General entomology

Course unit

title

Scientific direction

Scientific code

Faculty

Department (s)

General entomology

Zoology N014

Nature Research Centre

Institute of Ecology

Mode of studies

Number of credits

Mode of studies

Number of credits

Lectures

0

Consultations

2

Self-studies

8

Seminars

0

Aims of course

-        To get acquainted with the hypotheses of origin, phylogeny and system of Arthropoda, Hexapoda and Insecta;

-        to obtain basic knowledge on the body structure, ontogenesis, phylogeny and system, morphophysiological, ecological and behavioral traits and their evolutionary trends in the main clades of the insects, in particular the traits ensuring the evolutionary success, species diversity and ecosystem function of the taxa;

-        to obtain basic knowledge on the main methods used in reconstructions of insect phylogeny and study of their trait evolution.

Main topics

Phylogenetic relationships of Arthropoda and related phyla. Trilobita and related Palaeozoic taxa. Chelicerata: structure, phylogeny and system, main traits and their evolutionary trends. Myriapoda: structure, phylogeny and system, main traits and their evolutionary trends. Crustacea: structure, phylogeny and system, main traits and their evolutionary trends.

Lower Hexapoda: structure, phylogeny and system, main traits and their evolutionary trends.

Insecta: structure, phylogeny and system, main traits and their evolutionary trends. Apterygota (Archeognatha, Zygentoma): structure, phylogeny and system, main traits and their evolutionary trends.

Phylogeny and system of Pterygota, their main morphological and ecological traits and their evolutionary trends. Insect flight, its origin and the main evolutionary trends.

Phylogeny and system of main superstructures, main morphological and ecological features and their evolutionary trends:

Palaeoptera (Odonata and Ephemeroptera);

Polyneoptera (Dictyoptera, Perlidea, Orthopterida, Geraridea, etc.);

Paraneoptera (assemblages Condyloghatha and Panpsocoptera);

Oligoneoptera (Endopterygota) (Palaeomanteidea, beetles, nets, mecopteroids, membranes). Holometabolism: origins and reasons for the observed evolutionary success.

Main methods and tools for the research into insect phylogeny and trait evolution.

Main literature

Grimaldi D. & Engel M. S. 2005.Evolution of the insects. Cambridge University Press

Elzinga R. J. 2003. Fundamentals of Entomology, 6th edition. Prentice-Hall, NJ.

Rasnitsyn A. P. & Quicke D. L. J. (eds) 2002. History of insects. Kluwer Academic Publisher Dordrecht

Misof B. et al. 2014. Phylogenomics resolves the timing and pattern of insect evolution. Science 346, 763

Assessment strategy

Assessment criteria

Exam-seminar with presentations

The exam-seminar includes presentations on 3 main questions. Each of them summarizes at least 5 articles or book chapters. At least 2 additional questions are given. Duration of the seminar: 2-3 hours.

Eduardas Budrys

Dr.

Doc.

Approved by the Council of Graduate School of Life Sciences Center No 600000-…-… on the …. of …… 2021

Chairman