoologia dei Vertebrati. Pough, Janis e Heiser (2001). CEA Casa Editrice Ambrosiana

    Biology of amphibians. Diuellman, Trueb, (1994). McGraw Hill Publishing.

    Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles. Vitt, Caldwell (2013). Academic Press.

    The Ecology and Behavior of Amphibians. Wells (2007). University of Chicago, Press.

     

     

     

    TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

    Exam Board

    SEBASTIANO SALVIDIO (President)

    GIORGIO BAVESTRELLO

    ANDREA COSTA

    LORIS GALLI (President Substitute)

    LESSONS

    Class schedule

    All class schedules are posted on the EasyAcademy portal.

    EXAMS

    EXAM DESCRIPTION

    The exam consists of an oral discussion of the lectured topics.
    There will be 2 exams in the winter session (mid-January-February) and 5 in the summer session (June, July and September). No extraordinary exams will be granted outside the periods indicated, with the exception of out-of-course students.

    ASSESSMENT METHODS

    The exam consists of an oral discussion of the lectured topics.

    Exam schedule

    Date Time Location Type Notes
    18/01/2023 09:00 GENOVA Orale
    01/02/2023 09:00 GENOVA Orale
    21/06/2023 09:00 GENOVA Orale
    05/07/2023 09:00 GENOVA Orale
    19/07/2023 09:00 GENOVA Orale
    06/09/2023 09:00 GENOVA Orale
    20/09/2023 09:00 GENOVA Orale