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Animal Biology, Ecology and Ethology II

Course developer

Prior knowledge

BiolB003, Animal Biology, Ecology and Ethology I

Course abstract

In this part of the course, students acquire practical skills by working in the laboratory and based on the knowledge gained in the first part of the course. Students strengthen their knowledge of the taxonomic diversity of the animal kingdom, plans of the body structure of animals of different systematic groups, life cycles of parasites

Learning outcomes and their assessment

knowledge on body plans and physiological processes of animals of different taxonomic groups; on diversity of the kingdom of animals and on the structural adaptations and life cycles of parasitic animals. 4 Colloquiums
• skills to work with microscopes and to evaluate microscopic slides, to carry out dissections of animals, to search for zoological and ecological information and to analyze it. 4 Colloquium
• competence to evaluate the importance of wild animals in the protection of animal and public health and in the protection of environment, to be competent and to be able to find information on the taxonomic status of different animal species. Exam

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Phylum Sarcomastigophora – Amoeba proteus, Euglena viridis, Volvox aureus 2h
2. Parasitic flagellates – Tripanosoma sp. and Lamblia (Giardia) intestinalis. Sporozoans - coccidians, Plasmodium vivax. Life cycles 2h
3. Ciliates - Paramecium caudatum. Cnidarians – Hydra oligactis. 2h
4. Flukes – Fasciola hepatica, Opistocrhis fellineus , Schistosoma hepatica. Tapeworms Taenia solium, Dipylidium caninum, Diphyllobothrium latum, Echinococcus sp. Life cycles. Colloquium 1 2h
5. Round worms – Ascaris suum, Trichinella spiralis. 2h
6. Annelides – Lumbricus terrestris. 2h
7. Crustaceans – Cyclops sp., Daphnia sp., cray fish Astacus sp. Colloquium 2 2h
8. Arachnids –Ixodes sp., itch mite Sarcoptes sp.. 2h
9. Honey bee Apis mellifera. Structure and development. 2h
10. Molluscs –Anadonta sp. or Unio sp. 2h
11. Cephalochordates – Branchiostoma lanceolatum. Colloquium 3 2h
12. Bony fish – ray-finned fish (herring or carp). Dissection. 2h
13. Frog and lizard. Comparison of skeleton and internal structure. 2h
14. Chicken. Skeleton and internal structure. Dissection. 2h
15. Small animals – mouse, vole etc. Dissection. External and internal structure. 2h
16. Colloquium 4 2h

Each student must participate in at least one field trip during the semester. The teaching staff offers the topics and times of the excursions to the students at the beginning of the semester. 8 h

Requirements for awarding credit points

At the end of this part of study course students are evaluated by exam. To get the examination grade students must have positive results in all tests of the first part of the course in autumn semester, to have participated in all laboratory works, have passed all four laboratory tests, have to participated at least at one excursion and have to submit a report after the excursion.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

The students have the rights to pass the laboratory tests if the student has participated in all laboratory worksand the results are accepted by teacher. In a case, if the test result is negative, it must be repeated later. Students have to prepare a report after the excursion they have participated in. The report must be approved by the teacher.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The laboratory works have to be defended and accepted by teacher. During semester four tests have to be passed. The test is evaluated with 1-5 points. The total number of points is calculated as the sum of points of all four tests multiplied by factor „3”. Thus the minimum number of points is 12 (1x4x3) and the maximum number of points is 60 (5x4x3). The number of points the student received at the end of first semester is added to the number of points received during the second semester. The exam grade is calculated according to the total amount of points:
79-100 (points) – 4 (grade)
101-115 – 5
116-130 – 6
131-145 – 7
146-160 – 8
161-200 – 9

Compulsory reading

1. Urry L.A., Cain M.L., Wasserman S.A., Minorsky P.V. & Reece J. B. 2016. Campbell Biology 11th edition. Benjamin Cummings. 1488 pp.
2. Dogels V. 1986. Bezmugurkaulnieku zooloģija. Rīga: Zvaigzne. 556 lpp.
3. Krebs C. J. 2009. Ecology: the experimental analysis of Distribution and abundance. Sixth edition. Pearson International edition. San Francisco: Benjamin Cummings. 656 p.
4. Melecis V. 2011. Ekoloģija. Rīga: LU apgāds. 352 lpp.
5. Naumovs N., Kartašovs N. 1990. Mugurkaulnieku zooloģija. Rīga: Zvaigzne. 528 lpp.

Further reading

1. Claus W., Claus C. 2004. Zoologie für Tiermediziner. 1. Auflage. Enke. 222 S.
2. Storch V., Welsch U., Remane A. 2003. Systematische Zoologie. 6. Auflage. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag. 853 S.
3. Ville C. A., W.F.Walker, R.D.Barnes. 1978. General Zoology 5th ed. – Philadelphia: W.B.Saunders Co. 980 p.
4. Wehner R., Gehring W., Kühn, A. 2007. Zoologie. 24. Auflage – Georg Thieme Verlag. 861 S.
5. Westheide W., Rieger R. M. 2003. Spezielle Zoologie 2: Wirbeltiere. 1. Auflage. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag. 712 S.Westheide W., Rieger R. M. 2006. Spezielle Zoologie 1: Einzeller und Wirbellose Tiere. 2. Auflage. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag. 976 S.

Notes

Compulsory study course of second cycle professional study programme Veterinary medicine