66955 - Zoology (M-Z)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will acquire a good knowledge of the main body plans and the biology of the organisms of the Animal kingdom. In particular the student will be able to identify the phylum and the class of an animal and will relate the body plan to adaptive and evolutionary features

Course contents

Oral exams have been scheduled. Please register via AlmaEsami. Registration typically closes one week before the start of each exam session.
Students who attended in previous years may declare this at the time of the exam, so that the questions can be focused on topics covered then.

0. Introduction
General course information: logistics, structure, syllabus definition, teaching materials, and resources. Introduction to Zoology.
1. Fundamentals of Zoology
Biological Evolution: genetic variability, natural selection, genetic drift, species concept, speciation, biodiversity, introduction to phylogeny, origin of animals.
Development: germ layers, formation of body cavities, protostomes and deuterostomes, structural body plan (bauplan).
Reproduction: asexual and sexual reproduction, reproductive systems, gametogenesis, fertilization, life cycles.
Functions and Systems: protection, support, movement; nutrition; circulation and respiration; excretion and osmoregulation; immunity and immune systems; nervous system.
2. Systematics
Structural plans and phylogenetic relationships of the following groups:
Protozoa (overview); Porifera (Hexactinellida, Calcarea, Demospongiae); Cnidaria (Hydrozoa, Scyphozoa, Anthozoa); Ctenophora; Platyhelminthes (Turbellaria, Trematoda, Cestoda); Nematoda; Rotifera; Annelida (Polychaeta, Clitellata); Mollusca (Caudofoveata, Solenogastres, Polyplacophora, Gastropoda, Bivalvia, Scaphopoda, Cephalopoda); Lophophorata; Tardigrada; Onychophora;
Arthropoda (Chelicerata, Myriapoda, Crustacea, Hexapoda); Lophophorata (Phoronida, Brachiopoda, Bryozoa); Echinodermata (Crinoidea, Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea, Echinoidea, Holothuroidea); Hemichordata; Chordata (Tunicata, Cephalochordata; only a brief overview of Vertebrata, which will be covered in the Comparative Anatomy course).

Readings/Bibliography

Argano et al., Zoologia. Evoluzione e Adattamento (Monduzzi)
Brusca, Giribet, Moore, Invertebrates, 4th Edition (Oxford University Press)
Casiraghi et al., Zoologia (UTET Università)
De Bernardi et al., Zoologia, Systematics/General Part (Idelson-Gnocchi)
Giribet and Edgecombe, The Invertebrate Tree of Life (Princeton University Press)
Hickman et al., Zoology, 18th Edition (McGraw Hill)
Note: These texts are not mandatory, as the online materials will be comprehensive and updated before and after each lesson.

Teaching methods

Lectures and laboratory sessions.

Assessment methods

Both modules must be taken on the same exam date and it is not possible to take only one. The oral examination aims to assess the following learning objectives:

- In-depth knowledge of organizational plans, and the structure and function of systems in major animal phyla.
- Understanding the correlation between animal structure and evolutionary/adaptive aspects.
- Ability to morphologically identify an animal organism at the phylum and class level.
The exam, focused on the course objectives, includes:
- Justified identification of macro-/microscopic preparations of invertebrate animals.
- General oral questions.
The final grade (out of 30) will be the arithmetic average of the two parts of the exam.
Registration via AlmaEsami is mandatory and must be completed by the deadline. Students unable to register on time must promptly (and in any case before the registration list closes) report the issue to the Teaching Office. Admission to the exam will be at the instructor’s discretion.
Grades will be recorded within 5 days of the exam and may be registered without the student being present, in accordance with the university guidelines: http://www.unibo.it/Portale/Guida/AlmaEsamiInformazioniDocenti.htm
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES OR DSA
Students with temporary or permanent disabilities or DSA should contact the university's dedicated office in advance:
https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it
This office will propose any necessary adjustments, subject to instructor approval at least 15 days in advance. Please do not contact the instructor directly but go through the dedicated Service, which will assess and implement the necessary adaptations.

Teaching tools

PDF presentations; online material; laboratory work with demonstration of micro- and macroscopic preparations.

Office hours

See the website of Marco Musiani

See the website of Fabrizio Ghiselli