Laboratory of zoological metodologies

Acquiring basic knowledge on animal capture/collection and their identification, preparation/conservation and labelling depending on the animal size, ecology and study purpose. General knowledge of taxonomy, phylogeny, ecology and museology aimed to understand the zoological work from a practical point of view. Basic knowledge about the use of microscopes and several laboratory/field devices/instruments. General knowledge about fauna monitoring. Basic knowledge on molecular techniques. Acquiring the ability to have a general view, critic sense and versatility in the framework of zoological (but not only) studies.

Lectures, practical activities in classroom or laboratories, field activities. Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it will be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line (as much as possible) with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus. Several interactive online tests, with class debate, will be held during the course using Kahoot platform, in order to promote self-evaluation of the students and to furnish a study guide of crucial topics.

General issues: Animal preparation and conservation methods. Taxonomy and phylogeny (including the assessment of phylogenetic trees). Basic museology. Animal collecting/capturing methods depending on body size and ecology. Fauna monitoring methods. Population size esteem. DNA barcoding e molecular phylogeny. Generalities on biopesticides.

Specialistic studies examples: Biotoxicity test on Apis mellifera. Chiroptera monitoring. Phlebotomines Dipterans monitoring in the town of Catania.

Practical activities:

Use of dichotomic keys; assessment of phylogenetic trees.

Moss microfauna: extraction, picking, in vivo observation, slide monting and observation.

Phlebotome capturing through sticky traps and their observation.

Avifauna observation through transects at the Natural Reserve “Complesso Immacolatelle e Micio Conti” (San Gregorio di Catania, Ct).

Entomofauna collection at the "cittadella universitaria di Catania" and in field during excursions.

Entomofauna collection throug light traps during excursions.

Pedofauna extracion through berlese funnels.

Preparation, observation and identification of all the fauna collected through the various methods.

DNA barcoding.

Visit at the butterfly house at "Parco di Monteserra" (Viagrande, Ct).

Excursions to be arranged each year.

Practical activities may undergo changes from year to year depending on arrangement issues and on the availability of laboratories/structures in which they should be carried out. Besides, should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it will be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line (as much as possible) with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus.

Due to the multidisciplinary and customized nature of the course, it is not possible to select only a few books, and it would prove to be quite difficult for the students to get a lot of books, each one to be utilized only for one or few topics. For this reasons, students are given all the lecture slides, and abundant text material which covers all the couse syllabus.