Course Description

Formerly: BIOL G185 – Principles of Zoology. This course provides students with a broad foundation of kingdom Animalia and animal-like protists. It focuses on ecological, evolutionary, anatomical and physiological relationships among major animal taxa. Topics include embryology, body plans, life strategies, general characteristics, reproductive modes, and life cycles of each of the major animal phyla. This course provides a solid background in animal science for those students preparing to transfer to a four-year institution or professional school (dental, pharmacy, or optometrist schools, for example). The laboratory portion of this course emphasizes hands-on learning using dissection, models, slides, charts, living specimens and non-living specimens. Students will gain experience in using compound light microscopes and dissecting microscopes to study protists, animal tissues, and body plans of appropriately sized animals. PREREQUISITE: Course taught at the level of intermediate algebra or appropriate math placement. ADVISORY: BIOL G180. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC. C-ID: BIOL 150. C-ID: BIOL 150.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

1. Course Outcomes
2. Diagram the phylogenetic relationships among the major animal phyla.
3. Identify the characteristics and anatomy of animals found in the chordate subphyla and vertebrate classes.
4. Analyze the mechanisms and attributes of ecosystems, communities/populations.
5. Explain how certain behaviors may have resulted in symplesiomorphy and synaopmorphy among individuals within phylogenetic groups.
6. Comprehend peer-review primary scientific literature.

Course Objectives

• 1. Anatomically describe and properly identify members of kingdoms Protista and Animalia including embryological development, anatomical adaptations that different lineages have obtained for survival, and the ecological role they play.
• 2. Describe the embryology of five different lineages of animals: non-chordates, primitive chordates, amphibians, archosaurs (birds and reptiles) and mammals.
• 3. Outline a broad understanding of how ecological and evolutionary concepts integrate to create the biodiversity witnessed among the animals and animal-like protists.
• 4. Apply critical thinking and analytical skills to correctly interpret data generated in class and as encountered via peer-review scientific literature.

Lecture Content

Introduction of the current classification scheme of animals.Examination of 5 distinct pathways different animals groups take in developmental biology (embryology) and explanation of why the pathways differnon-chordatesprimitive chordatesamphibiansbirds, reptiles, and non-placental mammalsplacental mammalsEvolutionpeoplesupport, including reference to usage phylogenetic trees by various fields of sciencemechanisms of evolutionnatural selectiongenetic driftmutationgene flowspecies conceptspeciationPopulations and commnitiesgrowthinteractionscommunity successionProtistapolyphyletic originssurvey of animal-like protistsAnimal body plansOrigins of multicellularitythree theoriescomparison of three theories to the embryology of non-chordatesPoriferageneral characteristicsadaptations for a sedentary, suspension-feeding lifeCnidariageneral characteristicsHydrozoa (includingScyphozoalife cycleAnthozoaexamination of resource partitioning and adaptive radiation of corals across different microhabitats of a typical coral reefPlatyhelminthesgeneral characteristicsLophotrocozoaTurbellariamodes of reproductionasexualevolutionary advantages of bi-directional sperm exchangeevolutionary advantages of assuming the male role in copulatory events between monoecious animalsCestodalife cycleTrematodalife cycleMolluscageneral characteristicshead-foot/visceral mass synapomorphic body planGastropodaancient mollusk body plantorsion as an apomorphy in only gastropodaBivalviaPolyplacophoraCephalopodacomplexity of anatomy compared to other mollusk classesconvergence with Subphylum Craniata (eyes and circulatory system)Annelida general charactersticsmetamerismtagmatizationClitellataOligochaetaadapations to fossorial lifeHirudineaPolychaetaadaptations to predatory lifestyleepitokyNematodageneral characteristicsecdysis/Ecdysozoalife cycleArthropodageneral characteristicsmetamerism and tagmatizationevolutionary advantages of metamorphosisTrilobitomophaorigin of biramous appendagesChelicerataanalogous body design when compared to head-foot/visceral mass body designMerostomatastabilizing selectionArchnidaadaptations and pre-adaptations for survival on landCrustaceabody designtagmatizationHexapodabody designflightreproductionEchinodermatageneral characteristicssecondary derivation of body symmetrywater vascular system: anatomy and usesDeuterostomiaAsteroideaOphiuriudeaEchinoideaCrinoideaorigin of tube feetHemichordatageneral characteristicsdorsal nerve cordPterobranchiaEnteropnuestaChordata (initially focusing on "protochordata")general characteristicsUrochordata (aka Tunicata)Cephalochordataadaptations for locomotion"Fishes"Craniata, HyperotreticharacteristicsCraniata, VertebratacharacteristicsVertebrata, ChrondrichthyescharacteristicsVertebrata, ActinopterygiicharacteristicsChrondrosteans and NeopterygiansVertebrata, SarcopterygiicharacteristicsLungfiishes, coelacanthsOsteolepiform fishes as extince predecessors to Amphibiacomparative circulatory systems among lunged an unlunged fishescomparative digestive systems between Chondrichthyes and ActinopterygiiAmphibiaAnuracharacteristicsCaudatacharacteristicsGymnophionacharacteristicsadaptations for life on landcirculatory sytemsensesevolution of verbal communicationReptiliadiscussion of polyphyly and lack of synapomorphies within ReptiliaCrocodiliacharacteristicssynapomorpies with class AvesRhynchocephaliacharacteristicsTestudineslack of synapomorphies with other reptilian taxacharacteristicsSquamatacharacteristicscirculatory system of squamatesadaptations for land lifesensesAvessynapomorphic adaptations for flight as seen in various organ systemsskelatorycirculatoryrespiratoryexrcretoryreproductivesensoryintegumentary (feathers)methods of navigationreasons for migrationMammaliataxonomyderivation of taxonomic groups based on evolution of said groups on distinct ancient land massessynapomorphies of mammaliahairskin glandsheterdont dentitionComparative digestive systems/tracts/methodsmammalian digestion8 stepsorgans involvedsurvery of feeding mechanisms evolved in phyla previously coveredAnimal behaviorlearningcommunicationevolution of appropriate modes of communicationparentinginclusive fitnessevolutionary advantages and disadvantages of participation in social groups

Lab Content

Microscopes efficient usage storage, identification and functions of the parts Tissues identification understanding the basic functions of various animal tissues Embryology analysis of differences and similarities among 5 lineages non-chordates Cephalochordates Amphibians Archosaurs Mammals Evolution and Classification identification of macroevolutionary trends convergent evolution adaptive radiation functional causes of evolution genetic drift natural selection species identification using the morphological species concept Populations and Communities usage of dichotomous key to identify specimens by skull morphology analysis of food web interactions in wild owl populations Communities and ecosystems: field trip the flow of energy through an ecosystem the results of competing for that energy resource partitioning specialization speciation Protista: use of living and preserved specimens and models to highlight survival strategies systematics Animalia: investigation of anatomy and taxonomy of preserved and living individuals Porifera Cnidaria Platyhelminthes Nematoda Mollusca Annelida Arthropoda Echinodermata Urochordata Cephalochordata Chordata Animalia: dissection and identification anatomy of sample organisms from: Bivalvia Cephalochordata Oligochaeta Crustacea Orthoptera Asteroidea Actinopterygii Chondrichthyes