Zoological disciplines. Educational terminological dictionary

Zoology - the science of animals

Note 1

Zoology(“zoo” - animal and “logy” - doctrine), - the science of animals.

Definition 1

Zoology- a part of biology that studies the diversity of the animal world, the body structure and vital functions of animals, their distribution on the planet, connections with the environment, patterns of individual and historical development.

Zoology helps a person to understand his physical essence. The study of zoology makes it possible to protect the animal world of the Earth, and provide oneself with food, clothing and other material values from the animal world.

Subject, object and tasks of zoology

Note 2

Item- living organisms of the animal kingdom and the protist kingdom. An object- a specific type of animal.

The tasks of zoologists are aimed at studying:

Internal and external structure of animals;
Livelihoods of animals;
Individual and historical development;
The relationship of animals with the external environment;
Geographical distribution of animals.

Research methods in zoology

Zoological research methods are common to many biological disciplines. Observation method. It is used in natural and special conditions. During observation, the phenomena being studied are recorded using recordings and sketches.

Experiment– an active form of learning. With the help of experiments, a specific goal is pursued and a number of issues that arise are resolved.

Comparative method. Used to compare the studied object of the animal world. This method helps to classify and analyze the characteristic features of closely related animal forms.

Monitoring. Constant observation and analysis of the studied studies of individual objects.

Modeling. Studies processes that cannot be reproduced experimentally. This method consists of demonstrating and researching certain processes and phenomena that occur in the animal world.

Statistical method. Aimed at statistical processing of quantitative material, which is comprehensively analyzed and ultimately establishes certain patterns.

Historical method. Studies the patterns and development of animals.

Zoological method– organization of measures to combat animal pests of agriculture and forestry.

Ecological-zoological method– organization of production of fish stocks, the number of hunting facilities, acclimatization of useful animals.

Science disciplines of zoology

Based on research objectives, zoology is divided into disciplines:

Taxonomy. This discipline describes the external and internal structure of animals, thereby systematizing them according to their similarities. Systematics includes taxonology.

Morphology. Explores the external and internal structure of animals. Compares the similarities of different groups of animals and establishes patterns of their development.

Phylogenetics. Studies the evolutionary paths of representatives of the animal world.

Embryology of animals. Studies the individual development of animals.

Ecology. The relationship between oneself and other living organisms, and non-living environmental factors.

Ethology. Studies animal behavior.

Paleozoology. Studies ancient extinct animals.

Physiology of animals. Studies the functions of the animal body.

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 up to 0.5 mm in size and huge inhabitants of the seas - whales up to 33 m - are known. Distributed everywhere on land, in water, in the air.

What does zoology study and its main tasks?

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

Zoology - the science of animals

The main tasks of zoology:

Study of features in the structure of internal organs, skeleton, and external integument of animals.
Characteristics of the developmental processes of individual individuals from fertilization to death.
Studying 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 is the famous ancient Greek scientist and thinker Aristotle.. He wrote a treatise of 10 books, “The 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	Aristotle's detailed description of the 452 species of animals inhabiting the earth at that time.
77 AD era	The Roman scientist of the early first century AD Pliny the Elder published the book “Natural History”, which describes the animals of those times.
V – XV centuries	In the Middle Ages, animal research was prohibited.
XV - XVI centuries	During the Renaissance, a new stage in the development of science began. The discovery of continents by Columbus and Magellan became significant events for zoology. New species, patterns and features of their distribution throughout the globe were studied.
XVII century	A microscope was invented, and the Dutch biologist A. Leeuwenhoek was the first to study ciliates and describe the cellular structure of animal muscles.
XVIII century	Carl Linnaeus publishes the System of Nature, which became the basis for the creation of the current classification of animals.
XIX century	The origin of the idea of the evolution of species from more primitive unicellular forms to multicellular, highly developed organisms (the theory of Charles Darwin).
XX century – beginning of the XXI century.	An increase in the number of studies using electron microscopy and biophysical methods. Development of genetics as a field of zoology. Modeling objects at the molecular level using computer technology.

History of Russian zoology dates back to 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 century was marked by the opening of the Academy of Sciences, this was facilitated by Peter I, who was interested in zoology and 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 twentieth century. Many scientific communities have been founded and scientific research has been organized. Cooperation with foreign scientists has begun, knowledge is increasingly deepening and new directions are being formed in the study of the animal world.

Sections of zoology depending on the tasks performed

The taxonomy of animals gives a complete description of species diversity, divides them according to similar and distinctive characteristics, and studies the characteristic changes in structure during the historical development of animals.

Anatomy(zootomy) is the science of the structure of representatives of the animal kingdom, of 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 influence the distribution of animals, their distribution across different continents and climatic zones.

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

Sections of zoology depending on the object of study

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

Modern zoology

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

Many scientists work in each of these areas, which has led to great 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 food source has decreased significantly. People actively began to breed new species, more valuable and fertile. Breeding pets and fish is very popular today. Certain branches of zoology help fight harmful insects, rodents, and fungi that cause damage to agriculture.

In the process of research, zoologists found that animals are the cause of a number of serious human diseases. For example, scabies is caused by scabies, malaria is caused by Plasmodium falciparum, and many life-threatening worms. And other animals carry the pathogens of these diseases. Lice carry Rickettsia (typhus), Anopheles mosquitoes carry malaria, and rodents carry plague.

Due to the development of human industrial activities, many animals have been damaged. Massive deforestation, reclamation of swamps, and hunting of valuable species have led to the extinction of many wild species. Therefore, the task of zoology in the modern world is also to protect animals, prevent their extermination, and preserve habitats.

.(Source: “Biological Encyclopedic Dictionary.” Editor-in-chief M. S. Gilyarov; Editorial Board: A. A. Babaev, G. G. Vinberg, G. A. Zavarzin and others - 2nd ed., corrected - M.: Sov. Encyclopedia, 1986.)

zoology

.(Source: “Biology. Modern illustrated encyclopedia.” Chief editor A. P. Gorkin; M.: Rosman, 2006.)

Synonyms:

See what "ZOOLOGY" is in other dictionaries:

Zoology ... Wikipedia

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Modern encyclopedia

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ZOOLOGY, the science of animals. Together with BOTANY it makes up the science of BIOLOGY. Considers the features of the structure, behavior, reproduction and vital activity of animals, their evolution and role in interaction with humanity and the environment.... ... Scientific and technical encyclopedic dictionary

Zoology - the science of animals

Note 1

Zoology(“zoo” - animal and “logy” - doctrine), - the science of animals.

Definition 1

Subject, object and tasks of zoology

Note 2

Item- living organisms of the animal kingdom and the protist kingdom. An object- a specific type of animal.

The tasks of zoologists are aimed at studying:

Internal and external structure of animals;
Livelihoods of animals;
Individual and historical development;
The relationship of animals with the external environment;
Geographical distribution of animals.