AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Attendance and participation in the planned lectures will allow the student to acquire advanced knowledge relating to the classification, origin, phylogeny and functional morphology of the main Phyla of marine invertebrates.

Specifically, the student will be able to:

• Identify the main Phyla of marine invertebrates

• Acquire correct terminology for the identification of morphological and anatomical characters of the various Phyla

• Understand the functional morphology and the 'Baúplan'

• Know the origin of the main Phyla of marine invertebrates and their current biodiversity

• Understand the phylogenetic relationships within and between the various Phyla

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching is divided into 40 hours of frontal lessons, delivered through multimedia presentations. Practical recognition sessions of the main groups of marine animal organisms are planned during the course. Attendance at lessons is not mandatory but is strongly recommended.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course program includes the discussion and analysis of the following topics:

• Marine zoology: historical framework and birth of the discipline

• Origin of the main Phyla marine animals

• Introduction to morphological and molecular analysis techniques

• Molecular phylogeny

• In-depth characterization (morphological, functional and anatomical) of the main marine Phyla (Porifera, Placozoa, Cnidaria, Ctenophora, Xenacoelomorpha, Platyhelminthes, Chaetognata, Gastrotricha, Nemertea, Mollusca, Annelida, Entoprocta, Gnathostomulida, Rotifera, Phoronida, Bryozoa, Brachiopoda, Nematoda, Nematomorpha, Kinorhyncha, Priapula, Loricifera, Tardigrada, Arthropoda, Echinodermata, Hemichordata, Chordata)

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The slides used during the lessons are sufficient for exam preparation and will be provided to students at the end of the course.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

STEFANO SCHIAPARELLI (President)

SIMONA CANDIANI

SARA FERRANDO (President Substitute)

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of an oral test, aimed at evaluating the knowledge of the fundamental elements of the subject and the ability to make connections between the various topics. The recognition and classification of organisms, preparations or images that will be shown to the student during the exam is required. The final grade is given by the arithmetic mean with the EVOLUTION OF MARINE VERTEBRATES module (Code 114730). The test can be taken independently of the other module.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Details on how to prepare for the exam and the level of depth required for each topic will be provided during the lessons. The exam will mainly focus on the topics covered during the lectures and the preparation recognition sessions, and will aim to evaluate the level of knowledge achieved and the ability to recognize the main marine animal Phyla. The ability to present the topics clearly and with correct terminology will also be assessed.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Constant and regular attendance at lessons is strongly recommended

Students who have a valid certification of physical or learning disability filed with the University and who wish to request compensatory tools, dispensatory measures or other measures for lessons, assignments and exams, should speak to both the teacher and Professor Sara Ferrando (sara .ferrando@unige.it), contact person for the Department for Disabilities.