Animal Biology and Systematics

General bases and fundamental principles of animal life: heterothrophy and motility.
Architecture of the animal body: Bauplan, symmetry, body cavity (origin and functions); modularity of body and organs, metamerism. Solitary and colonial organisms; life styles.
Functional biology: structural and functional correlations; adaptations; nutrition (feeding strategy and mechanisms); circulation and gas exchanges; homeostasis: excretion, osmoregulation, thermoregulation; support and movement: basic principles of locomotion; neural and endocrine coordination, hormones and pheromones; sensory receptors; principles of animal behaviour.
Gamic and agamic reproduction, sex and its biological significance; hermaphroditism and gonocorism; life cycles; parthenogenesis; embryonic development (early stages); post-embryonic development (direct and indirect); larvae and metamorphosis.
Homology versus analogy, radiation, convergence; concept of species; interspecific interactions (symbiosis and parasitism).
Approach to animal phylogeny: significance and importance of systematics; need of a natural classification; systematics, phylogeny and evolution; monophyletism and polyphyletism; principles and methods of systematics: cladistic, evolutionary, phenetic classification; taxonomy and molecular phylogeny.
Animal biodiversity: organization, distinctive features and phylogenetic relationships among the main animal groups, with particular reference to invertebrates:
Protozoans; evolution of pluricellularity and early methazoans; poriferans; cnidarians; ctenophores; acelomates: platyhelminthes; nemerteans; pseudocelomates; celomates; protostomes: molluscs; annelids; arthropods; lophophorates; lophotrocozoans and ecdysozoans; deuterostomes: echinoderms, chordates; vertebrates.
A comprehensive account of the significant diversity of structural and functional aspects of the main phyla is given in relation to their phylogeny and discussed in the light of modern theories of evolutionary biology.
Practical labs:The frontal lectures are complemented by a series of practical labs focused on the analysis of functional anatomy of some representative models of the main phyla. They consist of: microscopical observations of specimens, in vivo observations, dissections of model-animals. Specific labs propose selectd topics for a deeper and advanced discussion .


Textbooks
De Bernardi et al. Idelson-Gnocchi, 2010 + Balsamo et al. Idelson-Gnocchi, 2012
Hickman CP Jr., Roberts LS, Keen SL, Larson A, Eisenhour DJ (I +II vol.). McGrawHill, Milano, 2008


Prerequisites and exam modalities
Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of general biology, cytology and histology.
Modalities of the examination: the student can choose between 1) an oral examination or 2) a written + oral examination, consisting of a written test (open questions and multiple choice questions) followed by a final colloquium.


Propaedeutics
Cytology and histology


Teaching methods
Traditional methods. Frontal lectures supported by Power Point presentations.
Frequency: highly recommended.


Language
Italian


Informations
All information and materials (slides) are available on the site ARIEL


WEB page
http://dcandiabsa.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/v3/home/Default.aspx

General bases and fundamental principles of animal life: heterothrophy and motility.
Architecture of the animal body: Bauplan, symmetry, body cavity (origin and functions); modularity of body and organs, metamerism. Solitary and colonial organisms; life styles.
Functional biology: structural and functional correlations; adaptations; nutrition (feeding strategy and mechanisms); circulation and gas exchanges; homeostasis: excretion, osmoregulation, thermoregulation; support and movement: basic principles of locomotion; neural and endocrine coordination, hormones and pheromones; sensory receptors; principles of animal behaviour.
Gamic and agamic reproduction, sex and its biological significance; hermaphroditism and gonocorism; life cycles; parthenogenesis; embryonic development (early stages); post-embryonic development (direct and indirect); larvae and metamorphosis.
Homology versus analogy, radiation, convergence; concept of species; interspecific interactions (symbiosis and parasitism).
Approach to animal phylogeny: significance and importance of systematics; need of a natural classification; systematics, phylogeny and evolution; monophyletism and polyphyletism; principles and methods of systematics: cladistic, evolutionary, phenetic classification; taxonomy and molecular phylogeny.
Animal biodiversity: organization, distinctive features and phylogenetic relationships among the main animal groups, with particular reference to invertebrates:
Protozoans; evolution of pluricellularity and early methazoans; poriferans; cnidarians; ctenophores; acelomates: platyhelminthes; nemerteans; pseudocelomates; celomates; protostomes: molluscs; annelids; arthropods; lophophorates; lophotrocozoans and ecdysozoans; deuterostomes: echinoderms, chordates; vertebrates.
A comprehensive account of the significant diversity of structural and functional aspects of the main phyla is given in relation to their phylogeny and discussed in the light of modern theories of evolutionary biology.
Practical labs: The frontal lectures are complemented by a series of practical labs focused on the analysis of functional anatomy of some representative models of the main phyla. They consist of: microscopical observations of specimens, in vivo observations, dissections of model-animals. Specific labs propose selected topics for a deeper and advanced discussion .

Textbooks:
Hickman CP Jr, Roberts LS, Keen SL, Eisenhour DJ, Larson A, l'Anson H. Zoologia. McGrawHill, Milano, 2012
Storch V e Welsch U, Biologia e sistematica animale, Antonio Delfino Editore, Roma, 2008

Prerequisites and exam modalities:
Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of general biology, cytology and histology.
Modalities of the examination: the student can choose between 1) an oral examination or 2) a written + oral examination, consisting of a written test (open questions and multiple choice questions) followed by a final colloquium.

Propaedeutics:
Cytology and histology

Teaching methods:
Traditional methods. Frontal lectures supported by Power Point presentations.
Frequency: highly recommended.

Language:
Italian

Informations:
All information and materials (slides) are available on the site ARIEL

WEB page:
http://fbonasorobsamz.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/v3/home/Default.aspx