78277 - Elements Of Agricultural Zoology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student acquires basic knowledge on the characteristics of the animal cell, reproduction, population dynamics, mechanisms regulating the relationships between animals, and between animals and the environment, and on the concept of biodiversity. The student also knows the  taxonomic categories and the general characteristics of the main phyla of animals of agricultural and landscape interest, with special attention to arthropods. The student can evaluate the effects of the environmental and anthropic conditions on the fauna and, in particular, arthropods. The student can distinguish the main classes of arthropods

Course contents

Prerequisites: the student has basic knowledge on general biology, acquired at high school.

The course is divided into two teaching units

Unit 1

. The animal cell: similarities and differences with the plant cell

. Asexual and sexual reproduction. Modes of proliferation.

. Species and intraspecific categories. Notes on the evolutionary theory of Darwin

. Animals and environment adaptations (hibernation, aestivation, mimicry).

. Relationships between animals and mutualistic and antagonistic symbiosis (parasitism, predatorism, parasitoidism); interspecific competition

. Relationships between living communities and environment: habitat, ecosystem, biocenosis, biotope, ecological niche, food chains

. Population dynamics: biotic potential and environmental resistance factors

. Biodiversity: definitions and methods for its management. Indigenous and alien species. Management of exotic species, damaging ornamental crops, in an Italian and European context. Functions of The European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO)

Skills acquired in Unit 1. The student:

a) knows the main features of the animal cell and reproduction
b) knows the mechanisms that regulate the relationship between animals and between animals and the environment
c) knows the concept of biodiversity and the main methods of its management, including the issues related to the introduction of alien species, in an Italian and European context.

Contents of Unit 2 (15 hours).
· Taxonomic categories. Binomial nomenclature.
· Main phyla of the Animal Kingdom. Arthropods: general characteristics. Insects: body structure, integument, head and its appendages. Insect mouthparts. Internal anatomy of the insect body. Nervous, respiratory and endocrynous systems. Hormones and their functions. Moults. General characteristics of Chelicerata and Arachnidae. Acari: morphology, anatomy, reproduction, development. Main taxa of interest for ornamental plants and landscape (Phtoseiidae, Tarsonemidae, Tetranychidae, Eryophyoidea. Nematodes: general characteristics; phytoparasitic nematodes: biology, development, interactions with plants, symptoms, damage and sustainable control; main phytoparasitic nematodes. Ditylenchus dipsaci, Meloidogyne.

Skills acquired in Unit 2. The student:

a) knows the taxonomic categories and binomial nomenclature
b) knows the general characteristics of some animal taxa of interest for agriculture and landscape, in particular Insects and Acari. This knowledge is very important for a good comprehension of the Applied Entomology and Acarology taught in the Entomology Course which will be held in the third year.

c) Knows the general characteristics of Nematods, in particular those of interest for hornamental crops, their biology and sustainable control methods.

Practical application (performed within each teaching unit)

. Comments on audiovisual and websites on topics related to the course

. Laboratory exercises
· Didactic visits and / or participation in workshops on topics related to the course

. Seminars

 

Readings/Bibliography

Slides of the lectures (provided by the teacher and available on Alm@DL) and lecture notes.

Teaching methods

The course consists of 2 Units made of didactic lectures, which will be carried out with the support of slides, which will be made available to students for the exam. Practical exercises will be also conducted. Didactic visits (for instance to museums) and seminars are also provided. Exercises and visits are useful, but not indispensable, for the exam preparation.

Assessment methods

The module is included in the Integrated Course “Infrastructures for Environmental Protection and Elements of Agricultural Zoology” together with the module: “Infrastructures for Environmental Protection”.

For this reason the evaluation of the integrated course will take into account of the level of knowledge acquired by the student for both modules.The knowledge and skills acquired in this teaching will be evaluated in the following manner: FINAL EXAM, which consists of an oral exam lasting an average of 10-15 minutes. The exam will include at least two questions on the program.

Teaching tools

PC, video projector, entomological material

Office hours

See the website of Maria Luisa Dindo