Course Title: Introduction to Animal and Plant Biology

Topic: Introduction to Zoology as a Discipline and its Career-Opportunities (Note: This note is only for this topic)

In a planet beaming with life, with smaller worlds of biological creatures, varying in their sizes, shapes and behaviors, all interlocked into a
massive physical world comprising of the atmosphere (air), hydrosphere (water) and Lithosphere (soil). Often, we find ourselves more in
acquaintance, interested and in contact with the animal world, than any other biological realms.

Topic-Outline:

 Definition of Zoology.
 Brief historical background of Zoology Prominent Zoologists.
 Disciplines in Zoology
 The importance of Zoology.
 The career opportunities that Zoology avails its graduates.
 Skills necessary for a career in Zoology.

1.0 Definition and Scope of Zoology.

Zoology is the scientific study of the behaviour, structure, physiology, classification, and distribution of animals. The word Zoology is coined
from the Greek words "zoon- animal, and logos- to study. It is the branch of Biology that deals with the scientific study of animals, from the
simplest protozoans to complex organisms like humans, and often referred to as the sister discipline of botany. Using trial and error
investigation methods, the earliest investigations of the natural world was made by mankind, in his bid to fulfill his basic need for food. He soon
learnt which animals and plants were suitable for food and which would poison him; and this led to the emergence of what is today known as the
biological sciences (Zoology and Botany).

2.0 Brief historical background and Prominent Zoologists.

2.1. Aristotle ( BC) (Ancient Beginnings): Aristotle is best known as one of the most prominent philosophers of all time. Although less
known as a Zoologist, Aristotle is to be thanked for the first-ever classification of the animal kingdom. He proposed that the animal kingdom
should be classified as blooded and non-blooded animals. The blooded animals were further divided into four footed, young-bearing, egg-laying
animals, fish, and birds. He went on to sub-categorize the non-blooded animals as insects, molluscs, and crabs. Aristotle also wrote seminal
Zoological works that laid the bases for the structured study of Zoology for all of its subsequent successors till this day. Those works are: De
Generatione Animalium, Historia Animalium, and De Partibus Animalium. However, Aristotle's Roman counterpart, Pliny the Elder (23-79AD),
in 77AD published his first ten books of the Naturalis Historia. Pliny deliberated a wide range of topics including the mathematical and physical
nature of the world, Geography, Anthropology and Human Physiology, Zoology, Botany and Horticulture, Pharmacology and mineralogy. Just as
Aristotle's, Pliny's work served as the authority for many generations of scholars that followed. The fall of the Roman empire gave rise to a
Christian dominated western civilization, with focus more on the bible and things religious. The book "Physiologus", written in greek (200-
300AD), in Egypt, and whose true author is unknown, became widespread. This book depicted 49 separate animals, many of which were
mythological.

Now, Zoology has become much more complex, where the living things are divided into five kingdoms, in which animal kingdom
itself is divided into several smaller categories of Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus and, finally, Species. The need for man to know the
relationships and interactions among animals and between animals and their environments cannot be over emphasized. This knowledge is
essential for effective management, improvement and utilization of the animal resources.

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2.2. Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (1744–1829) (Renaissance and Early Modern Era). Initially a Botanist, he later transitioned to become a
Zoologist. In the early 19th century. Lamarck carried out the classification of invertebrates, which encompassed about 80% of animals. He was
the first person to use the term 'Biology' to refer to the science that studies living beings. He has made significant and plentiful contributions to
Zoology in general. He is best known for advocating the theory of inheritance of acquired characters along with the tree of life.

2.3. Carl Linnaeus (1707 –1778)(Classification and Taxonomy): Linnaeus was a famous Swedish Botanist, Physician, and Zoologist who is
considered to be the father of modern taxonomy. During his life, particularly in the 1750s, he classified an extraordinary number of animals that
he collected on his own. One of his most prominent works is the book “Systema Naturae”, where he introduced his taxonomy.

2.4. Charles Darwin (1809 –1882) (Evolutionary Theory): Darwin is, by far, the most famous of all the Zoologists on this list. This English
scientist is best known for his groundbreaking book On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, published in the 19th century.
According to Darwin, all species have come from a common ancestor and have evolved through the process of natural selection. His continuous
insights and studies on different classes of animals have resulted in an immense collection of data, which was later published through his books.

2.5. The cell concept (cell theory 1837-1838): Cell-theory is the fundamental scientific theory of Biology according to which cells are held
to be the basic units of all living tissues. First proposed by German scientists Theodore Schwann and Matthias Schleiden in 1838, the theory that
all plants and animals are made up of cells marked a great conceptual advance in biology and resulted in renewed attention to the living processes
that go on in cells. This concept influenced many biological disciplines, including that of embryology, in which cells are important in determining
the way in which a fertilized egg develops into a new organism. The unfolding of these events—called epigenesis by Harvey—was described by
various workers, notably the German-trained comparative embryologist Karl von Baer, who was the first to observe a mammalian egg within an
ovary. Another German-trained embryologist, Christian Heinrich Pander, introduced in 1817 the concept of germ, or primordial, tissue layers into
embryology. The cell concept, which asserts that all living organisms are composed of cells and that the cell is the fundamental unit of life, has
significantly influenced Zoology classification. It has provided a basis for understanding cellular structure, comparing organisms, and utilizing
molecular techniques.

Zoologists use cellular characteristics to assess evolutionary relationships, construct phylogenetic trees, and organize animals within
the taxonomic hierarchy. Advances in microscopy and genetics grounded in the cell theory have enabled Zoologists to refine classifications and
explore cellular details. In essence, the cell theory has fundamentally shaped Zoology's approach to classifying animals, aligning classification
systems with evolutionary relationships and cellular characteristics. Now, Zoology has become much more complex, where the living things are
divided into five kingdoms, in which animal kingdom itself is further divided into several smaller categories of : Phylum, Class, Order, Family,
Genus and, finally, Species. The need for man to know the relationships and interactions among animals, and between animals and their
environments, cannot be over emphasized. This knowledge is essential for effective management, improvement and utilization of the animal
resources in our planet.

2.6 Prominent Nigerian Zoologists today.

2.6.1 Eminent Professor Andy Ogochukwu Egwuyenga (1960- Date)(Applied Entomology and Parasitology): who has been the 7 th substantive
Vice-Chancellor of Delta state University, is a Member of the esteemed royal society of tropical medicine and Hygeine, London, and many other
professional bodies, and has made diverse highly respected and valued scholarly impact on the field of Parasitology and Public-health; authoring
over 80 scientific articles, as well as an exceptional administrative prowess, demonstrating justice, hard-work, propriety, discipline and due
process. Leading and inspiring by example.

2.6.2 His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (2010-2015) (Hydrobiology and Fisheries)

2.6.3 Professor Robert Bemigho Ikomi (Marine biology and Parasitology)

2.6.4 Professor Patrick Onyebiaguwa Nmorsi (Parasitology)

2.6.5 Professor Francis Arimoro (Hydrobiology and Ecotoxicology)

2.6.7 Professor Mrs. Kate Isioma Iloba(Hydrobiology and Fisheries)

2.6.8 Associate Professor Mrs. Chioma Ojianwuna(Entomology)

Note: Read about the listed prominent Nigerian Zoologists and their contributions to Biology

3.0 Disciplines in Zoology.

Zoology encompasses sub-units or sub-fields, such as:

- Mammalogy (scientific study of mammals).

- Ornithology (scientific study of birds).

- Herpetology (scientific study of reptiles and amphibians).

- Ichthyology (scientific study of fish).

- Entomology (scientific study of insects).

- Parasitology (scientific study of parasites)

- Hydro-biology(scientific study of life processes in water)

- Ecology(scientific study of relationships among living organisms, and with their environment)

- Genetics(scientific study of genes and heredity)

- Ethno-zoology(scientific study of the complex relationships between man and animals in their environment)

- Wildlife biology (scientific study of undomesticated vertebrates)

- Animal physiology(scientific study of life-supporting properties, functions and processes of animals)

- Soil Zoology(scientific study of animals living fully or partially in the soil, i.e soil fauna)

4.0 Why is Zoology important to man?

- Improving animal health and welfare

- Conserving biodiversity and ecosystems

- Advancing biomedical research and medicine

- Informing wildlife management and conservation policies

- Enhancing human quality of life through animal-assisted therapy and companionship

- Avails students the overshoot for a study in medicine in the area of Public-health

5.0 Career Opportunities in Zoology

5.1. Research and Academia

- Research scientist

- University professor/lecturer

- Research assistant

- Geneticist

- Hydrobiologist

- Malacologist

5.2. Conservation and Wildlife Management

- Wildlife biologist

- Marine biologist

- Conservation biologist

- Park ranger (Protect and preserve parklands, reserves or conservations, enforcing wildlife management regulations)

- Wildlife rehabilitator

- Taxidermist (Preparing the skin of dead animals and stuffing them with special materials to make them seem alive).

5.3. Animal Health and Welfare

- Veterinarian

- Veterinary technician

- Animal behaviorist

- Animal welfare specialist

5.4. Industry and Government

- Animal nutritionist

- Pharmaceutical researcher

- Regulatory affairs specialist

- Science policy advisor

- Environmental consultant (Impact Assessment)

5.5. Education and Outreach

- Museum curator

- Zoological garden Manager

- Science writer/journalist

5.6 Public Health

- Medical parasitologist

-Vector Control worker

- Public Health Entomologist

- Forensics

5.7. Entrepreneurship

-Animal Breeder (Animals of edible and commercial value: Fish and dogs respectively)

-Aquaculturist (breeding and rearing fish in a controlled environment)

6.0 Skills necessary for a career in Zoology

- Strong foundation in: Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics, and Statistics

- Research and analytical skills

- Communication and interpersonal skills

- Team Building

- Ability to work outdoors and in laboratory settings

- Passion for animal welfare and conservation

Conclusion

Zoology is a dynamic and diverse field that offers numerous career opportunities for those passionate about animals and the natural
world. As undergraduates taking Anima-biology as a course, you will be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to contribute
to the advancement of animal science and conservation, and to the society at large.

Recommended reading for this topic:

 - “Foundations of Biology” by O.P.G. Nmorsi and H.O. Edeoga

- “Integrated Principles of Zoology” by Hickman et al.

- "Careers in Zoology" by the Zoological Society of London

Assignment

- Briefly explain zoology as a discipline and mention 5 sub-fields in Zoology.

- Write on 2 Zoology sub-fields of your interest and their associated career opportunities.

To be submitted in class on the 11th November 2024.