Zoology 2

Knowledge and understanding

•        Form and function of animals, as well as the evolutionary processes which underlie animal diversity.

•        Reproductive mechanisms and the main evolutionary processes underlying animal biodiversity.

•        The main Protozoan and Metazoan taxa.

Applying knowledge and understanding

•        Apply the knowledge outlined above to identify animals belonging to common taxa and/or animals of special economical or health interest.

•        Interpret phylogenetic trees.

•        Use discipline-specific lexicon.

The course is worth 9 ECTS credits. Teaching activities include frontal lectures (Didattica Erogativa – DE) and other activities (Didattica Interattiva – DI). The latter can include recurring evaluation activities, more in-depth coverage of topics covered in lectures, as well as practical activities such as observation of specimens. Field excursions are also included.

Frontal lectures contribute to the acquisition of the systematic and functional knowledge outlined in the expected learning outcomes, while interactive activities foster the development of applied skills, in particular the identification of animal groups.

If the course is delivered in blended or remote mode, appropriate adjustments may be made to the above, in order to ensure consistency with the syllabus.

Knowledge of cell biology and histology equivalent to that provided in first-semester courses is required. Basic knowledge of chemistry and physics acquired in pre-university education is also useful.

1 – Animal for and function. The main groups of living organisms and their inter-relationships. Animal traits. Function and organization: metabolism, respiration and gas exchange, feeding, transport, excretion, homeostasis (temperature regulation and osmoregulation), nervous system and sense organs, movement and support.

Sexual and asexual reproduction in Protozoa. Sexual and asexual reproduction in Metazoa. Amphigony and other strategies, gonochorism and hermaphroditism. Secondary sexual traits, sexual dimorphism and mechanisms of sex determination. Notes on embryonic and post-embryonic development. Symmetry.

2 - Classification and phylogeny of animals. Evolution and animal diversity. Species and higher taxa. Taxonomic naming conventions. Concept of homology. Phylogeny and phylogenetic trees. Methods for classification. 

3 - Protozoa. General traits, notes on classification, main taxa with special regard for human protozoan parasites.

4 - Metazoa. Origin of multicellular organisms and main evolutionary lineages. Morphology and diversification into subclades of the main clades of Metazoa: Sponges, Cnidarians, Ctenophors, Flatworms (with special attention to the main parasites of humans), Lophophorates, Mollusks, Anellids, Nematodes (with special regards to the species which parasitise humans). Arthropods: Chelicerates, Crustaceans, Myriapods, Hexapods. Echinoderms. Chordates: Tunicates, Cephalocordates, Vertebrates. The main groups of Vertebrates: Cyclostomes, Cartilaginous fish, Bony fish, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds and Mammals.

Using the material provided by the instructor as the starting point is essential as the instructor does not strictly follow the material presented in a single book.

The following books should not be intended as "adopted" books but, rather, as mere "prioritary" suggestions.

For the general part:

D. Sadava, et al. – Life: The Science of Biology. Freeman

For the systematic part:

Hickmann et al. - Integrated Principles of Zoology. McGraw-Hill.

Before the final oral exam, there will be a preliminary written test, made up of two blocks of multiple-choice questions. Those who do not reply correctly to at least 60% of questions in each of the two blocks will not be allowed to undertake the oral exam. The oral exam includes the identification of animal taxa, as well as at least two questions on the topics covered in lectures.

Grading criteria: the maximum mark is awarded to students who demonstrate — in all components of the exam — mastery of the topics, ability to connect the knowledge acquired, expressive skills, and mastery of discipline-specific lexicon.

There will be an optional mid-term test, the details of which will be explained at the start of the course. To participate, students must have attended no less than 70% of lectures held up to that point. The date will be agreed upon in class with students based on their needs. It is also possible that the mid-term test will be transformed into an end-of-course test, based on agreement in class.

Learning assessment may also be carried out on-line, should the conditions require it.

To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students may request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures based on educational objectives and specific needs. Students can also contact the CInAP (Centro per l'integrazione Attiva e Partecipata — Servizi per le Disabilità e/o i DSA) referring teacher within their department (https://www.cinap.unict.it/content/referenti).

• Describe the potential problems and related general solutions when organisms are in hypotonic, isotonic, and hypertonic solutions.
• Given a set of traits scored on three organisms, find out which are the most likely evolutionary relationships among them.
• Allopatric and sympatric speciation: describe and contrast them.