Zoology
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The objectives of the teaching are to provide basic knowledge on animal organisms related to functional biology, evolutionary biology, biodiversity, systematics and phylogeny. In particular, the teaching aims to provide students with appropriate competences and notions related to unitarity and complexity of animal life, structural and functional adaptations correlated to different environments, evolutionary history and phylogenetic relationships among animal groups, as well as to zoological terminology. Finally, a further educational goal is to provide methodological skills related to identification of taxa, sampling and collection techniques, comparative analysis of macro- and microscopic anatomy and employment of specific instruments.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the teaching the student should have acquired an appropriate basic knowledge of animal organisms and be able to employ the related terminology and to use specific methodological skills (identification of animal taxa, sampling and collection techniques, comparative analysis of macro and microscopic anatomy). In particular, the activities that will define the development of these skills are represented by the extensive employment of real life documents presented during lectures and more specifically by practical labs that will allow the student to also acquire an indispensable manual skill for progressing in his university and professional career.
Lesson period: Activity scheduled over several sessions (see Course syllabus and organization section for more detailed information).
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
A-L
Responsible
Lesson period
year
Course syllabus
Part one: general zoology
Fundamental principles of animal life. Body architecture, structures and main functions.
Nutrition; respiration; circulation; homeostasis (excretion, osmoregulation, thermoregulation); protection and support; movement and locomotion; nervous system and sensory receptors; endocrine system. Reproduction: modalities, significance and implications. Embryonic and post-embryonic development.
Animals and environment. Animal adaptations to different environments and life styles.
Inter-specific and intra-specific interactions: competition, predation, symbiosis, parasitism.
Principles of zoological nomenclature, criteria of classification and the identification of the organisms.
Part two: systematic zoology
Introduction to animal systematic.
Description of the principal morphological characters of the main groups, with attention to characters useful to formulate a classification.
Protozoa: origin, form and function, reproduction and life cycle.
Introduction to Metazoa: origin of complexity, body size, transport and metabolism. Systematic of Porifera, ground plan and water pumping system.
Intoduction to Protostomia
Diploblastic animals: The Cnidarians, symmetry and systematic.
Introduction to triploblastic bilaterians origin, cephalisation, musculature, movement, targeting resources, physiological specialization.
Lophotrochozoa:
Systematic of Platyhelminthes: Turbellaria and Neodermata. Regeneration, life cycle and parasitism.
Systematic of Rotifera, Acanthocephala and Nemertea .
Ground plan of Mollusca: mantel, shell, mantel cavity, foot and coelom.
Systematic of Gastropoda, Cephalopoda, Bivalvia , Scaphopoda.
Ground plan of Annelida: Segmentation, musculature and locomotion. Systematic of Polichaeta and, Clitellata.
Ground plan of Lophophorata, Systematic of Bryozoa and Brachiopoda
Ecdisozoa:
Ground plan and systematic of Nematoda and Nematomorpha, Priapulida, Kynorinca and Loriciphera.
Ground plan of Arthopoda: origin, exoskeleton, functional morphology, sense organs, excretion, gas exchanges.
Systematic of Chelicerata , Crustacea, Myriapoda, Hexapoda, principal Orders of Insects.
Introduction to Deuterostomia. Ground plan of Echinodermata: water-vascular system, symmetry. Systematic of Echinodermata.
Ground plan of Chordata, notochord, skeleton, musculature, pharynx, sense organs.
Sistematic of Tunicata and Cephalochordata.
Ground plan and systematic of vertebrates.
Fundamental principles of animal life. Body architecture, structures and main functions.
Nutrition; respiration; circulation; homeostasis (excretion, osmoregulation, thermoregulation); protection and support; movement and locomotion; nervous system and sensory receptors; endocrine system. Reproduction: modalities, significance and implications. Embryonic and post-embryonic development.
Animals and environment. Animal adaptations to different environments and life styles.
Inter-specific and intra-specific interactions: competition, predation, symbiosis, parasitism.
Principles of zoological nomenclature, criteria of classification and the identification of the organisms.
Part two: systematic zoology
Introduction to animal systematic.
Description of the principal morphological characters of the main groups, with attention to characters useful to formulate a classification.
Protozoa: origin, form and function, reproduction and life cycle.
Introduction to Metazoa: origin of complexity, body size, transport and metabolism. Systematic of Porifera, ground plan and water pumping system.
Intoduction to Protostomia
Diploblastic animals: The Cnidarians, symmetry and systematic.
Introduction to triploblastic bilaterians origin, cephalisation, musculature, movement, targeting resources, physiological specialization.
Lophotrochozoa:
Systematic of Platyhelminthes: Turbellaria and Neodermata. Regeneration, life cycle and parasitism.
Systematic of Rotifera, Acanthocephala and Nemertea .
Ground plan of Mollusca: mantel, shell, mantel cavity, foot and coelom.
Systematic of Gastropoda, Cephalopoda, Bivalvia , Scaphopoda.
Ground plan of Annelida: Segmentation, musculature and locomotion. Systematic of Polichaeta and, Clitellata.
Ground plan of Lophophorata, Systematic of Bryozoa and Brachiopoda
Ecdisozoa:
Ground plan and systematic of Nematoda and Nematomorpha, Priapulida, Kynorinca and Loriciphera.
Ground plan of Arthopoda: origin, exoskeleton, functional morphology, sense organs, excretion, gas exchanges.
Systematic of Chelicerata , Crustacea, Myriapoda, Hexapoda, principal Orders of Insects.
Introduction to Deuterostomia. Ground plan of Echinodermata: water-vascular system, symmetry. Systematic of Echinodermata.
Ground plan of Chordata, notochord, skeleton, musculature, pharynx, sense organs.
Sistematic of Tunicata and Cephalochordata.
Ground plan and systematic of vertebrates.
Prerequisites for admission
Prerequisites are not required
Teaching methods
Teaching modalities are based on frontal lectures supported by Power Point presentations originally produced by the teachers. Students are invited to actively participate with informal questions and/or comments related to the treated topics in order to acquire critical capacities. The frontal lectures are complemented by a series of practical labs focused on the analysis of functional anatomy of some representative models of the main phyla. They consist of: microscopical observations of specimens, in vivo observations, dissections of model-animals. Course attendance is highly recommended.
Teaching Resources
Text books:
Zoology, Miller and Harley, McGraw Hill
Moreover, the students have access to both the digital form of the slides presented during the frontal lectures and the illustration of the practical activities on the website ARIEL.
Zoology, Miller and Harley, McGraw Hill
Moreover, the students have access to both the digital form of the slides presented during the frontal lectures and the illustration of the practical activities on the website ARIEL.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exams is organized in:
1- An intermediate oral examination at the end of the first part of the course. The evaluation criteria include: the degree of acquired knowledge (the student should be able to describe the different animal structures and functions and their relationship with the environment), the ability to appropriately present the topics, the use of a correct terminology.
2- A final oral examination: the student should have passed the previous test to be admitted to the final exam. During this examination the student must be able to describe an animal placing it in the context of the modern systematics. Moreover, the ability to appropriately expose the topics and to employ the correct terminology will be evaluated.
Final evaluation is expressed on a scale of thirty and is calculated as the weighted mean between the different scores.
1- An intermediate oral examination at the end of the first part of the course. The evaluation criteria include: the degree of acquired knowledge (the student should be able to describe the different animal structures and functions and their relationship with the environment), the ability to appropriately present the topics, the use of a correct terminology.
2- A final oral examination: the student should have passed the previous test to be admitted to the final exam. During this examination the student must be able to describe an animal placing it in the context of the modern systematics. Moreover, the ability to appropriately expose the topics and to employ the correct terminology will be evaluated.
Final evaluation is expressed on a scale of thirty and is calculated as the weighted mean between the different scores.
General Zoology
BIO/05 - ZOOLOGY - University credits: 4
Lessons: 32 hours
Professor:
Gabrieli Paolo
Systematic Zoology
BIO/05 - ZOOLOGY - University credits: 8
Practicals with elements of theory: 12 hours
Lessons: 56 hours
Lessons: 56 hours
Professors:
Gabrieli Paolo, Pennati Roberta
Shifts:
Professor:
Gabrieli Paolo
Turno
Professor:
Pennati RobertaM-Z
Responsible
Lesson period
year
Course syllabus
Part one: general zoology
Fundamental principles of animal life. Body architecture, structures and main functions.
Nutrition; respiration; circulation; homeostasis (excretion, osmoregulation, thermoregulation); protection and support; movement and locomotion; nervous system and sensory receptors; endocrine system. Reproduction: modalities, significance and implications. Embryonic and post-embryonic development.
Animals and environment. Animal adaptations to different environments and life styles.
Inter-specific and intra-specific interactions: competition, predation, symbiosis, parasitism.
Phylogeny and evolution.
Principles of zoological nomenclature, criteria of classification and the identification of the organisms.
Part two: systematic zoology
Introduction to animal systematic.
Description of the principal morphological characters of the Classes, with attention to characters useful to formulate a classification at the level of subclasses and only for insect and vertebrates at level of Order.
Protozoa: origin, form and function, reproduction and life cycle.
Introduction to Metazoa: origin of complexity, body size, transport and metabolism. Systematic of Porifera, ground plan and water pumping system.
Intoduction to Protostomia.
Diploblastic animals: The Cnidarians, symmetry and systematic.
Introduction to triploblastic bilaterians origin, cephalisation, musculature, movement, targeting resources, physiological specialization.
Lophotrochozoa:
Systematic of Platyhelminthes: Turbellaria and Neodermata. Regeneration, life cycle and parasitism.
Systematic of Rotifera Acanthocephala and Nemertea,
Ground plan of Mollusca: mantel, shell, mantel cavity, foot and coelom.
Systematic of Gastropoda, Cephalopoda, Bivalvia, Scaphopoda.
Ground plan of Annelida: Segmentation, musculature and locomotion. Systematic of Polichaeta and Clitellata.
Ground plan of Lophophorata, Systematic of Bryozoa and Brachiopoda.
Ecdisozoa:
Ground plan and systematic of Nematoda and Nematomorpha.
Ground plan of Arthopoda: origin, exoskeleton, functional morphology, sense organs, excretion, gas exchanges.
Systematic of Chelicerata, Crustacea, Myriapoda, Hexapoda, principal Orders of Insects.
Introduction to Deuterostomia. Ground plan of Echinodermata: water-vascular system, symmetry. Systematic of Echinodermata and Hemichordata.
Ground plan of Chordata, notochord, skeleton, musculature, pharynx, sense organs.
Sistematic of Tunicata and Cephalochordata.
Ground plan and systematic of vertebrates.
Fundamental principles of animal life. Body architecture, structures and main functions.
Nutrition; respiration; circulation; homeostasis (excretion, osmoregulation, thermoregulation); protection and support; movement and locomotion; nervous system and sensory receptors; endocrine system. Reproduction: modalities, significance and implications. Embryonic and post-embryonic development.
Animals and environment. Animal adaptations to different environments and life styles.
Inter-specific and intra-specific interactions: competition, predation, symbiosis, parasitism.
Phylogeny and evolution.
Principles of zoological nomenclature, criteria of classification and the identification of the organisms.
Part two: systematic zoology
Introduction to animal systematic.
Description of the principal morphological characters of the Classes, with attention to characters useful to formulate a classification at the level of subclasses and only for insect and vertebrates at level of Order.
Protozoa: origin, form and function, reproduction and life cycle.
Introduction to Metazoa: origin of complexity, body size, transport and metabolism. Systematic of Porifera, ground plan and water pumping system.
Intoduction to Protostomia.
Diploblastic animals: The Cnidarians, symmetry and systematic.
Introduction to triploblastic bilaterians origin, cephalisation, musculature, movement, targeting resources, physiological specialization.
Lophotrochozoa:
Systematic of Platyhelminthes: Turbellaria and Neodermata. Regeneration, life cycle and parasitism.
Systematic of Rotifera Acanthocephala and Nemertea,
Ground plan of Mollusca: mantel, shell, mantel cavity, foot and coelom.
Systematic of Gastropoda, Cephalopoda, Bivalvia, Scaphopoda.
Ground plan of Annelida: Segmentation, musculature and locomotion. Systematic of Polichaeta and Clitellata.
Ground plan of Lophophorata, Systematic of Bryozoa and Brachiopoda.
Ecdisozoa:
Ground plan and systematic of Nematoda and Nematomorpha.
Ground plan of Arthopoda: origin, exoskeleton, functional morphology, sense organs, excretion, gas exchanges.
Systematic of Chelicerata, Crustacea, Myriapoda, Hexapoda, principal Orders of Insects.
Introduction to Deuterostomia. Ground plan of Echinodermata: water-vascular system, symmetry. Systematic of Echinodermata and Hemichordata.
Ground plan of Chordata, notochord, skeleton, musculature, pharynx, sense organs.
Sistematic of Tunicata and Cephalochordata.
Ground plan and systematic of vertebrates.
Prerequisites for admission
No prerequisite is required.
Teaching methods
Teaching modalities are based on frontal lectures supported by Power Point presentations originally produced by the teacher. Students are invited to actively participate with informal questions and/or comments related to the treated topics in order to acquire critical capacities. The frontal lectures are complemented by a series of practical labs focused on the analysis of functional anatomy of some representative models of the main phyla. They consist of: microscopical observations of specimens, in vivo observations, dissections of model-animals. Course attendance is highly recommended.
Teaching Resources
Text books:
Zoologia Hickman CP Jr., Roberts LS, Keen SL, Larson A, Eisenhour DJ, McGrawHill
Zoologia. Casiraghi M, de Eguileor M, Cerrano C, Puce S. Utet Università.
Ballarin e altri. Manuale di Zoologia. Piccin, 2023
Moreover, the students have access to both the digital form of the slides presented during the frontal lectures and the illustration of the practical activities on the website ARIEL.
Zoologia Hickman CP Jr., Roberts LS, Keen SL, Larson A, Eisenhour DJ, McGrawHill
Zoologia. Casiraghi M, de Eguileor M, Cerrano C, Puce S. Utet Università.
Ballarin e altri. Manuale di Zoologia. Piccin, 2023
Moreover, the students have access to both the digital form of the slides presented during the frontal lectures and the illustration of the practical activities on the website ARIEL.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination consists of two parts.
1- An intermediate oral exam on the first part of the course (General Zoology). Access to the intermediate oral exam will be allowed starting from the end of the first semester. The evaluation criteria include: the degree of acquired knowledge, the student should be able to describe the different animal structures and functions as well as the relationships with their environment, the ability to appropriately present the topics, the use of a correct terminology.
2- A final oral examination (Systematic Zoology). Access to the final oral exam will be allowed starting from the end of the second semester. Students should have passed the previous test to be admitted to the final exam. During this examination the student must be able to describe an animal placing it in the context of the modern systematics. Moreover, the ability to appropriately expose the topics and to employ the correct terminology will be evaluated.
Final evaluation is expressed on a scale of thirty and is calculated as the weighted mean between the different scores.
1- An intermediate oral exam on the first part of the course (General Zoology). Access to the intermediate oral exam will be allowed starting from the end of the first semester. The evaluation criteria include: the degree of acquired knowledge, the student should be able to describe the different animal structures and functions as well as the relationships with their environment, the ability to appropriately present the topics, the use of a correct terminology.
2- A final oral examination (Systematic Zoology). Access to the final oral exam will be allowed starting from the end of the second semester. Students should have passed the previous test to be admitted to the final exam. During this examination the student must be able to describe an animal placing it in the context of the modern systematics. Moreover, the ability to appropriately expose the topics and to employ the correct terminology will be evaluated.
Final evaluation is expressed on a scale of thirty and is calculated as the weighted mean between the different scores.
General Zoology
BIO/05 - ZOOLOGY - University credits: 4
Lessons: 32 hours
Professor:
Bonasoro Francesco
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Bonasoro Francesco
Systematic Zoology
BIO/05 - ZOOLOGY - University credits: 8
Practicals with elements of theory: 12 hours
Lessons: 56 hours
Lessons: 56 hours
Professors:
Gabrieli Paolo, Polidori Carlo
Shifts:
Professor:
Gabrieli Paolo
Turno
Professor:
Polidori CarloEducational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
By appointment.
Office - Tower A, ground floor - Department of Biosciences, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano