Diversity and Evolution of Present-Day and Past Metazoans N2

The course builds on the L2 S3 course, focusing on describing the morpho-anatomical characteristics of the major organizational levels of metazoans found in present-day and past faunas, as well as explaining their origin and the dynamics of their emergence through the acquisition of skills in paleontology and zoology. In S4, the course will primarily explore the major subdivisions within protostome organisms—namely the Lophotrochozoa (annelids, mollusks, brachiopods, etc.) and the Ecdysozoa (arthropods, nematodes, etc.)—while emphasizing their phylogenetic relationships as well as their socio-economic significance and impacts. The course unit is traditionally divided into lectures, tutorials—which will primarily aim to illustrate and support aspects related to the biodiversity of taxons—and laboratory sessions designed to develop skills, notably and mandatorily through the performance of certain dissections.

- Understand the current and past biodiversity of metazoans;

- To learn about or deepen understanding of the major stages in the history of metazoans (origin, organization, extinctions, and diversification of the groups considered in the EU);

- Acquire or strengthen knowledge and skills regarding the taxonomy of major groups of metazoans and their phylogenetic relationships;

- Know how to use techniques for examining organisms at the organismal level, including how to prepare, observe, describe, quantify, and interpret specimen sections or whole specimens, and how to perform a dissection;

- Be able to identify and name, based on a specimen of a metazoan (complete or incomplete, living or fossil), the diagnostic anatomical characteristics of the major taxons;

- Be able to present information in an illustrated format, including graphs, diagrams, and observational drawings in a lab report;

- Be able to use both the colloquial and formal registers of written and spoken French, incorporating the specific vocabulary used to describe metazoans in both present and past contexts.

- Grade of >8/20 in the course“Diversity and Evolution of Present-Day and Past Metazoans—Level 1”in the third semester of the second year (exceptions may be granted if admission is requested during the academic year, following joint validation of competencies by the course instructors).

Dissection is essential for illustrating and understanding many aspects of structure-function relationships, as well as for understanding differences and similarities among taxa through comparative approaches. It is a required component of the course. Failure to complete this dissection during a lab exam will result in a penalty on the grade for that exercise, as well as on any work requiring observations related to this dissection (for example: justifying an observation or including an observational drawing in a lab report).