Ateneo - UPO

The course provides an introduction to systematic, cladistic, taxonomic rules, and to speciation mechanisms. Afterwards, a series of lectures dedicated to the main animal groups will follow. Students will receive information on morphological and ecological characteristics of Protozoa, Porifera, Coelenterata, Platyhelminthes, Nematodes, Annelids, Molluscs, Arthropods (plus a few smaller groups). Particular attention will be directed to the phylogenetic and evolutionary aspects of zoology.
The second part of the course is focused on vertebrates. After an introduction on the evolution of Deuterostomes, with a brief discussion of the Echinoderms, the Chordata groups are examined, with details regarding fishes, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds.
The teaching takes place through a morphophysiological, paleontological, ecological and phylogenetic analysis of the animal species. In the laboratory, specimens of mollusc, arthropods, and fishes are examined in practice and, through field trips, guidelines are given for the identification of birds in the wild.

Hickman R., Roberts L., Keen S., Eisenhour D., Larson A. & I'Anson L. (2016) Zoologia. McGraw Hill, Milano.
Pough F.H., Janis C.M. & Heiser J.B. (2014) Zoologia dei Vertebrati, 9 ed. Pearson Italia, Milano.

The student acquires the fundamental principles for the knowledge of animal diversity and the laws that regulate it. The ability to examine the huge number of animal species with the typical approach of comparative studies will be developed, with a line of reasoning regarding form and function. The course aims to give the student the ability to analyze animal biodiversity from an evolutionary point of view. The course also provides the fundamentals for other teachings concerning animals, such as ethology and applied zoology.

Basic knowledge on biology as provided by high school.

In the classroom: frontal theoretical lectures with slide presentations and multimedia material about animals. Expert seminars on specific topics.
In the computer classroom: use of DNA sequences and softwares dedicated to the construction of phylogenetic trees.
In the laboratory: practical exercises on arthropods and fish (using an ichthyological collection of Italian freshwater fishes).
In the field: trip for the observation of birds in the wild.

The control of learning, in itinere, will be carried out with classroom discussions during the lessons and with the correction in the laboratory of forms for the identification of animal species through the use of dichotomous keys.
Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request
specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse
e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-
students-physical-or-learning-disabilities

Written exam achieved on a Moodle platform, with questions scored 1 point each (multiple choice questions, false/true, complete the sentence, put in order, drag and drop). The exam is structured in two parts, the first can already be sustained in itinere when the topics have been completed in the classroom, the second only at the end of the course. The first part deals with the initial arguments of classification, taxonomy, speciation, invertebrates, the second the Chordata. Each part provides 30 questions from 1 point each. Points are subtracted for incorrect answers. The difficulty level of the exercises corresponds to the program carried out, and to the reference texts indicated on DIR. The questions concern the topics developed during the course and illustrated in the presentations made available to the students. The overall assessment will take into account the score of each part (aritmetic mean). To pass the exam, the student must have scored an evaluation equal to or higher than 18/30; a high evaluation will be assigned if the student has demonstrated through the Moodle tests to know in depth the topics covered during the course and to know how to interpret the morphological data present in the questions in which illustrated figures of animals or of characteristic parts of their body are included.

The course includes an introduction to systematics, cladistics and taxonomy rules, as well as to the mechanisms of speciation. We will learn the techniques to construct and visualize the relations between species through phylogenetic trees. Later, a series of lectures dedicated to the main animal groups will follow. Students will receive information on the morphological-structural and ecological characteristics of Protozoa and the most widespread invertebrate groups (Porifera, Coelenterates, Platyhelminthes, Nematodes, Annelids, Molluscs, Arthropods), as well as some minor groups of importance for evolution.
Students will receive information on the morphological-structural and ecological characteristics of Deutherostomes: Echinoderms (Echinoidea, Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea, Crinoidea, Holoturoidea) and Chordata (the notochord, general characteristics and main groups, Urochordates and Cephalochordates). The five classes of Vertebrates (fishes, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds) will be studied in detail, illustrating for each group the species of greatest management or conservation interest, with particular regard to Italian taxa. Special attention will be paid to the phylogenetic and evolutionary aspects of Zoology. In the laboratory will be examined in practice specimens of Italian arthropods and fishes, learning the use of dichotomous keys. Through field trips will be given guidelines for the identification of birds in the wild.

Knowledge and understanding: acquisition of knowledge on animal kingdom, and knowledge of the most common species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and Italian mammals; enrichment of the appropriate scientific language in the zoological field.
Applied knowledge and understanding skills: knowing how to build a phylogenetic tree starting from DNA sequences, knowing how to use the stereo microscope for the observation of small invertebrates, know how to use the field guides for the identification of fish and birds in nature or in museum collections; ability to interpret morphological data collected directly for the purposes of zoological classification.
Autonomy of judgment: ability to critically analyze the anatomical differences related to the form or function in the various animal taxonomic groups, autonomy of judgment in the evaluation of morphological data obtained from the study of the species in the laboratory or in the field.
Communication skills: perfecting the disciplinary lexicon in zoology, as well as describing phenomena and problems related to animals in a clear and concise manner. Ability to relate on the topics presented during the course with an appropriate scientific language, in written form.
Learning skills: acquisition of the ability to critically investigate and update acquired skills autonomously, through reading texts and educational material. Ability to use the teaching material for a critical and reasoned study.