BIOLOGIA EVOLUTIVA DEGLI ANIMALI MARINI

The educational goal of the course is to make known to the students the most important biological processes that led to the evolution and adaptation of the invertebrates and vertebrates to the marine environment. The student must be able to understand that the interaction of anatomical, physiological, ethological and ecological characteristics are the basis of these adaptations.

Lectures and laboratories

Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus.

Diversity, evolution and classification of marine Vertebrates. Main adaptations of infertebrates and vertebrates to the marine environment. Palaeoclimatic and palaeogepgraphic history of the mediterranean Sea. Biogeography of the Mediterranean Sea. Speciation in the marine environment. Evolutionary specializations of Chondrichthyes. Elasmobranch electroreception. Evolutionary specializations of Osteichthyans, the dominant group of vertebrates in water.The sensory world of fishes. The lateral line. The electric fishes. Teleost’s specialization. Homeostasis and energy balance: water balance, thermoregulation. Biological invasion of the Mediterranean sea. Marine Mammals and their specializations. Phylogeography. Analysis of study cases on intraspecific and interspecific differentiation of marine species using molecular markers.

Biogeografia del Mediterraneo. Speciazione in ambiente marino. Specializzazioni evolutive dei Condroitti. Elettrorecezione degli Elasmobranchi. Specializzazioni evolutive degli Osteitti, il gruppo dominante in acqua. Il mondo sensoriale dei pesci. La linea laterale. I pesci elettrici. Specializzazioni dei Teleostei. Omeostasi e bilancio energetico: bilancio idrico, regolazione della temperatura. Le invasione biologiche nel Mediterraneo. I Mammiferi marini e loro specializzazioni. Filogeografia.

1) Roberto Danovaro Biologia Marina CittaStudi Edizioni

2) Peter Castro - Michel E. Huber Biologia Marina McGraw-Hill

3) Alessandro Poli, Elena Fabbri - Fisiologia degli animali marini - Edises