Comparative Animal Physiology

EUObjectives: A comparative study of major physiological functions in animals in relation to their environment. A study of structures and functions at various levels of integration, from the organism to the molecule.

Organisms studied: mammals compared with other vertebrate models (teleosts, etc.) and invertebrates (insects, crustaceans, mollusks, etc.).

Description: This course will cover certain major physiological functions (respiration, nutrition, excretion, and water-and-electrolyte regulation) as well as the fundamentals of immunology and regulatory systems (the nervous system and chemical communication). In addition to lectures, students will work in groups on various topics proposed by the instructors. They will present these topics in the form of presentations and summarize the key points to remember in a written summary. Lab sessions and a tutorial will also be offered to illustrate the course material.

Subject-specific skills:

- Understand the major physiological functions and their diversity, as they interact with the biotic and abiotic environment;

- Understand the adaptive strategies of organisms in relation to their resources, their interactions, and the characteristics of their environment;

- Understand the structure-function relationships at different levels of the organism; 

- Understand biological mechanisms at the organismal, cellular, and molecular levels, within an eco-evolutionary context;

- Understand the different levels of organization, from the gene to the organism, and their interactions;

- Understand the mechanisms and processes that give rise to biodiversity.

Expertise :

- Be able to apply concepts to analyze a document, an observation, or the results of an experiment;

- Be able to give an oral presentation (in English, if necessary), using visual aids and a format tailored to the target audience, with the help of appropriate computer tools;

- Be able to work in a group on formatting, critically analyzing, and writing up experimental results;

- Be able to develop a logical argument using critical thinking (identifying limitations, cross-referencing with the literature, and defending a point of view).

Interpersonal Skills :

- Respect others, as well as the materials and organisms the student is working with.

The EU project is led by the BioMV department, but with shared responsibility among BE, BioMV, and staff from both departments.

Coordinators: Catherine Lorin-Nebel (BE) & Aurélie Célérier (bioMV)

Contact information for the person(s) in charge (phone/email):

catherine.lorin @ umontpellier.fr (04 67 14 93 91)

aurelie.celerier @ cefe.cnrs.fr (04 67 61 33 17)