Courses

Community Ecology – Structure, patterns and rules. Ecological diversity and its measurements. Ecological energetics. Invasive alien species.

Overview of classification. Adaptations of the spiders, scorpions, ticks, mites, (arachnids), centipedes and millipedes (myriapods), nematodes, earthworms and wood lice to terrestrial habitation with special emphasis on water relations, respiration and...

Biology and ecology of venomous animals: aquatic fauna, terrestrial arthropods, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. Nature of venom and structure of venom apparatus. Interaction of humans with venomous animals: nuisance, phobias and allergens. Prevention and...

Introduction to zoogeography. Biogeographic zones of the world. Terrestrial Biomes and Faunal Distribution. West African Fauna: Abundance, endemism, diversity and adaptations. West African wetlands: Characteristics, Annual cycle of events, Faunal diversity.

Definitions of terms. Ecological aspects of animal behaviour adaptations: foraging, mating systems and reproductive strategies. Parental care. Social systems in animals. Predator-prey relationships. Life-history strategies.

Basic principles in parasitism, survey of animal parasites and vectors with emphasis onmorphology, lifecycle, pathogenesis. Parasite and vector control. Diseases of public health importance – HIV and AIDS, Zoonoses.

Comparative physiology of digestion, respiration, circulation, osmoregulation and excretion. Sensory organs, nervous and muscular activity. Hormones, reproduction and related endocrine activities in animals.

Insect Diversity. Functional morphology and life styles. Classification and Diagnostic features of major insect orders, Relationships among insect complexes. Insect Collection and curatorial techniques. Physiological processes: Alimentary, respiratory,...

Characteristics, classification and general biology of the chordates. Theories of vertebrate evolution: phylogenetic relationship among the chordates: Myxini, Cephalaspidomorphi, Chondrichthyes, Osteichthytes, Amphibians, Reptilia, Aves and Mammalia. Flight...