12212 - Veterinary Zoology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students will know the principles of Zoology and Taxonomy -with particular interest to Vertebrates- and will be able to recognize main animals of veterinary/faunistic interest.

Course contents

1. GENERAL ZOOLOGY

1.1 Division of living beings: prokaryotes (Archaebacteria and Eubacteria) and eukaryotes (protists, fungi, plants and animals). Autotrophic vs heterotrophic organisms. Definition of "animal life".

1.2 Reproductive Processes of Animals: asexual reproduction; sexual reproduction; metagenesis; spermatogenesis and oogenesis; fertilization; parthenogenesis; heterogony; sexuality in animals.

1.3 Fundamentals of Taxonomy: concept of species and speciation, wildlife and native species, animal biodiversity, main categories systematic zoological nomenclature; evolutionary relationships among the major groups of animals (diblastics and triblastics, acoelomats and coelomate , protostomes and deuterostomes).

2. SPECIAL ZOOLOGY

2.1 Invertebrate zoology: MOLLUSCS (Bivalves, Gastropods and Cephalopods), ARTHROPODS (crustaceans, insects and arachnids) and HELMINTHS (Plathelminthes and Nematodes) of veterinary interest.

2.1 Vertebrate Zoology: Classification of CHORDATES, principal morphological and biological characteristics; CARTILAGINOUS FISH (Sharks and Rays), BONY FISH (Acipenseriformes, herrings, salmons, carps, catfish, eels, cods, Lophiformes, Perciformes, flatfishes) AMPHIBIANS (Caudata and Anura), REPTILES (Squamata and Testudinata) BIRDS (Ciconiiformes, Charadriiformes, Anseriformes, Falconiformes, Accipitriformes, Columbiformes, Galliformes, Strigiformes, Passeriformes) and MAMMALS (monotremes, marsupials and placentals, insectivores, bats, rodents, lagomorphs, carnivores, Artiodactyla and Cetacea). 

Note: all species described are of veterinary/faunistic interest.

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The Syllabus of the course unit and the list of EAEVE Day One Competences that the course unit contributes to achieving can be viewed on the dedicated page http://corsi.unibo.it/singlecycle/VeterinaryMedicine/course-units-syllabi-and-day-one-competences

Readings/Bibliography

All teaching material (mainly ppt slides) is available online at Virtuale.

Recommended books (any edition)

• Animal Diversity – Cleveland Hickman, Jr; Larry Roberts; Susan Keen; Allan Larson; David Eisenhour
• Integrated Principles of Zoology – Cleveland Hickman, Jr.; Susan Keen; Allan Larson; David Eisenhour; Helen I'Anson; Larry Roberts

Alternative books:

• WESTHEIDE, RIEGER - Zoologia Sistematica - Zanichelli
• CASIRAGHI, DE EGUILEOR, CERRANO, PUCE - Zoologia- Utet

Teaching methods

All the following activities proposed are equally important to pass the final exam.

Activities: Teacher-led lessons held in Italian language, video, interactive sessions, visit to the SMA Zoological Collection, laboratory sessions.

NB: attendance to the latter activity requires the prior participation of all students in modules 1 and 2 of training on health and safety for students of University of Bologna.

Assessment methods

The final exam aims to assess the achievement of main learning outcomes, which are indicated in the first paragraph.

To this purpose, the candidate's preparation will be assessed by a written test in Italian language on issues covered during lessons (see Course Content paragraph for details). The test will consist in 25 multiple-choice questions on general and special zoology, three of which are species identification. Wrong answer in 5 strategic multiple-choice questions (mainly general biology subjects) marked by a specific warning icon, a penalty of 20% will be issued. The test is passed with at least 18/30 points of score. In case of failure, it took 3 weeks before next test, to ensure the candidates enough time to improve their knowledge.

Scores >= 18/30 will be communicated to prof. Cristiano Bombardi for the final verbalization.

At least 15 days before the examen, special needs students must contact me by email, with the assigned referring staff in cc, explaining which compensatory measure they need. Applications that do not comply with the abovementioned requirement, will be rejected.

Teaching tools

Powerpoint presentations. Lectures will be supplemented by practical laboratory which purpose is to give the students the opportunity to observe the animals that have been described during the teacher-led lessons. Educational visits to the UNIBO Zoology Collection.

Learning goals will be periodically tested by interactive learning supports.

Office hours

See the website of Ilaria Guarniero