Course

Comparative Zoology

Important Notice

This course is not active. Please contact Department Chair for more information.

Faculty
Science & Technology
Department
Biology
Course code
BIOL 3600
Credits
5.00
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
27
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Lab
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
The course will examine the comparative anatomy, physiology and behaviour of a wide range of animal groups as evolutionary solutions to common functional problems. Topics will include locomotion, respiration, circulation, digestion, excretion and reproduction
Course content
  1. OVERVIEW OF ANIMAL CLASSIFICATION
    • Introduction of the major animal phyla and characteristics for each
  2. GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT & SUPPORT
    • Consideration of different types of skeletons (hydrostatic; exo- & endo-skeletons)
    • Comparison of the advantages & disadvantages of each skeletal type and the relationship to the specific lifestyle / habitat of different organisms
    • Growth & development
  3. LOCOMOTION
    • Introduction to muscle action & basic biomechanics
    • Examination of specific types of locomotion (e.g. creeping/crawling; burrowing; running; swimming; jumping; flight) and the adaptations exhibited by different animals to achieve movement (e.g. skeletal adaptations).
  4. RESPIRATORY MECHANISMS
    • The necessity for respiratory structures and an examination of their efficiency
    • Comparison of various mechanisms of respiratory exchange (with reference to anatomy of structures, respiratory requirements, lifestyle, habitat)
    • Aquatic vs. terrestrial respiratory mechanisms
    • Diffusion, diffusion rates, counter-current exchange
  5. CIRCULATORY SYSTEMS
    • Presence or absence of circulatory system
    • Functions of circulatory systems
    • Open vs. closed systems
    • Single vs. double systems
    • Comparison of circulatory fluids, cell types, oxygen carrying capacity
  6. TEMPERATURE, SEASONS & CLIMATE
    • Ectotherms and endotherms
    • Adaptations to temperature change, seasonality & climate
    • Homeostasis and acclimatization
  7. FOOD ACQUISITION & DIGESTION
    • Food (prey) location & selection
    • Herbivores vs. carnivores
    • Variations in nutrient acquisition
  8. EXCRETION
    • Examination of different excretory pathways, structures & end products (ammonia; urea; uric acid)
    • Comparison of modes of excretion in relation to lifestyle & habitat
    • Osmoregulation
  9. NERVOUS SYSTEMS
    • Sensory physiology (e.g. chemoreception)
    • Evolution of nervous systems
    • Nerve networks, information processing, memory & biological clocks
  10. REPRODUCTION
    • Asexual vs. sexual reproduction
    • Gamete production
    • Fertilization mechanisms (internal vs. external)
    • Mechanisms & structures involved in sexual reproduction
    • Reproductive strategies & mating behaviour
    • Development (direct vs. indirect)
Learning activities
  • Lecture
  • Laboratory activities
  • Discussion groups
  • Readings from scientific journal articles
  • Guest lectures
  • Group project (e.g. research paper on a topic of current interest)
Means of assessment
Class tests and assignments 20%
Laboratory 20%
Term exams 25%
Final exam 35%
Total 100%
Learning outcomes
  1. To understand the general principles of animal classification and describe the characteristics of the major animal phyla.
  2. To gain an appreciation for the diversity of animal forms and understand the unity which exists within this diversity.
  3. To explore anatomical and physiological principles by studying form and function relationships
  4. To describe how organisms interact with their environments and how environmental conditions modulate these interactions through adaptive mechanisms
  5. To understand how the scientific method is used to advance our knowledge of animal anatomy and physiology
  6. To be able to use the general principles of biology to discuss current issues and ideas.
Textbook materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students:

Any suitable comparative zoology textbook

Requisites

Prerequisites

BIOL 1110 and BIOL 1210 with C- or better or BIOL 1310 with C- or better or permission of instructor

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer details for BIOL 3600
There are no applicable transfer credits for this course.

Course Offerings

Winter 2025