Diversity and evolution of present and past metazoans N2

This course is an extension of the L2 S3 course, which focuses on describing the morpho-anatomical characteristics of the major organizational plans of metazoans found in present and past faunas, as well as explaining their origin and dynamics of appearance through the acquisition of skills in paleontology and zoology. In S4, the course will mainly explore the major subdivisions within the protostomian organisms that are the lophotrochozoa (molluscan annelids, brachiopods,...) and the ecdysozoa (arthropods, nematodes,...), while underlining their phylogenetic relationships as well as their importance or socio-economic impacts. The UE is classically divided into lectures, tutorials that will mainly aim at illustrating and supporting aspects related to the biodiversity of taxa and practical work in sessions aiming at the acquisition of skills, in particular and obligatorily through the realization of some dissections.

- Knowing the current and past biodiversities of metazoans;

- To know/reinforce the knowledge on the great stages of the history of the metazoans (appearance, organization, extinctions, diversifications of the groups considered in the EU);

- To know/reinforce knowledge and skills on the taxonomy of the major metazoan groups and their phylogenetic relationships;

- Know how to use techniques for exploring organisms at the organism level, including the ability to prepare, observe, describe, quantify, and interpret specimen sections or whole specimens, and know how to set up a dissection technique ;

- Know how to find and name the anatomical and diagnostic characters of the main taxa from a metazoan specimen (complete or incomplete, present or fossil);

- Know how to represent information in an illustrated form, particularly graphically, schematically, and in the form of an observational drawing in a laboratory report;

- Know how to use the current and sustained registers of written and oral expression of the French language by integrating the specific vocabulary for the description of metazoans in present and past contexts.

- grade >8/20 in the UE " Diversity and evolution of present and past metazoans - Level 1 " in L2 S3 (possible derogation if integration is requested during the academic year, after joint validation of competences by the persons in charge of the UE)

The practice of dissection is fundamental in illustrating and understanding many aspects of structure-function relationships, as well as in understanding differences/commonalities between taxa through comparative approaches. Its practice is required in the EU. Failure to do so in a practical examination will result in a penalty in the grading of this exercise, as well as in any work requiring the use of observations related to this dissection (for example: justification of an observation, making an observation drawing in a practical report).