Obtaining a deep knowledge of the interaction between environment and phenotype, including the evolutionary processes.
Understanding how specific sensory systems allow animals to live within their habitat.
Acquiring the skills to independently and critically explore some topics of interest to the subject, developing a short essays to be discussed in class.
Course Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of biology and general/cellular physiology
Teaching Methods
The course is organized in frontal lessons carried out through the presentation of Power Point slides. Case studies will be discussed in class on specific topics, and cooperative learning and small-group teaching methodologies will be adopted. The elaboration of essays on specific topics of the course will required to the students, foresee the preliminary discussion in study groups, guided by the teacher.
Assessment Methods
Oral examination on the topics of the course evalated in thirtieths and discussion of a sintetic research on a specific topic of interest to the subject.
The exam will be held on the same day with both teachers of the course, on their respective parts. The final grade will be determined as the average of the grades obtained with each teacher.
Texts
Pat Wilmer, Graham Stone, Ian Johnston, Environmental Physiology of Animals, 2nd edition, 2004, John Wiley and Sons Ltd.
Contents
Environment, Adaptation, Acclimatation. The nervous system: main concepts. Reflexes and learning. Mirror neurons. Evolution and Epigenetics. Dimensional problems. Water, ions, osmotic and water balance. Body temperature control: terminology, heat exchange with the environment, regulation of heat production and loss. Metabolism. Introduction to the respiratory and cardiovascular function.
Thermoreceptors. Mechanoreceptors and hearing. Echolocation. Lateral line of fish. Chemoreceptors and smell. Elector receptors. Chemoreceptors and smell. Magnetoreceptors. Photoreceptors and vision. Bioluminescence. Mimicry. Marine life: respiratory adaptations, communication mechanisms in the marine environment. Life in extreme environments: desert and polar environments. Anthropic factors: pollutants as stress factors.
Course Language
Italian
More information
For working students, students engaged in the care of their family members, students with civil disability, students with disabilities or with specific learning disabilities, parent students (until the child's first year), student athletes, students in prison, students in hospitalization or suffering from certified pathologies, up to 2 hours of reception with the teacher per week will be guaranteed (previously agreed via email).
