Complements of Animal Biology
A.Y. 2022/2023
Learning objectives
The objectives of the teaching are to provide basic knowledge on animal organisms related to functional biology, evolutionary biology, biodiversity, systematics and phylogeny. In particular, the teaching aims to provide students with appropriate competences and notions related to unitarity and complexity of animal life, structural and functional adaptations correlated to different environments, evolutionary history and phylogenetic relationships among animal groups, as well as to zoological terminology.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the teaching the student should have acquired an appropriate basic knowledge of animal organisms and be able to employ the related terminology and to use specific methodological skills.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Syllabus:
General bases and fundamental principles of animal life: heterotrophy and motility.
Architecture of the animal body: Bauplan, symmetry, body cavity; modularity of body and organs, metamerism. Solitary and colonial organisms; life styles.
Functional biology: structural and functional correlations; adaptations; nutrition; circulation and gas exchanges; homeostasis: excretion, osmoregulation, thermoregulation; support and movement: basic principles of locomotion; neural and endocrine coordination, hormones and pheromones; sensory receptors.
Gamic and agamic reproduction, sex and its biological significance; hermaphroditism and gonocorism; life cycles; parthenogenesis; embryonic and post-embryonic development; larvae and metamorphosis.
Omology 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.
General bases and fundamental principles of animal life: heterotrophy and motility.
Architecture of the animal body: Bauplan, symmetry, body cavity; modularity of body and organs, metamerism. Solitary and colonial organisms; life styles.
Functional biology: structural and functional correlations; adaptations; nutrition; circulation and gas exchanges; homeostasis: excretion, osmoregulation, thermoregulation; support and movement: basic principles of locomotion; neural and endocrine coordination, hormones and pheromones; sensory receptors.
Gamic and agamic reproduction, sex and its biological significance; hermaphroditism and gonocorism; life cycles; parthenogenesis; embryonic and post-embryonic development; larvae and metamorphosis.
Omology 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.
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge of general biology, cytology and histology are warmly recommended.
Teaching methods
Teaching methods:
students are invited to follow the lessons of the Animal Biology and Systematics M-Z F6203- teaching (Course: Biological Sciences) after contacting the teacher. Teaching modalities are based on frontal lectures supported by Power Point presentations originally produced by the teacher. Students are invited to actively participate with informal questions and/or comments related to the treated topics in order to acquire critical capacities. Course attendance is highly recommended.
students are invited to follow the lessons of the Animal Biology and Systematics M-Z F6203- teaching (Course: Biological Sciences) after contacting the teacher. Teaching modalities are based on frontal lectures supported by Power Point presentations originally produced by the teacher. Students are invited to actively participate with informal questions and/or comments related to the treated topics in order to acquire critical capacities. Course attendance is highly recommended.
Teaching Resources
Textbooks:
Hickman CP Jr., Roberts LS, Keen SL, Larson A, Eisenhour DJ. Zoologia, McGraw-Hill Education, 2020
Casiraghi M et al. Zoologia. Utet Università 2018
Slides and Presentations employed by the teacher: they are updated every year and totally provided to the students on ARIEL site https://ariel.unimi.it/ http://fbonasorobsamz.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/v3/home/Default.aspx
Hickman CP Jr., Roberts LS, Keen SL, Larson A, Eisenhour DJ. Zoologia, McGraw-Hill Education, 2020
Casiraghi M et al. Zoologia. Utet Università 2018
Slides and Presentations employed by the teacher: they are updated every year and totally provided to the students on ARIEL site https://ariel.unimi.it/ http://fbonasorobsamz.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/v3/home/Default.aspx
Assessment methods and Criteria
Evaluation procedures:
Final evaluation will consist of an oral exam. During the colloquium the student is required to briefly present and discuss two topics, one of general zoology and another of systematics, each weighing 50% on the final evaluation. The student skills are evaluated in terms of overall knowledge of zoology, cross-connections between the different topics, discussion capabilities and presentation clarity.
Final evaluation will consist of an oral exam. During the colloquium the student is required to briefly present and discuss two topics, one of general zoology and another of systematics, each weighing 50% on the final evaluation. The student skills are evaluated in terms of overall knowledge of zoology, cross-connections between the different topics, discussion capabilities and presentation clarity.
BIO/05 - ZOOLOGY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 48 hours
Professors:
Bonasoro Francesco, Falaschi Mattia
Professor(s)
Reception:
By appointment.
Office - Tower A, ground floor - Department of Biosciences, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano