What sciences are included in zoology? The science of zoology. Brief outline of the development of science

IN modern world There are about one and a half million species of various living organisms. Among them you can find the simplest single-celled organisms, which are visible only under a microscope, and the giants of our planet - whales, reaching thirty meters in length. The animal kingdom eclipses all other categories in its quantitative diversity.

Some species have adapted to life in the water column of our planet, others live in underground world, or soar in the sky. Animals are very significant part biosphere of the Earth, bees pollinate plants, many insects work on soil formation or clean water bodies.

Zoology - the science of animals

So what is zoology? Let's start with what it is Greek word, and its literal translation is “the doctrine of the animal.” It refers to scientific knowledge and studies the structure of organisms, the life of animals, their diversity and the significance they have for humans. It is closely interconnected with medicine and many other biological sciences, agriculture, veterinary medicine, animal welfare and production activities of people.

Its subject involves the study of the basics of embryology, anatomy, ecology and phylogeny of animals, that is, motile heterotrophic multicellular eukaryotes.

What is zoology divided into?

Studying the structure of zoology as a science will give us a clearer idea of ​​what it does. Let's look at the sections of zoology in more detail:

• Taxonomy. This section not only describes the entire diversity of species, but also constitutes a certain system of characteristics of difference and homotypy. Taxonomy also reflects hierarchical categories that illustrate how animals evolved.
• Research anatomical structure animal or individual parts his body is concerned with morphology. It, in turn, is divided into two subsections. The first is internal morphology, the second is external.
• Embryology. This branch of zoology is responsible for the study of embryogenesis, i.e. the process of development of the embryo, which refers to any organism in the stages before hatching or birth.
• Studying the patterns of functioning of certain biological systems deals with physiology.
• Ethology. This section is devoted to the instincts of animals, including humans, i.e. genetically determined behavior. This topic in zoology appeared relatively recently; ethology was finally formed only in the 1930s. It is based primarily on evolutionary science and field zoology.
• The relationships of organisms both within their own species and with other inhabitants of the animal kingdom and environment considers ecology.
• Zoogeography. This section of animal zoology studies the issues of their distribution on Earth.

Scientific disciplines that zoology includes

Zoology is an entertaining science, it is also divided into a number auxiliary disciplines, studying various groups animals:

• Zoology of invertebrates. This group includes such disciplines as protozoology, helminthology, malacology, carcinology, arachnology, nematology, entomology (the science of insects, in turn, is divided into several sections), etc.
• Vertebrate zoology involves disciplines such as herpetology (reptiles and amphibians), ichthyology (fish and jawless animals), ornithology (birds), and theriology (mammals). The latter discipline, in turn, is divided into cynology, primatology, ketology, hippology, etc.

• Palaizoology. What it is? Zoology, in this branch of paleontology, studies fossils and long-extinct animals. This discipline will especially appeal to those who are passionate about the topic of dinosaurs.

History of the development of zoology

Since ancient times, people have accumulated knowledge about the world around them, including animals and their role in nature. Aristotle can easily be considered the father of zoology. In his works, he for the first time described 452 representatives of the animal world, outlined the features of their behavior, and talked about the environment in which they lived. The campaigns of the Romans enriched science with knowledge about animals. Thus, Pliny the Elder (ancient Greek scientist, 23-79 AD) in his multi-volume work described all the animals known at that time.

In the era of feudalism, society found itself under the yoke of religion and strict church canons. All this hampered the development of science and led to long-term stagnation.

When the Renaissance came, travelers known to their contemporaries - Columbus, Magellan, Marco Polo and others - began to conquer and explore new horizons and continents. Travel to the most remote corners enriched Europeans' knowledge about the animal world of the Earth. The extensive accumulated material required systematization and generalization, which is what the Swiss scientist Hesper did. In the 17th century, the first microscope was created and an amazing and huge world multicellular animals.

The beginning of the 19th century was marked by discoveries in paleontological works Cuvier and a great leap in the development of zoology. His writings stated that everything internal organs and parts of the body are in a connecting chain of development, that is, if the function of one of the organs changes, then the whole organism will change. When talking about what zoology is, one cannot help but mention the evolutionary ideas of Charles Darwin, which finally prevailed after the publication of his works.

Differences between plants and representatives of the animal world

The amazing theme of the similarities between animals and plants has been confirmed by zoology tests and research. It turns out they have more in common than we might imagine. For example, a similar chemical composition of cells, and the structure of the body itself is cellular, a similar metabolic mechanism.

The differences, of course, predominate in quantity, the most important of which are the following:

• Unlike animals, plants obtain food through photosynthesis.
• Plants have organs of a vegetative structure, while animals have a somatic structure.
• Plants do not have mobility, but animals can move in the surrounding space.
• Plant growth continues throughout life, while in animals the growth of the body is limited in time.
• Animals need to find their own food, unlike plants.

Study of single cells

The most numerous group of the animal world are single-celled organisms. They are believed to be the first living organisms on earth. Protozoa can differ not only in size (from 0.3 microns to 20 cm), but also in shape. Most of them have microscopic body parameters. Single-celled organisms were first discovered by A. Leeuwenhoek in 1673.

The main naturalist and great scientist is, of course, Charles Darwin. This honor was not given to him lightly. It was he who determined the driving forces of evolution of the flora and fauna. Even schoolchildren know that they are variability, hereditary factors and natural selection.

By variability, Darwin meant the absence of identical characteristics in the offspring of the same pair. His research revealed differences in plant organisms and in animals, in contrast to our great-grandfathers who lived in ancient times. For example, all dog breeds, according to the educational version, originated from wolves.

Variability is the fundamental differences among representatives of a species, not necessarily mammals, but also other diverse living organisms. It can be hereditary and non-hereditary, directed and non-directed, group or individual, quantitative or qualitative.

Heredity in zoology

The study of the zoology of invertebrates and vertebrates led to the conclusion that certain characteristics can be transmitted from generation to generation, and sometimes “jump”. It is for this reason that we can observe the transmission of a mole on the neck from father to daughter. But if certain signs of changes in the body were accepted during life, then the next generation will not receive them. That is, acquired heredity does not exist. If a dog's initially long tail is cut off, its puppies will grow a tail of normal length. But the breed with initially short tails is a mutation that has occurred, selected for further reproduction by artificial forces, that is, by man.

Natural selection

If a person provides domesticated animals with food and care, then wild species forced to fight for their survival. IN wildlife Not only endurance, but also cunning plays a big role.

For example, in winter, many people need to ensure they stay warm so as not to freeze to death. To do this you have to eat fat layer, since food during this period is quite scarce. Someone will notice the weak hare first and eat it, and someone will die of hunger. The strongest survives. This statement is familiar to us from school, and it perfectly reflects the essence natural selection. As a result of this powerful and basic evolutionary process, the number of individuals with maximum adaptation to living conditions increases in the population, and the number of those with unfavorable characteristics decreases.

Development of adaptations

It is clear that only those who were able to adapt their bodies to the changed environmental conditions as much as possible will survive.

Many individuals die in infancy, so in the wild, having large offspring is very important for the survival of a particular species. From the experiments of Charles Darwin, one can understand that those organisms that have received certain adaptations (adaptations), even if insignificant, remain alive. They can develop at the level of an individual cell, or a group of cells, organs, or as a morphological or functional whole.

Examples amazing adaptations in the animal world there is a huge amount. Look no further than the Alaskan frogs that literally freeze into ice during the winter; they fall into “cryosleep.” This state of affairs became possible thanks to special structure liver.

Artificial selection is the main method of selection

We think it’s clear what zoology is. As mentioned above, this science is closely related to many biological disciplines, including evolution and selection.

Artificial selection in zoology is primarily due to the need to breed new breeds of domesticated animals: cats, dogs, birds, and so on. How does this happen? When a breeder finds an interesting and distinctive new trait in any offspring, he immediately fences it off from breeding with the “wrong” individuals and thereby continues to develop a unique mutation. For example, by choosing dogs only with short legs, man created such a breed as the dachshund. If people need cows with high milk yield, then those who always have more milk are selected and only their breeding is carried out. That is, only those differences remain that are beneficial to people. With natural selection, all changes are primarily beneficial to the animals themselves.

Zoology is the science of animals, which deals with the study of representatives of the corresponding genus (Animalia). This includes all types of organisms that feed on food containing protein, carbohydrates and fats. Such species differ from plants in that they constantly synthesize what they need for life from specific sources.

Many representatives of the animal species are able to move independently. Mushrooms have always been considered plants. However, they noticed that they have the ability to absorb from external sources. There are also organisms that synthesize starch from inorganic molecules. However, they do not have the ability to move. In other words, you cannot give general concept and to highlight alternative criteria between animals and plants, since they do not exist.

Division into categories

In this case, there is a division into many directions, which are differentiated depending on what kind of object is being studied and what problems are being studied. Zoology is a science that is divided into two main areas. Namely, the study of invertebrate and vertebrate animals. These areas may also include the following disciplines:

Protistology. In this case, the study of protozoa is carried out.

Ichthyology is the study of fish.

Malacology is the study of mollusks.

Acarology - the study of mites.

Entomology is the study of insects.

Carcinology is the study of crustacean organisms.

Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians.

Ornithology - the study of birds.

Theriology is the study of mammals.

How important is zoology to humanity?

Let's consider this point in more detail. This science has a rather unique history of development. Animal zoology has always played important role In human life. Looking at these individuals, their behavior, skills, we better understood the environment. After all, humanity had to independently learn how to hunt birds and animals, how and where to fish, how to protect themselves from predators. And all these skills could be learned from animals. Zoology is a science with ancient roots and an interesting, rich history.

For the first time in the 4th century BC. This science became known from the books of the great scientist - Aristotle. This is a reliable fact. In his books, he described the origin of about 500 species of different animals. Some of them had red blood, and some had no blood at all. Also in the works of this scientist the significance of each type of animal, as well as their development and structure, was outlined. This detailed description has become a real encyclopedia.

In the Middle Ages, history continued to develop this science. Zoology moved one step forward every year. Some important information animals that became known in ancient times were forgotten. Scientists focused their attention only on the reproduction, hunting and maintenance of animals. The lost interest was revived only during the Renaissance. At that time, attention was paid to navigation and trade. Thanks to this, numerous expeditions were carried out aimed at studying new species of plants and animals about which nothing was previously known.

Carl Linnaeus also played an important role in the development of zoology. It was he who classified animal world and gave scientific names for each definition in it.

However, this is not the end of the development history of this science. Zoology improved significantly in the second half of the 19th century. This is after Charles Darwin published a book on the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. In his work he proved a certain fact. It lies in the fact that the world changes due to natural selection. That is, new individuals survive and survive, and only the strongest remain. Thanks to this basis, zoology - the science of animals - began to develop rapidly. These successes will become known in taxonomy. There will be a description of the appearance of new species of animals.

Also, the history of the formation of zoology will become known in Russia after expeditions to the east and north of Siberia. They were carried out by A.F. Middendorf, N.M. Przhevalsky, Semenov-Tyan-Shansky. Scientific expeditions were also carried out in Central Asia in embryology by I. I. Mechnikov and A. O. Kovalevsky, and in paleontology by V. O. Kovalevsky, in physiology by I. M. Sechenov and I. P. Pavlov.

Zoology today

This may include the body of animal sciences. Certain directions are taken into account here. Namely:

As stated earlier, zoology is the study of birds, mammals and insects. For easier understanding this science divided into special sections. This will be discussed further below.

Main branches of zoology

These include:

In general, zoology is a science that is directly related to other disciplines and areas. For example, it has a very close connection with medicine.

Diverse animal world

It is very large and multifaceted. Animals live everywhere - in fields, steppes and forests, air, seas, oceans, lakes and rivers.

There are many individuals that benefit not only nature, but also humans. For example, these are bees, beetles, flies and butterflies. They pollinate many flowers and plants. Birds are also important in nature. They transport plant seeds over long distances.

There are also animals that harm plants and destroy crops. However, this does not prove that their existence is meaningless. They can be the main link in the food chain of various individuals. All this determines the importance of zoology. Zoology in this direction is an indispensable science.

Domestic and wild animals

It is very important for every person to get proteins and carbohydrates from meat. Previously there were no shops and supermarkets, this product obtained through hunting. Then people learned to fish and acquired skills in fish breeding.

Humanity has also learned to domesticate wild livestock and use it for its own purposes. Its cultivation made it possible to obtain products such as meat, milk, eggs, etc. Thanks to animals, people learned to extract wool, fluff and leather and used it for their needs.

About 10 thousand years ago, humans first domesticated the wild wolf. These were the very first ancestors of the dog. Now these animals are considered the most faithful and devoted friends of people.

But livestock farming began with the domestication of horses. They were indispensable on the farm.

Differences and similarities between animals

All individuals of a given species are usually distinguished by type, respiratory structure, reproduction, development, and so on. Animals differ from plants in that they do not have a hard cellulose shell. They feed on ready-made organic substances. Animals are characterized by active movement. As a result of this, they can look for their own food.

Conclusion

All of the above indicates the versatility of this definition. Zoology plays an important role in the life of every creature on our planet. This was discussed above. Everything is interconnected in this world. And zoology is life itself.

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 look at what sciences study representatives of the animal kingdom, what these disciplines are called, when they arose and what results they have achieved to date.

Science zoology

The main science that devotes itself to the study of the diversity and lifestyle of animals is zoology. It is precisely this that is the foundation on which knowledge about our smaller brothers rests.

What is zoology? It’s unlikely to be possible to answer 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, we can answer this question 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 is 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 behavioral characteristics, 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:

• study the features of functioning, structure, embryonic and historical development all animal representatives;
• consider ways of adapting to environmental conditions and trace the features of ethology;
• determine their role in;
• identify the role of humans in the conservation and protection of the animal world.

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

1. Study of the external and internal structure, as well as physiological characteristics all animal representatives.
2. Comparison of their needs and their habitats.
3. Establishing the meaning and role of individual groups in nature and economic activity person.
4. Conducting an analysis of the taxonomy of the animal world, identifying the most vulnerable groups, ensuring their protection and protection.

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

Classification of zoological sections

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

Classification of zoological sections by task

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

• taxonomy - a section dealing with the classification and determination of place in each animal representative;
• zoogeography is a science that studies their distribution and settlement throughout the territory of our planet;
• morphology is a science that studies the features of the external and internal structure;
• phylogenetics - studies the basis of the origin and historical development of the animal world;
• genetics - examines 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 from all periods of the life of the planet;
• cytology - the science of the cell and its structure;
• ethology - studies the characteristics of behavioral mechanisms in animals in different situations;
• embryology - deals with the examination 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 the characteristics 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 internal structure animals.

Zoology of vertebrates

What is zoology? This is a section that deals with the study of all representatives of the animal world that have a notochord (during life, it transforms into a vertebral column with a spinal cord).

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

Main distinctive features The vertebrates that are characteristic only of this group are the following:

1. Only they have a chord - the progenitor of the spine. In some species it remains this way for life, but in most it develops into the spine.
2. The nervous system of such animals is clearly differentiated into the head and spinal cord(with the exception of strictly chordates, in which it always remains in the form of a nerve cord above the notochord).
3. Digestive system of representatives different classes opens outward with a mouth opening on the front of the body, the end of the digestive tube is transformed into sea ​​creatures into the gills. In terrestrials, lungs form inside.
4. All representatives have a heart - the center of the circulatory system.

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

Zoology of invertebrate animals

What studies animals? These are the structural features, 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;
• ringed, round and flatworms;
• shellfish;
• echinoderms;
• arthropods (arachnids, insects, crustaceans).

Invertebrates make up most 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 single-celled animals. Namely:

• sarcomastigophora (amoeba, rayfish, foraminifera, sunfish);
• flagellates (Volvox, Euglena, Trypanosoma, Opalina);
• ciliates (ciliary and sucking ciliates);
• sporozoans (gregarines, coccidia, toxoplasma, falciparum plasmodium).

Some amoebas, ciliates and all sporozoans are dangerous pathogens serious illnesses both in people and animals. Therefore, a detailed study of them life cycle, methods of feeding and reproduction is an important part in finding methods to combat them. That is why the zoology of protozoa is no less important a branch of science than all the others.

Brief outline of the development of science

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

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

1. Ancient time. Ancient Greece- Aristotle, Ancient Rome- Pliny the Elder.
2. The Middle Ages were a time of stagnation. All sciences were under the influence of the church, the study of all living things was strictly prohibited.
3. The Renaissance is the most active period in the development of zoology. A lot of theoretical and practical data on the life of animals have been accumulated, basic laws have been formulated, systematics and taxa, and a binary nomenclature for the names of animals and plants have been introduced into use. The most famous names during this period were: Charles Darwin, Jean Baptiste Lamarck, Carl Linnaeus, John Ray, Saint-Hilaire, Anthony van Leeuwenhoek.
4. New time refers to XIX-XX centuries. This is a 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 most big names: Sechenov, Haeckel and Muller, Mechnikov, Kovalevsky.

Modern zoology

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

What is zoology modern stage development? This is a science that is preparing to answer the questions:

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

Finding answers will take scientists a lot of time, despite the possession of such advanced technology.

The importance of zoology is difficult to overestimate. It has been mentioned more than once about the big role it plays in people’s lives, their health and economic activities. 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 and is part of the science of living beings, biology.

The subject of zoology is the study of the animal world in relation to the structure and functions of the body of animals, their development, distribution on earth, their mutual relationships in structure and origin, and their relationship to the surrounding world. Due to the absence of a sharp boundary between plants and animals, the field of zoology comes into contact with the field of botany and, to a certain extent, mixes with it in the doctrine of the lower representatives of both groups.

The department of zoology, dedicated to the study of the structure of animals, is common name morphology.

Study of the structure of an animal or famous group animals, independently of others, constitute the subject of descriptive anatomy; if the structure of animals is studied by comparison various forms, then this branch of zoology is called comparative anatomy; the general task of the latter is to clarify the laws of animal structure.

The finest structure animals studied using a microscope serve as the subject of a special branch of morphology - histology, but since there is no sharp, definite boundary between the study of the structure of animals without auxiliary optical means and the study with the help of optical instruments (simple and complex microscopes), then the field of histology does not delimited in a certain way from the area of ​​anatomy.

The functions of the animal body are the subject of physiology; physiology can be aimed at elucidating the activities of a known specific organism, while others are considered only to the extent necessary for understanding the phenomena occurring in the animal under study, or physiology, called in this case comparative, studies all animals from the point of view of their functions, trying to find out general laws of the phenomena being studied.

A special branch of animal physiology is the study of mental life theirs is animal psychology.

The relationship of animals to the world around them constitutes the subject of animal biology in the narrow sense of the word (in a broader sense, biology is the totality of sciences about living beings); here we can also deal either with the biology of a given animal or with the general biology of animals, if we study the general laws of relationships between animals and the surrounding world, both organic and inorganic. This includes studying the effects on animals of various external conditions: temperature, light, environmental composition, its physical properties, pressure, movement or immobility of the environment, etc., as well as relationships with other organisms that are their enemies, prey, means of defense, source of food, etc.

Not limiting itself to the study of an animal in its adult, developed state, zoology considers how an animal develops before reaching its final adult state; this branch of zoology is called the history of development, or ontogeny, or embryology. Embryology includes both the study of phenomena occurring inside the egg, embryonic development itself, and those changes that then occur in the animal - postembryonic development.

Mutual relationship between animals can be considered from the point of view of their origin; a branch of zoology that seeks to find out how the animal kingdom developed, through what changes and under the influence of what factors new forms were developed animal life and in what genetic (by origin) relationships different groups of animals stand among themselves is called the phylogeny of animals. Its task is to establish the genealogy of the animal kingdom.

An essential role in relation to comparative anatomy and the phylogeny of animals is played by the study of fossil remains of animals that lived in previous geological eras - animal paleontology or zoopaleontology.

An important branch of zoology is represented in modern times the study of the distribution of animals on earth - animal geography or zoogeography. Based on the facts of the distribution of animals and with the help of paleontology, geology and general biology of animals, zoogeography seeks to elucidate the causes and laws of the modern distribution of animals. From the point of view of modern views on the origin of the animal kingdom, the distribution of animals is the same result of a number of previous conditions as the very structure of animals; At the same time, zoogeography is a valuable criterion for testing the theories of the origin of animals.

All of the listed branches of zoology are in close connection with each other, pursuing their special purposes.

All zoology is divided into general and special.

The subject of the first is the study of data and laws relating to the entire animal world; the subject of the second is detailed study separate groups based on the general views of zoology.

Departments of special zoology have special names according to the groups they are devoted to: the science of mammals - mammology, of birds - ornithology, of reptiles - herpetology, of amphibians - batrachology, fish - ichthyology, mollusks - malacology, insects - entomology, spiders - arachnology, worms - helminthology, sponges - spongiology; other similar names are less common.

From theoretical zoology, which aims purely scientific study animals should be distinguished from applied zoology. Based on the data of theoretical zoology, applied zoology studies animals exclusively from the point of view of human economic interests, from the point of view of their benefit or harm (direct or indirect), methods of conservation, reproduction or, on the contrary, their extermination. Two branches of applied zoology have become very important - applied entomology (the science of insects) and applied ichthyology (the science of fish).

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. Studying zoology makes it possible to protect the fauna of the Earth, and provide oneself with food, clothing and other material assets 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– certain type animal.

The tasks of zoologists are aimed at studying:

• Internal and external structure 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. 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 character traits closely related forms of animals.

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, number of objects hunting farm, 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. Matches similarity different groups animals, and establishes the patterns of their development.

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

Embryology of animals. Studying individual development 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. Study the functions of the animal body.