37637 - Evolutionary Zoology

Learning outcomes

Aim of the course is to assess the previous zoological knowledge within a broader phylogenetic context. In order to have a complete evolutionary picture of Metazoa, the first part of the course is devoted to the modern evolutionary theory and to some popular methods for phylogenetic inference. The second part of the course will allow to place different animal phyla within the metazoan evolutionary tree, with particular reference to well-supported clades.

Course contents

The main goal of the course is to deliver a multi-disciplinary zoological knowledge, following most recent improvements in animal phylogeny. Up-to-date palaeontological, immunohistochemical, ultrastructure, ontogenetic, molecular evidences will be taken into account to trace the origin of animal biodiversity and their evolutionary history. Taken together, these different approaches greatly improved and are improving the understanding of animal evolution, while leaving several open questions, that will be critically addressed during the course. Specifically, the main subjects of the course are listed below.

1. Linnaeus and modern systematics.
2. Before Darwin: Goethe's and Lamarck's contribute to modern biology.
3. Before Darwin: Cuvier's and Geoffroy's contribute to modern biology.
4. Darwin and the core of modern evolutionary theory.
5. The English formalism: Owen.
6. The Modern Synthesis.
7. Further improvements of the evolutionary theory: neutral theory, nearly-neutral theory, puctuated equilibria.
8. Other momentous evolutionary phenomena: epigenetics, horizontal transfer, endosymbiosis.
9. Ontogeny and phylogeny.
10. Tree search and inference.
11. The origin of metazoans.
12. Cambrian Explosion.
13. Cnidarians.
14. Flatworms.
15. Spiralia.
16. Lophotrochozoa sensu stricto.
17. Ecdysozoa.
18. Deuterostomia.
19. Mass extinctions and the history of animal life on Earth.

Readings/Bibliography

Ridley, M. 2006. Evoluzione. La storia della vita e i suoi meccanismi. McGraw-Hill: Milano.

Brusca, R.C., Moore, W., Shuster, S.M. 2016. Invertebrates. Third Edition. Sinaur Associates: Sunderland, MA.

Dorit, R.L., Walker, W.F., Barnes, R.D. 1997. Zoologia. Zanichelli: Bologna.

Teaching methods

Traditional classes.

Assessment methods

Final oral exam will focus on main learning goals: knowing the modern evolutionary theory and using it to depict animal evolutionary phenomena; describing main feature of animal phyla and their evolutionary transitions; placing animal phyla within an evolutionary/phylogenetic context.

Teaching tools

Video projector, scientific publications.

Office hours

See the website of Federico Plazzi