Evolutionary Biology of marine organisms

The educational goal of the course is to make known to the students the most important biological processes that led to the evolution and adaptation of the invertebrates and vertebrates to the marine environment. The student must be able to understand that the interaction of anatomical, physiological, ethological and ecological characteristics are the basis of these adaptations.

Lectures and laboratories

Basic knowledge of systematic zoology of vertebrates and invertebrates and of Comparative anatomy

Diversity, evolution and classification of marine Vertebrates. Main adaptations of infertebrates and vertebrates to the marine environment. Palaeoclimatic and palaeogepgraphic history of the mediterranean Sea. Biogeography of the Mediterranean Sea. Speciation in the marine environment. Evolutionary specializations of Chondrichthyes. Elasmobranch electroreception. Evolutionary specializations of Osteichthyans, the dominant group of vertebrates in water.The sensory world of fishes. The lateral line. The electric fishes. Teleost’s specialization. Homeostasis and energy balance: water balance, thermoregulation. Biological invasion of the Mediterranean sea. Marine Mammals and their specializations. Phylogeography. Analysis of study cases on intraspecific and interspecific differentiation of marine species using molecular markers.

1) Roberto Danovaro Biologia Marina CittaStudi Edizioni

2) Peter Castro - Michel E. Huber Biologia Marina McGraw-Hill 

3) Alessandro Poli, Elena Fabbri - Fisiologia degli animali marini - Edises

The oral test will concern topics covered in the course lectures.