Download Scheda tipo per le singole unità didattiche (descrittori di Dublino)

“MAGISTRAL DEGREE IN CONSERVATION AND NATURALISTIC DIVULGATION”
“Course: Entomology”
“ACADEMIC YEAR 2010-2011”
Professor: Augusto Vigna Taglianti, Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e dell'Uomo, Zoology building,
Viale dell'Università, 32, ground floor, room 21; tel. 064991 4742; e-mail:
[email protected]
Students reception: Tuesday 9-13.
Course schedule: Thuesday 16.00-18.00, Thursday 16.00-18.00, Entomologia, Piazzale Valerio
Massimo, 6
Target students: 1st year, 1st semester, Degree in Conservation and Naturalistic Divulgation
Unit Level: specialistic
Prerequisites: standard knowledge in Zoology
Credits: 6 CFU
Programme
1. Introduction. Meaning and purpose of the course. Entomology in the history of Zoology and in the
history of Science. The role of Entomology in modern biological disciplines. General and applied
Entomology. Insects in relation to man and environment.
2. Biodiversity. Biodiversity levels. Insect diversity, distribution and protection of biodiversity.
Abundance of insect species and Italian fauna.
3. Hints on zoological classification. Species and speciation. Phylogenetic classification. Cladistics.
Basis and purposes of classification. Taxonomy problems. Nomenclatorial rules.
4. Generalities on Arthropoda. Insects within the evolution of terrestrial Arthropoda. Hints of insect
palaeontology. Generalities on Atelocerata (Chilopoda, Pauropoda, Diplopoda, Symphila, Exapoda) and
in particular on hexapods (Protura, Collembola, Diplura, Insecta).
5. Insects as terrestrial animals.
5.1. Exoskeleton. Structure of integument and cuticle. Phisical and chemical colourings. External
anatomy. Body areas. Sclerites. Primary and secondary segmentation.
5.2. Respiration. Water reabsorption. Adaptation to temperature changes.
5.3. Movement. Structure of thorax. Legs. Wings. Musculature and endoskeleton. Mechanics of flight.
Adaptations to acquatic life and importance of surface tension.
5.4. Nutrition. Head appendages and mouth equipment. Anatomy and physiology of digestive apparatus.
Feeding behaviours. Excretion.
5.5. Circulatory system.
5.6. Reproduction. Structure and functional morphology of the genital segments and appendages.
Reproductive systems. Reproductive behaviours and chemical signals. Reproductive strategies.
Polyembryony. Parthenogenesis. Pedogenesis. Meaning of heterogony. Eggs. Embryonic development.
5.7. Growth and metamorphosis. Postembryonic development. Different types of larvae and
metamorphoses. Physiology of the moult. Endocrine glands
5.8. Nervous system. Mechanical, acoustic and chemical sense organs. Ocelli and composite eyes.
Eyesight.
6. Hints on ethology. Luminous organs. Sound emission. Adaptive colouring and mimicry.
6.1. Intraspecific relationships. Parental concern. Pedotrophic nests. Societies. Interspecific
relationships.
6.2. Interspecific relationships. Predation. Parasitism and parasitoidism.
6.3. Orientation. Migrations. Dispersal.
7. Hints on insect ecology.
8. Zoogeography of Insects.
9. Classification. Diagnostic characters at the level of orders and of the main families, with particular
attention to the Italian fauna.
Myrientomata
Protura
Oligoentomata
Collembola
Polyentomata
Diplura
Euentomata
Insecta Apterygota
Insecta Pterygotha Palaeoptera
Polyneoptera
Paraneoptera
Oligoneoptera
Archaeognatha
Zygentomata
Ephemeroptera
Odonata
Blattodea, Mantodea, Isoptera
Embioptera, Phasmodea, Grylloblattodea,
Mantophasmatodea,
Orthoptera s.l., Zoraptera,
Plecoptera,
Dermaptera
Psocoptera, Phthiraptera,
Thysanoptera, Hemiptera
Coleoptera,
Megaloptera, Planipennia, Raphidioptera,
Trichoptera, Lepidoptera,
Mecoptera, Siphonaptera,
Diptera, Strepsiptera,
Hymenoptera
10. Aspects of applied entomology. Medical entomology. Agricultural entomology. Forensic
entomology. Entomology in environmental assessment and in the conservation of biodiversity.
Expected proficiency
Standard knowlwdge of Insect diversity, with numeric aspects (related to specific diversity or numerosity)
at the level of main orders.
Standard knowledge of the Arthropod organization and of Insects in particular (external morphology,
hints of anatomy).
Evaluation of the evolutive success of the Insects; standard knowledge of their evolutive history and of
their adaptive radiations.
Ability to recognize the main orders (up to the level of the main families) of the Italian and
Circummediterranean fauna.
Ability to approach qualitative samplings and critical use of identification manuals (guides, local faunas
etc.).
Knowledge and ability to approach applicative research, using indicator species as well as the simpler
indices of environmental quality.
CONTENTS
(6 CFU)
Insects biodiversity
Frontal
lessons
Arthropod generalities Frontal
lessons
Insects organization
Frontal
lessons
Practice
Hints
of
Insects Frontal
biology
lessons
Hints of Insects
Frontal
ecology and
lessons
communities
Zoogeograhy
Frontal
lessons
Taxonomy
Frontal
lessons
Practice
Applicative aspects
Frontal
lessons
Total
Hours in
classroom
4
Hours at home Total study
hours
8.5
12.5
4
8.5
12.5
6
13
19
6
4
6.5
8.5
12.5
12.5
4
8.5
12.5
4
8.5
12.5
12
25.5
37.5
6
2
6.5
4
12.5
6
52
98
150
Profit evaluations
Oral test
Final evaluation
Valuations will be made at the end of the course by means of an oral exam, comprehensive of an
identification test of some zoological preparations.
Suggested reading
Gullan, P.J. & Cranston, P.F. Lineamenti di Entomologia. Zanichelli, 2006.
Davies, R.G. Lineamenti di Entomologia. Zanichelli.
Chinery, M. Guida degli Insetti d'Europa. Muzzio.
Baccetti B. et al. Zoologia. Trattato italiano (vol. 2). Zanichelli. (chapters on Arthropoda)