05095 - Biology

Learning outcomes

The student, at the end of the course, will acquire the basics principles of the structure and architecture of animals, their cell biology and reproductive methods, including parthenogenesis, eterogonia, chromosomal sex determination and characterization of the major animal phyla in a phylogenetic and evolutionary point of view. In particular, the student will be able to distinguish the structures and architectures of animals and will have the taxonomic basis to classify and recognize aquatic animals of economic/health interest. Moreover, the student will hold the basic concepts of general and systematic botany with special reference to aquatic autotrophic organisms.

Course contents

The course aims to provide the student with the essential knowledge and skills on the biology, the systematic and the ecology of the major aquatic animal and plat phyla, with particular reference to marine species that are of interest to fishery or aquaculture applications.

Biology, general principles.

Living organisms: prokaryota and eukaryote, autotrophic and heterotrophic. Definition of “Animal”. Principles of taxonomy: species concept, speciation, main systematic categories, binomial nomenclature. Principles of cellular biology: prokaryotic cells, eukaryotic cells, nucleic acids, DNA replication, cell replication: mitosis and meiosis, spermatogenesis and oogenesis, biological meaning of meiosis. Animal reproduction. Sexuate and asexuate processes, fecundation, embryogenesis, metagenesis, hermaphroditism, parthenogenesis, heterogony.

Marine Ecology, Principles

Necton, plankton, benthos and more basic concepts, food webs in marine environment. The Mediterranean Sea: hydro-geographic features, biodiversity and biogeography, tropicalization and meridionalization.

Zoology

Systematics of the main aquatic groups and their relevance for the economic and health sectors.

Animal body architecture. Classification and phylogeny of animals. Porifera, Cnidaria, Ctenophorea, Mollusca, Anellida, Artropoda (with focus on Crustacea), Echinodermata. The Vertebrate origin: Chordata. Cartilaginous Fish, Bony Fish (with insights of the main orders). Amphibians, Marine Reptiles, Marine Birds and Marine Mammals.

Botany, Introduction. Structure of plant cell. Introduction to plant physiology. Classification of algae: general criteria. Rodophyta, Chlorophyta, Dynophyta, Bacillariophyta, Phaeophyta. Of each division will be processed morphology, reproductive mode, classification, ecology and economic and/or health importance.

Readings/Bibliography

Main bibliography for Biology:

Any book of Biology targeted for University student is suitable.

As examples:

BIOLOGIA / Robert J. Brooker, Eric P. Widmaier, Linda E. Graham, Peter D. Stiling (Gennaio 2011). Ed. McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 9788838665660. Anche nella versione in volumi separati (Volumi 1 e 2)

Elementi di biologia / Eldra P. Solomon, Linda R. Berg, Diana W. Martin. - Edizione italiana a cura di Romina Combi, Barbara Mantovani, Tomaso Patarnello ; 5. ed. - Napoli : EdiSES, 2009

Fondamenti di biologia / Eldra P. Solomon, Linda R. Berg, Diana W. Martin. - 4. ed. / edizione italiana a cura di: Paolo Audisio et al. Napoli : Edises, 2006

Biologia generale e zoologia / Giuseppe Gardenghi. - 4. ed. - Bologna: CLUEB, 1995

Main bibliography for Zoology:

C.P. Hickman Jr., S. Roberts, S.L. Keen, D.J. Eisenhour, A. Larson, H. L'Anson – DIVERSITÀ ANIMALE- 16a edizione (Febbraio 2016). Ed. McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 9788838615405

Other suggested books:

MANZONI P. –Enciclopedia illustrata delle specie ittiche marine di interesse commerciale- Istituto Geografico De Agostini, Novara

CERRANO C., PONTI M., SILVESTRI S. – Guida alla Biologia Marina del Mediterraneo, Ananke editore

VENTURELLI F. & VIRLI L. – Invito alla botanica. 1° Ed. Zanichelli, 1995, Bologna

PANCALDI et al. – Fondamenti di Botanica Generale. McGraw-Hill, 2011, Milano

RAVEN, EVERT & EICHHORN – Biologia delle piante. 6° Ed. Zanichelli, 2002, Bologna

RIEDL – Fauna e Flora del Mediterraneo – Muzzio Editore

Other references will be indicated during the course and will be available to students.

Teaching methods

Teacher-led lessons and laboratory classes

Assessment methods

Tests with multiple choice and/or open ended questions, integrated by final interview

Teaching tools

Teacher-led lessons and laboratory classes in which students will observe animal species described in frontal lessons and dissect fresh fish samples.

Powerpoint presentations. Supplementary notes and teaching materials will be available on request.

Office hours

See the website of Alessia Cariani

See the website of Fausto Tinti