12212 - Veterinary Zoology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students will know the principles of Zoology and Taxonomy with particular reference to Vertebrates and will be able to recognize main vertebrates of veterinary interest.

Course contents

1. GENERAL ZOOLOGY

1.1 Division of living beings: prokaryotes (Archaebacteria and Eubacteria) and eukaryotes (protists, fungi, plants and animals). Autotrophic vs heterotrophic organisms. Definition of "animal life".

1.2 Fundamentals of Taxonomy: concept of species and speciation, wildlife and native species, animal biodiversity, main categories systematic zoological nomenclature; evolutionary relationships among the major groups of animals (diblastics and triblastics, acoelomats and coelomate , protostomes and deuterostomes).

1.3 History of evolutionary though, elements: the scientific method, evolutionary theory: from fixism to evolutionism, Darwinism, the modern synthesis

1.4 Reproductive Processes of Animals: asexual reproduction; sexual reproduction; metagenesis; spermatogenesis and oogenesis; fertilization; parthenogenesis; heterogony; sexuality in animals.

 

2. SPECIAL ZOOLOGY

2.1 Vertebrate Zoology: Classification of CHORDATES, principal morphological and biological characteristics; CARTILAGINOUS FISHES (Sharks and Rays), BONY FISHES (Acipenseriformes, herrings, salmons, carps, catfish, eels, cods, Lophiformes, Perciformes, flatfishes) AMPHIBIANS (Caudata and Anura), REPTILES (Squamata and Testudinata) BIRDS (Ciconiiformes, Charadriiformes, Anseriformes, Falconiformes, Accipitriformes, Columbiformes, Galliformes, Strigiformes, Passeriformes) and MAMMALS (monotremes, marsupials and placentals, insectivores, bats, rodents, lagomorphs, carnivores, Artiodactyla and Cetacea). 2.2 Invertebrate zoology: notes on MOLLUSCS (Bivalves, Gastropods and Cephalopods), ARTHROPODS (crustaceans, insects and arachnids) and HELMINTHS (Plathelminthes and Nemathelminthes) of veterinary interest.

Note: all species described belong to Italian fauna.

Readings/Bibliography

All teaching material (mainly ppt slides) is available online at https://iol.unibo.it

Recommended books (any edition)

• Animal Diversity – Cleveland Hickman, Jr; Larry Roberts; Susan Keen; Allan Larson; David Eisenhour
• Integrated Principles of Zoology – Cleveland Hickman, Jr.; Susan Keen; Allan Larson; David Eisenhour; Helen I'Anson; Larry Roberts

Alternative books:

• WESTHEIDE, RIEGER - Zoologia Sistematica - Zanichelli
• CASIRAGHI, DE EGUILEOR, CERRANO, PUCE - Zoologia- Utet

 

Other books (not mandatory):

• SAVADA, HILLIS, HELLER, HACKER - Biologia. 2. L'eredità e il genoma; Biologia. 3. L'evoluzione e la biodiversità; Biologia. 5. La biologia degli animali; Biologia. 6. L'ecologia - Zanichelli

Teaching methods

Teacher-led lessons, video, interactive sessions.

If possible, we will visit the Zoology Museum of the University of Bologna.

All the activities proposed are equally important to pass the final exam.

NB: the attendance of this training activity requires the prior participation of all students in modules 1 and 2 of training on safety in the study places, in e-learning mode (available at https://elearning-sicurezza.unibo.it/)

Assessment methods

The final exam aims to assess the achievement of main learning outcomes, which are indicated in the first paragraph.

To this purpose, the candidate's preparation will be assessed by a written test in Italian language on issues covered during lessons (see Course Content paragraph for details). The test will consist in 22 multiple-choice questions on general and special zoology, three of which are species identification. In 5 strategic multiple-choice questions (mainly general biology subjects), a penalty of 10% will be issued for each wrong answer. The test is passed with at least 15 points of score. In case of failure, it took 3 weeks before next test, to ensure the candidates enough time to improve their knowledge.

Scores >= 15 will be communicated to prof. Paolo Clavenzani (https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/paolo.clavenzani ) for the verbalization.

At least 15 days before the examen, special needs students (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it ) should contact me by email, with the assigned referring staff and Prof. Fabiana Trombetti (https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/fabiana.trombetti ) in cc, explaining which compensatory measure they need.

Teaching tools

Powerpoint presentations. Lectures will be supplemented by practical laboratorywhich purpose is to give the students the opportunity to observe the animals that have been described during the teacher-led lessons. Educational visits to the UNIBO's Zoology museum (https://sma.unibo.it/it/il-sistema-museale/collezione-di-zoologia).

Learning goals will be periodically tested by interactive learning supports.

Office hours

See the website of Ilaria Guarniero