Modern zoology message. Zoology as a science

Zoology- the science of animals - at present is not a single science, but a system of sciences that study the animal world from a variety of points of view. The structure and vital functions of animals are studied both in the adult state and in different periods of development, the composition of the fauna of a particular region and the features of the geographical distribution of animals, the relationship of animal organisms with the conditions of existence, and, finally, the laws of the evolutionary development of animals.

In addition, species of animals that are useful to humans in economic activities are being studied in order to increase the production of wild and increase the productivity of domestic animals, as well as harmful animals in order, on the contrary, to develop rational control measures.

In zoology, on the one hand, the sciences that study certain aspects of the life of animals - their structure, development, vital activity, distribution, connection with the external environment, etc., stand out; on the other hand, the sciences that study individual, largest and practically important groups of animals (private zoology). The first group includes the following zoological sciences.

Morphology- the science of the transformation of form, i.e., the structure of animals, depending on the change in the functions and conditions of existence of organisms in individual and historical development. Morphology includes a number of more private disciplines: anatomy - studying the structure and ratio of organs; comparative anatomy - studying changes and transformations in the form and function of organs of various animals by comparing similarities and differences in the organization of both modern and fossil animals; histology is the study of the microscopic structure of animals.

Embryology- the science of the individual development of animals and the laws of this development.

Physiology- the science of the vital functions of animals, i.e., the processes taking place in the body (digestion, respiration, excretion, blood circulation, transmission of nervous excitation, reproduction, etc.), and the metabolism between the body and the external environment. Animal biochemistry is a special science that studies the chemical composition and chemical processes that occur in the animal body.

Ecology- the science of the interaction of animals with the external environment, both inorganic and organic, and the patterns of dependence of the life of aggregates of individuals (populations) that make up species, and the dynamics of their numbers under various conditions of existence.

Hydrobiology- a science that studies the patterns of life in water bodies, adaptations to the conditions of existence of aquatic animals and plants, their distribution in water bodies and develops measures to increase the productivity of water bodies, as well as issues of their sanitary condition.

Zoogeography- the science of the geographical distribution of animals and the laws, both modern and historical, that determine this distribution.

Paleozoology- the science of extinct animals, their structure, geological distribution, historical development, origin, as well as the relationship with modern organisms.

Genetics- the science of the laws of heredity and its variability.

Systematics- the science of the diversity of animals, their classification and its patterns. Systematics uses the data of all zoological sciences and builds a natural, evolutionary system of the animal world.

ZOOLOGY is the science of animals. He studies the diversity of the animal world, the structure and activity of animals, their distribution, connection with the environment, patterns of individual and historical development.

Zoology - a system of animal sciences Ethology Zoogeography Entomologists Ichthyology Ornithologists Zoology is also connected with other biological sciences, medicine, agriculture, veterinary medicine, production activities of the human paleozoologist and animal protection. and I

The beginning of human accumulation of information about the animal world dates back to the Stone Age Buffalo Deer Images of ostriches, bulls, giraffes and shepherds with bows Horse A string of bulls

How did the science of zoology originate in Dr. Greece and is associated with the name of Aristotle Founder of the science of zoology, Made the first attempt to classify animals, Described in detail the structure, lifestyle and distribution of more than 400 species of animals in his writings "History of animals", "The emergence of Aristotle of animals", "On the parts (384 -322 years . BC) animals ".

Zoology in the Ages The general decline of the middle sciences in the centuries was also reflected in zoology. Even the writings of the ancients remain forgotten for a long time and are kept only in some places in monasteries. The few writings of this time, concerning zoology, have no scientific value. After the thirteenth century there is a period of calm, but outstanding works are translated into various languages; Numerous universities were founded in the 14th century. , typography facilitates the distribution of works on natural science, scientific circles are formed that precede

Zoology in the Age of Discovery W. Harvey (15781657) M. Malpighi (1628 -1694) A. V. Leven Guk (16321723)

By the end of the 18th century, zoology took shape in a coherent system of knowledge C. Linnaeus (17071778) J. B. Lamarck (1744 - J. Cuvier (17691832) C. Darwin (1809 -1882)

A great contribution to the development of Russian zoology was made by: A. O. Kovalevsky (1840-1901) A. N. Severtsev (1866-1936) I. I. Shmalgauzen (1884-1963) I. Mechnikov (1845-1915) K. Baer ( 1792 - 1876)

- Bottom animals are generally called benthos (from the Greek. Benthos - depth). Plankton is the name given to animals that float in the water. These are protozoa (for example, radiolarians), and intestinal cavities (jellyfish and ctenophores), and many crustaceans (including small crustaceans that feed on baleen whales), and gastropods floating in the water column that have lost their shells, and even some fish. - In addition to plankton, perfectly swimming large animals live in the water column, which easily cope with the strongest currents and are able to develop great speed. This group of aquatic inhabitants is called nekton (from the Greek nektos - floating). The most typical nekton animals are fish, whales, dolphins, squids.

Adaptation of organisms to the environment. Snow, for example, significantly reduces temperature fluctuations at a depth of 25 cm. Deep snow protects plant buds. For black grouse, hazel grouse and tundra partridges, snowdrifts are a place to spend the night, since at 20–30 degrees below zero at a depth of about 40 cm, the temperature remains close to 0 °C. For ungulates and predators, the depth of loose snow is a limiting factor in settling, while the appearance of a crust in ice dooms many herbivores to starvation. Therefore, red and sika deer, fallow deer and roe deer do not penetrate north further than those places where the snow depth is more than 40 cm.

Many animal species that live in areas where winters are snowy molt in autumn, changing the color of their coat or feathers to white. It is possible that such seasonal molting of birds and animals is also an adaptation - a masking coloration, which is typical for the weasel hare, arctic fox, tundra partridge and others.

Soil habitat Soil is a habitat for many organisms. Creatures that live in the soil are called pedobionts. The smallest of them are bacteria, algae, fungi and unicellular organisms that live in soil waters. Up to 10¹⁴ organisms can live in one m³. The soil air is inhabited by invertebrates such as mites, spiders, beetles, springtails and earthworms. They feed on plant remains, mycelium and other organisms. Vertebrates also live in the soil, one of them is the mole. He is very well adapted to living in completely dark soil, so he is deaf and almost blind.

Soil organisms are characterized by specific organs and types of movement (burrowing limbs in mammals; the ability to change body thickness; the presence of specialized head capsules in some species); body shapes (rounded, wolf-shaped, worm-shaped); durable and flexible covers; reduction of eyes and disappearance of pigments. Among the soil inhabitants, saprophagia is widely developed - eating the corpses of other animals, rotting remains, etc.

The front paws of moles are real shovels. They are turned with their palms outward so that it is more convenient to dig the ground in front of them and throw it back. The fingers of the paws of the mole are covered with a common skin and end with powerful flattened claws. The fur of the mole is short, soft, equally easy to lay down both forward and backward. Movement through tight tunnels leads to its rapid wiping, so the mole sheds not 1-2, like most animals, but 3 or 4 times a year.

Animals, like plants and all other living organisms, have common features: 1. Cell structure 2. Growth 3. Development 4. Nutrition 5. Respiration 6. Reproduction

Comparison table of plants and animals Comparison points Structure of cells Nutrition Locomotion Irritability Growth Typical animal Typical plant

1. Animal cells do not have a hard cellulose shell Structure of an animal cell Structure of a plant cell

Zoology is one of the main branches of biology that studies animals, their structure, their diversity and features of life.

It is devoted to the study of their distribution, the significance of the animal world for the human race and the natural world, their individual and evolutionary development.

Modern zoology

Zoology is a system of various animal sciences. It includes anatomy- a science devoted to the internal and external structure of individual organisms. The science that studies fossils and the transformations that have occurred to them in the process of evolutionary development is called paleontology.

Physiology- the science of the functioning of cells, organ systems and, in particular, the body. One of the important zoological sciences is ecology devoted to the relationship of representatives of the animal world with each other and other organisms. Ecology studies the influence of animals on the world around them: their relationship with the environment.

The subject of zoology research are all animals: mammals, birds, fish, insects; in zoology, it is customary to consider animals as separate groups - therefore, special sections have been created for them.

Animal diversity

Animals inhabit the most diverse places on our planet. They have mastered the soil environment: steppes, fields and forests, they also live in the land-air environment, they can be found in the oceans and seas, lakes and rivers.

There are animals that have chosen a human or animal body as their habitat, there are also those that live in plants.

Meaning of animals

There are animals whose role is extremely positive both for nature and for human life. For example, pollinators of plants: bees, flies, beetles and butterflies. Birds are also beneficial - they carry plant seeds over long distances.

There are animals that harm plants: caterpillars can damage leaves and buds, and locusts can completely destroy people's crops.

Wild and domestic animals

Wild animals are of great importance to humans. Hunting for wild animals brings protein food, which is important for good nutrition. Catching fish and marine animals is also necessary to provide food for the human race.

Pets are important as food producers for humans. Eggs, milk, meat, honey - we get all this thanks to the domestication of large and small livestock, the maintenance of shoulders.

The production of leather, wool and down is also associated with animals.

An outstanding event in the process of human historical development was the domestication of the dog, whose ancestor is considered to be the wolf. This happened about 10 thousand years ago. Now the dog is considered to be a true friend of man.

For the development of agricultural activities, an important event was the domestication of horses. These animals are indispensable helpers of people.

Similarities and differences between animals

Animals, like other living organisms, are usually distinguished according to certain features: the structure of the cell, according to the possibilities of nutrition, respiration, reproduction, excretion, development and growth.

The main difference between animals and plants is the absence of a hard cellulose shell. Animals are consumers of ready-made organic substances. They are characterized by active movement, thanks to which they are able to finish their own food. Also, animals are distinguished by the peculiarity of noticing stimuli and responding to them.

The modern organic world with all its diverse biomass can be divided into five:

animals;
plants;
mushrooms;
bacteria;
viruses.

Each of them is studied by a whole complex of sciences. We will consider what sciences are engaged in the study of representatives of the animal kingdom, how these disciplines are called, since when they arose and what results have been achieved to date.

science zoology

The main science that has devoted itself to the study of the diversity and lifestyle of animals is zoology. It is she who is the foundation on which the knowledge about our smaller brothers is kept.

What is zoology? It's unlikely to be answered in one sentence. After all, this is not just one dry science built on theory, it is a whole complex of sections and subsciences that collect materials about everything related to the animal world.

Therefore, this question can be answered something like this: zoology is the science of that part of the biomass of our planet that belongs to animals. Thus, the object of study of zoology are all animals - from the simplest unicellular to multicellular mammals. The subject of this science is the study of the external and internal structure, physiological processes, distribution in nature, lifestyle and behavior, interaction with each other and with the outside world.

Goals and objectives of science

To more fully understand what zoology is, it will help as follows:

to study the features of functioning, structure, embryonic and historical development of all representatives of animals;
consider ways of adapting to environmental conditions and trace the features of ethology;
determine their role in;
identify the role of man in the protection and protection of wildlife.

In connection with the goal, the tasks of zoology are the following points:

The study of the external and internal structure, as well as the physiological characteristics of all representatives of animals.
Comparison of their needs and their habitats.
Establishing the significance and role of individual groups in nature and human economic activity.
Conducting an analysis of the taxonomy of the animal world, identifying the most vulnerable groups, ensuring their protection and protection.

Having considered the goals, objectives, object and subject of zoology, we can say with confidence that it is precisely the animal world that studies zoology in all its manifestations.

Classification of zoological sections

Over two million animal species are known. Each has its own unique features, and when interacting with each other, they generally represent a unique system. The study of such a system requires a lot of time and effort. This is the work of a huge number of people. Therefore, all science is a special branch of zoology.

Classification of zoological sections by tasks

There is also a classification of zoological sections according to tasks for science. It represents the following categories:

taxonomy - a section that deals with the classification and determination of a place in for each representative of animals;
zoogeography - a science that studies their distribution and settlement throughout the territory of our planet;
morphology - a science that studies the features of the external and internal structure;
phylogenetics - studies the foundations of the origin and historical development of the animal world;
genetics - considers the patterns of heredity and variability in all generations;
histology - studies the cellular structure of tissues;
paleozoology - the science of fossil remains and extinct animals of all periods of the planet's life;
cytology - the science of the cell and its structure;
ethology - studies the features of behavioral mechanisms in animals in different situations;
embryology - deals with the consideration of embryos and the establishment of similarities and differences between all representatives of the animal world on the basis of embryonic analysis, as well as features of ontogenesis;
ecology - studies the interaction of animals with each other, as well as adaptability to the conditions of the surrounding world and interaction with humans;
physiology - features of all life processes;
anatomy - studies the internal structure of animals.

Zoology of vertebrates

What is zoology This is a section that studies all representatives of the animal world that have a chord (during life it transforms into a spinal column with a spinal cord).

The tasks of this academic discipline include introducing students to the external and internal features of all classes of vertebrates, their behavior and lifestyle, distribution and role in nature and human life.

The main distinguishing features of vertebrates, which are characteristic only for this group, are the following:

Only they have a chord - the progenitor of the spine. In some species, it remains so for life, but in most it develops into a spine.
The nervous system of such animals is clearly differentiated into the brain and spinal cord (with the exception of strictly chordates, in which it always remains in the form of a nerve cord above the notochord).
The digestive system in representatives of different classes opens outward with a mouth opening on the front of the body, the end of the digestive tube is transformed into gills in marine life. In terrestrial, lungs are formed inside.
All representatives have a heart - the center of the circulatory system.

It is precisely such animals that the section of zoology on vertebrates is devoted to.

Zoology of invertebrates

What is the study of animals? These are the features of the structure, lifestyle and significance in nature of all animals that do not have the above characteristics. These animals include representatives of the following types:

sponges;
coelenterates;
annelids, round and flat worms;
shellfish;
echinoderms;
arthropods (arachnids, insects, crustaceans).

Invertebrates make up the majority of all known animals. In addition, they play an important role in human economic activity.

That is why the study of invertebrates is important and of great scientific interest.

Zoology of protozoa

Protozoa include all unicellular animals. Namely:

sarcomastigophores (amoeba, ray, foraminifera, sunflowers);
flagellates (volvox, euglena, trypanosoma, opaline);
ciliates (ciliary and sucking ciliates);
sporozoans (gregarines, coccidia, toxoplasma, malarial plasmodium).

Some amoebas, ciliates and all sporozoa are dangerous pathogens of serious diseases in both humans and animals. Therefore, a detailed study of their life cycle, ways of feeding and reproduction is an important part in the search for methods to combat them. That is why the zoology of protozoa is no less important branch of science than all the others.

Brief outline of the development of science

This science is very interesting. Zoology has captivated and seduced many minds at all times. And this is certainly justified. After all, watching our smaller brothers is really a very interesting and useful activity.

The main stages in the development of zoology are not much different from those in other sciences. These are the main four periods:

Ancient time. Ancient Greece - Aristotle, Ancient Rome - Pliny the Elder.
The Middle Ages is a time of stagnation. All sciences were under the influence of the church, the study of all living things was strictly prohibited.
The Renaissance is the most active period in the development of zoology. A lot of theoretical and practical data on the life of animals has been accumulated, basic laws have been formulated, systematics and taxa, and a binary nomenclature of animal and plant names have been put into use. The loudest names in this period were: Charles Darwin, Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, Carl Linnaeus, John Ray, Saint-Hilaire, Anthony van Leeuwenhoek.
New time refers to the XIX-XX century. This is the period of development of knowledge about the molecular and genetic structure of animals, the discovery of biogenetic laws and mechanisms of embryonic and physiological development of animals of all types. The loudest names: Sechenov, Haeckel and Muller, Mechnikov, Kovalevsky.

Modern zoology

The 21st century is the time of digital technologies and the triumph of unique heavy-duty technology. This gives great advantages to all the sciences that study living nature, but at the same time it poses new challenges for them.

What is the zoology of the modern stage of development? It is a science that is preparing to give answers to questions:

What is the animal world?
By what laws does he live and what features does he have?
How can a person without harm to nature use the animal diversity of the world for their own purposes?
Is it possible to artificially recreate lost (extinct) animal species?

The search for answers will take scientists a very long time, despite the possession of such a perfect technique.

The value of zoology is difficult to overestimate. More than once it has been mentioned above what a big role it plays in people's lives, their health and economic activity. It has been studied for centuries and will always be studied, because there are still a very large number of unresolved questions about animals.

Zoology is the science of animals. Representatives of the animal world belong to one kingdom, which has more than 1.5 million species. Microscopic organisms are known, up to 0.5 mm in size and huge inhabitants of the seas - whales up to 33 m. They are widely distributed on land, in water, and in the air.

What does zoology study and its main tasks

Zoology studies the structure, vital activity of animals, the patterns of their settlement and the relationship with the environment. Describes evolutionary processes, stages of development of the animal world.

Zoology is the science of animals

The main tasks of zoology:

The study of features in the structure of internal organs, the skeleton, the external cover of animals.
Characterization of the developmental processes of individual individuals from fertilization to death.
The study of the role of animals in biocenoses and the natural environment as a whole.

History of the development of zoology

The development of zoology began even before our era, even then people explored the animal world, studied their structure and behavior. The founder of zoology as a science, the famous ancient Greek scientist and thinker Aristotle. He wrote a treatise of 10 books "History of Animals", which presented the basics of animal physiology and anatomy.

Table of the main stages in the development of zoology

Stages	Main events
IV Art. BC era	A detailed description by Aristotle of 452 species of animals inhabiting the earth at that time.
77 CE era	The Roman scientist of the beginning of the first century AD Pliny the Elder published the book "Natural History", which describes the animals of those times.
V - XV Art.	In the Middle Ages, the study of animals was banned.
XV - XVI century.	In the Renaissance, a new stage in the development of science began. The discovery of the continents by Columbus and Magellan became significant events for zoology. The study of new species, regularities and features of their settlement around the globe was carried out.
XVII century	A microscope was invented, and the Dutch biologist A. Leeuwenhoek was the first to study ciliates and described the cellular structure of animal muscles.
XVIII Art.	Carl Linnaeus publishes the "System of Nature", which became the basis for the creation of the current classification of animals.
XIX Art.	The origin of the idea of the evolution of species from more primitive unicellular forms to multicellular, highly developed organisms (Ch. Darwin's theory).
XX century - the beginning of the XXI century.	Growth in the number of studies using electron microscopy, biophysical methods. Development of genetics as a field of zoology. Modeling of objects at the molecular level using computer technology.

History of domestic zoology originates from the 17th century, when knowledge about the animal world began to be generalized, systematized, and the first books about animals began to be published.

XVIII Art. was marked by the opening of the Academy of Sciences, this was facilitated by Peter I, who was interested in zoology, collected animals.

Many expeditions were organized to study the fauna of their own territories and nearby ones.

In the XX century. The development of zoology is associated with the names of A.N. Severtsov, K.I. Skryabin, V.A. Dogel. In the second half of the XX century. many scientific communities have been founded, scientific research has been organized. Cooperation with foreign scientists has begun, there is an ever-increasing deepening of knowledge and the formation of new directions in the study of the animal world.

Sections of zoology depending on the tasks performed

Animal systematics gives a complete description of species diversity, divides them according to similar and distinctive features, and studies characteristic structural changes in the course of the historical development of animals.

Anatomy(zootomy) - the science of the structure of representatives of the kingdom Animals, the topography of organs and systems.

Morphology deals with the study and compilation of comparative characteristics of animals from different groups, exploring their evolutionary development.

Cytology- explores the functions and structure of animal cells; physiology gives an idea of the activity of cells, organs and systems in the whole organism.

animal ecology- their interaction with each other and with other individuals and elements of inanimate nature.

Ethology- studies the instinctive behavior of animals in their natural environment.

Zoogeography- studies the causes and factors that affect the resettlement of animals, their distribution across different continents, climatic zones.

Paleozoology is engaged in the study of fossil animals that inhabited the earth in different periods of its formation.

Sections of zoology depending on the object of study

Arachnology- the science of arachnids;
entomology- about insects;
malacology- about shellfish;
ichthyology- about fish;
theriology- about mammals.

Modern zoology

Modern zoology is a collection of scientific branches that reflect the way of life of representatives of the animal world, their development, the structure of organs and systems.

Many scientists work in each of these areas, which has led to high achievements in the development of zoology.

The importance of animals in human life has changed significantly over the centuries. The role of wild species as a source of food has decreased significantly. People actively began to breed new species, more valuable and prolific. Breeding pets, fish is very popular today. Separate branches of zoology help to fight harmful insects, rodents, fungi that damage agriculture.

In the process of research, zoologists found that animals are the cause of a number of serious human diseases. For example, scabies causes scabies, malaria - malarial plasmodium, many life-threatening worms. And other animals carry pathogens of these diseases. Lice carriers of rickettsia (typhus), mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles - malaria, rodents - plague.

Due to the development of human industrial activity, many animals have been damaged. Massive deforestation, reclamation of swamps, hunting for valuable species have led to the extinction of many wild species. Therefore, the task of zoology in the modern world is also the protection of animals, the prevention of their extermination, the preservation of habitats.