85320 - BIOLOGIA

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students will know the principles of Zoology and Taxonomy with particular reference to highly valuable species and will be able to recognize main aquatic invertebrates and vertebrates of aquaculture and fishery.

Course contents

Biology, general principles - Living organisms: prokaryota and eukaryote, autotrophic and heterotrophic. Definition of “Animal”. Principles of taxonomy: species concept, speciation, main systematic categories, binomial nomenclature. Principles of cellular biology: prokaryotic cells, eukaryotic cells, nucleic acids, DNA replication, cell replication: mitosis and meiosis, spermatogenesis and oogenesis, biological meaning of meiosis. Animal reproduction. Sexuate and asexuate processes, fecundation, embryogenesis, metagenesis, hermaphroditism, parthenogenesis, heterogony. Marine Ecology, Principles: Necton, plankton, benthos and more basic concepts, food webs in marine environment. The Mediterranean Sea: hydro-geographic features, biodiversity and biogeography, tropicalization and meridionalization.

Zoology - Systematics of the main aquatic groups and their relevance for the economic and health sectors. Animal body architecture. Classification and phylogeny of animals. Porifera, Cnidaria, Ctenophorea, Mollusca, Anellida, Artropoda (with focus on Crustacea), Echinodermata. The Vertebrate origin: Chordata. Cartilaginous Fish, Bony Fish (with insights of the main orders). Amphibians, Marine Reptiles, Marine Birds and Marine Mammals.

Botany, Introduction - Structure of plant cell. Introduction to plant physiology. Classification of algae: general criteria. Rodophyta, Chlorophyta, Dynophyta, Bacillariophyta, Phaeophyta. Of each division will be processed morphology, reproductive mode, classification, ecology and economic and/or health importance.

Readings/Bibliography

• BIOLOGIA / Robert J. Brooker, Eric P. Widmaier, Linda E. Graham, Peter D. Stiling (Gennaio 2011). Ed. McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 9788838665660. Anche nella versione in volumi separati (Volumi 1 e 2)
• Elementi di biologia / Eldra P. Solomon, Linda R. Berg, Diana W. Martin. - Edizione italiana a cura di Romina Combi, Barbara Mantovani, Tomaso Patarnello ; 5. ed. - Napoli : EdiSES, 2009
• Fondamenti di biologia / Eldra P. Solomon, Linda R. Berg, Diana W. Martin. - 4. ed. / edizione italiana a cura di: Paolo Audisio et al. Napoli : Edises, 2006
• Biologia generale e zoologia / Giuseppe Gardenghi. - 4. ed. - Bologna: CLUEB, 1995

• C.P. Hickman Jr., S. Roberts, S.L. Keen, D.J. Eisenhour, A. Larson, H. L'Anson – DIVERSITÀ ANIMALE- 16a edizione (Febbraio 2016). Ed. McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 9788838615405
• Altri testi a supporto:
• MANZONI P. –Enciclopedia illustrata delle specie ittiche marine di interesse commerciale- Istituto Geografico De Agostini, Novara
• CERRANO C., PONTI M., SILVESTRI S. – Guida alla Biologia Marina del Mediterraneo, Ananke editore
• VENTURELLI F. & VIRLI L. – Invito alla botanica. 1° Ed. Zanichelli, 1995, Bologna
• PANCALDI et al. – Fondamenti di Botanica Generale.McGraw-Hill, 2011, Milano
• RAVEN, EVERT & EICHHORN – Biologia delle piante. 6° Ed. Zanichelli, 2002, Bologna
• RIEDL – Fauna e Flora del Mediterraneo – Muzzio Editore

Teaching methods

Teacher-led lessons, laboratory classes and visits to museums

Assessment methods

Multiple choice test

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 of Comparative Anatomy and Zoology museums.

Learning goals will be periodically tested by interactive learning supports (clickers).

Office hours

See the website of Ilaria Guarniero