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Zoology

Course developer

Course abstract

Zoology is an introductionary course providing insights into general principles of the structure and functions of animal body and basic physiological processes, as well as their evolution. The course also covers taxonomic diversity of the animal kingdom, basic laws of ecology, the role of animals in ecosystem processes and information on the impact of agriculture, particularly animal husbandry on the ecosystems.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

knowledge on structure and physiological processes of animals of different taxonomic groups; on diversity of the kingdom of animals and on the role of animals in ecosystems;
skills to search for zoological and ecological information and to analyze it; to carry out sections of animals, to identify species of animals by the identification guide;
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.

Course Content(Calendar)

Breakdown of lecture and laboratory topics by semester weeks. Laboratory work for each laboratory group is planned every two weeks. The volume of the lecture is one academic hour, the amount of laboratory work - two academic hours.
1. Lecture: Zoology science. The place of animals in the system of living organisms. Classification of animals. Laboratory work: Protozoans - amoeba, green euglena, Paramecium
2. Lecture: Animal movement, metabolism and feeding. Laboratory work: Protozoans - amoeba, green euglena, Paramecium
3. Lecture: Respiration, excretion and termoregulation. Laboratory work: hydra, pig tapeworm
4. Lecture: Circulation. Reproduction. Laboratory work: hydra, pig tapeworm
5. Lecture: Humoral and Neural Regulation. Laboratory work: ascaris, earth worm
6. Lecture: Animal State. Protists and sponges. Laboratory work: ascaris, earth worm
7. Lecture: Cnidarians. Flatworms. Round worms. Laboratory work: Cray fish
8. Lecture: Annelids. Arthropods. Crustaceans. Laboratory work: Cray fish
9. Lecture: Arachnids. Insects, myriapods, molluscs. Laboratory work: honey bee
10. Lecture: Hordates. General characteristics of vertebrates. Laboratory work: honey bee
11. Lecture: Cyclostomates, cartilagous fish. Laboratory work: mussel
12. Lecture: Bony fish. Laboratory work: mussel
13. Lecture: Amphibians and reptiles. Laboratory work: bony fish (herring)
14. Lecture: Birds. Laboratory work: bony fish (herring)
15. Lecture: Mammals. Laboratory work: mammal (small rodent)

16. Lecture: Impact of agriculture on the diversity of animal species. Laboratory work: mammal (small rodent)

Requirements for awarding credit points

Eight laboratory works must be visited and worked, two colloquiums and one written test successfully passed. The final test is evaluated by a grade.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Students are preparing themselves for tests and colloquiums using the recommended sources of the literature

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The test grade is calculated according to the sum of the points obtained in the colloquiums and the test

Compulsory reading

1. Reece J. B., Urry L.A., Cain M.L., Wasserman S.A., Minorsky P.V. & Jackson R.B. 2014. Campbell Biology 10th edition. Benjamin Cummings. 1488 pp.
2. Dogels V. 1986. Bezmugurkaulnieku zooloģija. Rīga: Zvaigzne. 556 lpp.
3. Naumovs N., Kartašovs N. 1990. Mugurkaulnieku zooloģija. Rīga: Zvaigzne. 528 lpp.
4. Pētersons G., Keišs O., Cera I. 2019. Laboratorijas darbi zooloģijā. Mācību materiāls LLU studentiem, pieejams e-studijās.
5. Campbell N. A., Reece J. B. Biology 7th international edition. San Francisco [etc.] : Pearson/Benjamin Cummings, 2006. 1231 p.
6. Naumovs N., Kartašovs N. Mugurkaulnieku zooloģija. Rīga: Zvaigzne, 1990. 528 lpp.
7. Pētersons G. Laboratorijas darbi zooloģijā. Mācību materiāls LLU studentiem. Jelgava: LLU, 2000. 68 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
6. S.Westheide W., Rieger R. M. 2006. Spezielle Zoologie 1: Einzeller und Wirbellose Tiere. 2. Auflage. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag. 976 S.
7. Barnes R.S.K., Calow P., Olive P.J.W., Golding D.W. The Invertebrates: a new synthesis. 2nd edition. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1993. 488 p.
8. Bodniece V., Eglīte R., Redliha A. Mugurkaulnieku zooloģijas praktikums. Rīga: Zvaigzne, 1976. 184 lpp.
9. Sloka N. Bezmugurkaulnieku zooloģijas praktikums. Rīga: Zvaigzne, 1971. 225 lpp.

Notes

Compulsory course for the academic bachelor study program "Sustainable agriculture"