INTRODUCTION

• Zoology is the branch of biology that deals with the study of animals and their various aspects
• Aristotle is considered the father of zoology for his work on the classification and characterization of animals
• Carolus Linnaeus laid the foundation of current zoology through his work on taxonomy and classification
• Charles Darwin's research on the Galapagos island contributed significantly to zoological studies
• Thomas Huxley's work on Darwin's theory of evolution greatly contributed to the field of comparative anatomy of animals
• Konrad Lorenz's work on animal behavior had a significant impact on the understanding of zoology
• E. O. Wilson's work on biodiversity and sociobiology greatly contributed to the current understanding of ecology
• Branches of Zoology:

  • Anatomy: study of internal and external structures of animals
  • Physiology: study of mechanisms underlying bodily functions
  • Ecology: study of interactions between animals and their environment
  • Ethology: study of animal-specific behavior
  • Taxonomy: study of classification and naming of animals
  • Evolutionary Biology: study of the evolutionary history of animals
  • Entomology: study of insects
  • Herpetology: study of amphibians and reptiles
  • Ornithology: study of birds
  • Ichthyology: study of fish
  • Mammalogy: study of mammals
• Metabolism:

  • Organisms expend energy acquired during metabolism to accomplish growth
• Growth:

  • Organisms have a pattern for building growth structures
  • Living organisms transform material unlike themselves into materials like themselves during growth
• Reproduction:

  • Living organisms can produce copies of themselves through reproduction
  • Reproduction can be an extension of the growth process in plants and simple animals
  • Sexual reproduction involves two parents contributing to the formation of a new individual, leading to a new combination of traits
  • Asexual reproduction involves only one parent, resulting in cells generally identical to the parent cell
• Evolution:

  • Living organisms adapt to their environment through evolution
  • Evolution leads to changes in populations, making organisms better able to metabolize, respond, and reproduce
  • Evolution results in a greater variety of organisms than in previous eras
• Ecology:

  • Ecology is the study of relationships between organisms and their environment
  • Biotic factors (living things) and abiotic factors (nonliving things) can alter the environment
  • Living things may migrate or hibernate in response to changes in the environment
• • Animals primarily respire through the intake of oxygen and release of carbon dioxide
  • Life Span:
  • Plants have variable lifespans
  • Animal lifespans vary widely
• • Animals reproduce sexually with distinct male and female individuals
  • Growth and Development:
  • Plants have indeterminate growth, continuing to grow throughout their life
  • Animals have determinate growth, reaching a certain size and stopping growth after maturity
  • Response to Stimuli:
  • Plants respond to environmental stimuli through tropisms and growth movements
  • Animals have a well-developed nervous system for rapid responses to stimuli
  • Respiration:
  • Plants undergo photosynthesis during the day and cellular respiration at night
• Plants vs. Animals:

  • Cell Structure:
  • Plants have rigid cell walls composed of cellulose and contain chloroplasts for photosynthesis
  • Animals lack a cell wall and have a flexible cell membrane, without chloroplasts
  • Nutrition:
  • Plants are autotrophic, producing their own food through photosynthesis
  • Animals are heterotrophic, obtaining food by consuming other organisms
  • Mode of Locomotion:
  • Plants are generally non-motile
  • Animals are mobile with well-developed systems for movement
  • Reproduction:
  • Plants have both sexual and asexual reproduction methods
• Organic vs. Inorganic Compounds:

  • Organic compounds:
  • Occur naturally and are found in all living things
  • Contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen
  • Used in industrial applications, adhesives, pesticides, food, and medicines
  • Inorganic compounds:
  • Synthetic and can be synthesized from organic compounds
  • Do not change when reacting with other chemicals
  • Examples include minerals like silicon, iron ores, aluminum ores, and uranium ores