what is the importance of zoology essay

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Zoology is an Exciting Field of Study!

Zoology makes a huge impact on our world through the scientific study of the evolution, anatomy, physiology, behavior, habitats, and health of animals and humans. It includes diverse approaches such as electron microscopy, molecular genetics, and field ecology. By studying animals we develop a better understanding of how we, ourselves, function and interact with the world around us. The search for answers to our questions puts us in the incredible position of being able to affect change, empower better choices, and develop solutions for a stronger, healthier world.

You will like Zoology if...

♦ You often wonder how or why our bodies work the way they do. ♦ You have a strong desire to understand human or animal interactions with their environments. ♦Working in a DNA lab or a human anatomy teaching lab sounds intriguing. ♦ You enjoy learning about cell biology, physiology and ecology. ♦ You want to pursue medical school, dental school or another pre-medical professional program.

See yourself here...

Can you picture putting your curiosity and creativity to work so that you can help the world solve current problems, and plan better futures? A Zoology degree can help you make that happen. Animals on the verge of extinction, people in need of medical care; from seemingly small, to the very large, there are many careers that allow you to use what you will learn in zoology to make a difference in this world.

Now let us help!

♦ New Students Apply to WSU. Apply To WSU

♦ Contact the CoS Advising Office. General Advising

♦ Declare your Zoology program by scheduling an appointment with Dr. Chris Hoagstrom. He'll answer your questions, get your program declared, help you with your schedule, and introduce you to your ongoing faculty advisor . Declare Your Major

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Biology Article

Introduction to Zoology

Zoology is the branch of biology concerned with the study animals and animal kingdom. It is also known as animal biology. The study of zoology includes the interaction of animal kingdom in their ecosystems such as classification, habits, structure, embryology, distribution, evolution, and extinct species.

Zoology is the division of biology that deals with the animal kingdom. It is the scientific study related to the entire species of the animal kingdom.

An ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle, was a first-person to broadly classify the living things in the 4th century BC. Firstly he divided living things into animals and plants and then continued with his further classifications. Later the words like biology, botany, and zoology came into existence.

The study of zoology includes animals physiology, their behaviour, and their interaction with other species in their environment. It is a huge course that includes the distribution of every animal species on earth including extinct animals. Apart from the animal kingdom and ecosystem , zoology also explores the new areas of research.

Later, Aristotle divided animals into two classes: one with red-blood and another without such as insects and crustaceans. Then, he further classified creatures into those who were able to walk, flow and swim.

The classification by Aristotle was followed until the 16th century, during the Age of enlightenment, scientists finally began to research closely. Now, zoology has become much more complex, where the living things are divided into five kingdoms, in which animal kingdom themselves divided into several smaller categories of Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus and, finally, Species.

These developments were synthesized in Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection. In the year 1859, Charles Robert Darwin presented the theory of organic evolution along with its observational evidence.

Branches of Zoology

The study of animal life is ancient, but its scientific incarnation is relatively modern. Until the comparative anatomical study on morphographs by Hunter and Cuvier, the modern areas of zoological investigations have occurred. Gradually zoology expanded behind the comparative anatomy to include the following sub-disciplines:

Zoography, it is also known as descriptive zoology.
Comparative Zoology.
Soil Zoology.
Comparative anatomy.
Herpetology.
Animal physiology.
Entomology.
Behavioural Ecology.
Ornithology.
Ethology studies animal behaviour.
Invertebrate and vertebrate zoology.
Taxonomically oriented disciplines identify and classify species and study the structures and mechanisms specific to those groups.

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Importance of zoology in our daily life

Zoology refers to the branch of science that deals with the study of the mannerisms, habitats, structure and classification of animals. It is referred to as the proverbial “Noah’s Ark”, protecting the declining global ecosystem by programs such as rehabilitation, breeding, awareness campaigns, etc. It is an immensely important stream of biology that makes life a lot better for humans in a way. However, people think of it as another boring subject. In reality, it is much more than that. It helps us realize the true essence of life, the magic of nature and much more.

Food: Most of us consume considerable amounts of eggs, milk and meat on a daily basis. Zoology helps us understand the system of production of these food items, eventually helping us to improve their number and quality. Armed with what zoology has to teach us, we are at a better position to tackle the cattle!

Dismissing Myth: Many of us feel all snake bites are fatal, tigers are ferocious murderers, killer whales kill people, sharks are mindless hunters, etc. The ignominious darkness people live in can only be removed with knowledge, and zoology provides us with the necessary knowledge regarding these myths. Dismissing such stupid notions cause awareness amongst people that help them act more responsibly in future. Hence, zoology plays an important role in making us aware.

Appreciating nature: Zoology helps us make sense of the beautiful nature around us. The mystery of the sheer beauty that the untamed wild animals radiate, and their seemingly “tamed” nature towards each is revealed once you study zoology. The magic of the subject helps one unravel the magic of Mother Nature. Once you know the life cycles that co-exist in nature, you’ll know what peace is, and you’ll surely realize that animals have much higher ethics than us.

Understanding the need to preserve: There are people who think we preserve various species because they’re “pretty”, which is hilarious! Once you understand zoology, and nature, you’d understand the co-existing harmony between animals and the ecological balance. If one of the species is eliminated, the whole food chain is disturbed, causing a disastrous unbalance in nature. Hence, zoology helps us understand the need to protect.

Understanding our roles: Humans are an important part of the ecosystem. They’re one of the brainiest, and smartest of all species. But we humans are also the reason to depletion of the ecosystem. We are, in a way, destroying nature. Zoology helps us understand the need to preserve it and helps us understand our roles as the caretakers of Mother Nature. Since we are the dominating species on earth, we have no right to destroy the planet. As a generation, we have borrowed it and must return it in a good condition to our future generations. We, as animals, are the most dangerous species. Zoology helps us make the better of it.

Industrial Use: Honey, wax, leather, shells, etc are an important part of our lives. These substances are obtained from animals, and what’s better than zoology to teach us the best way of extracting all these from animals! Over the years, extraction of wool, silk, etc have become much cheaper and profitable, courtesy zoology.

Agricultural use: Zoology helps us identify the role of several insects in crop destruction and growth. Armed with this knowledge, farmers have a better chance of saving their crops from destructive pests and exposing them to useful insects. Thus, an agriculturist is hugely benefited .

Medical: A lot of surgical information we have today are data we have collected by dissecting other animals. Also, a lot of diseases like swine flu and bird flu are passed on to humans through animals. Zoology comes to our rescue here, helping us understand animals better and counter these diseases.

Genetic Modification and tracing roots: Zoology has given a lot of information about our ancestors and evolution of animals and the mankind. We are now aware of a lot of events that have occurred in the past regarding evolution.

Also, zoology has shown us a way towards genetic modification which refers to the alteration of genes of an animal. We have an insight into our betterment. We can improve our race, having progenies with perfect features and characters at our will.

Zoology is a vital stream of science. One may not be an expert in the field, but possessing knowledge about the subject will always prove to be beneficial. To study zoology is not a matter of desire, but one of duty.

How Does a Zoologist Contribute to the World?

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What Are the Dangers of Being a Zoologist?

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What is an Animal Biologist?
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The importance of zoology in medicine and agriculture are a couple of the reasons why zoology is an essential scientific field of study. Focused on studying behaviors and biology within the animal kingdom, zoology is integral to understanding of life on Earth and humans' place in it.

History of Zoology

Zoology is the study of animals and animal life. It’s a broad subject that includes various areas of study. Zoology is a branch of the biology tree and focuses solely on the animal kingdom, including humans. According to Britannica , the focus of the zoology field ranges from animals’ way of life to their molecular makeup.

The history of zoology can date back to ancient Greece with Aristotle’s descriptions of living things, one of the earliest examples of the systemic study of animals. Over the following centuries, zoology would undergo various phases, including superstitions and symbolism, until zoologists began to apply the scientific method to it. The invention of the printing press made this information more readily available.

Eventually, Charles Darwin’s findings and studies of animal life completely revised people’s view of nature. Zoology would expand to include new disciplines throughout the following centuries as new scientific branches were discovered and established. Eventually, zoology would evolve to resemble what it is today: the study of animal life, behaviors and systems.

What Is the Importance of Zoology in Medicine?

The importance of zoology in medicine has influenced modern understanding of disease and treatments. According to the educators at Unity College , research zoologists are hired by pharmaceutical and private medical research companies for their expertise in animal behaviors and life. From developing veterinary medicines to discovering vermin-control drugs, zoologists conduct scientific studies to better understand animal health and disease. However, the uses of zoology in medicine do not stop at animal health. Zoologists can learn a lot about disease in humans from studying animals.

According to the writers at Smithsonian Magazine , the reality that human doctors do not tend to seek expertise from veterinarians is a significant blind spot. Similar to how engineers seek inspiration from nature, medicine can do the same. Animals often exhibit behaviors once thought of as exclusively human. For example, a condition called thin sow syndrome occurs in pigs who stop eating when they experience social stress or when female pigs do not go into estrus. The study of thin sow syndrome could provide interesting insights on eating disorders for psychiatrists and psychotherapists.

What Is the Importance of Zoology in Agriculture?

While zoology might not directly deal with agriculture, its influence has been significant. Zoology’s relationship with ecology, the study of the relationships between organisms and the environment, can be traced back to the early 20th century, writers at Environmental Science explain. Studying animal behaviors can reveal vital lessons in agriculture and gardening. For example, when studying bee behaviors, it becomes apparent that certain species of bees require tunnels to lay their eggs.

By studying the physicality, biology and behaviors of common agriculture pests, zoologists can develop pesticides and non-toxic solutions to help save crops. If looking to promote pollinator populations on your property, drilling holes into a stack of wood will provide the perfect place for some species of bees to lay their eggs, thus encouraging them to visit your property and pollinate your garden and crops. Zoology has also helped inform humane livestock conditions and nutrition.

Britannica: Zoology
Unity College: How to Become a Zoologist
Smithsonian Magazine: How Looking to Animals Can Improve Human Medicine
Environmental Science: Zoology: Exploring the Animal Kingdom as Academic Pursuit

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Zoology: Exploring the Animal Kingdom as Academic Pursuit

Defining Zoology

Biological life on planet Earth is undoubtedly immense and the subject that studies it - biology - is such a vast area of study that no graduate in the subject could hope to understand all of it. Increasingly, biology graduates are looking for ways to find their niche early and focus on one specific area. One of those vital areas of biology is called zoology. This is the study of animal life (1) . It is so vast that it's broken down into many other sub-areas. Regardless of niche, zoologists examine many areas of animal life, covering such varied areas as animal anatomy, ecology , fetal development, their evolution (and common ancestors with similar animals in the same family or order and those related), distribution and habits, diet, and place in the food chain. But zoology is not just limited to living animals; some areas examine extinct species. Others are interested in how animals interact with humans.

History of Zoology

Ancient societies.

As with botany and several other biological sciences, zoology is relatively new as far as being an academic discipline is concerned. In some ways, ancient societies saw the study of animals as a luxury and unnecessary except in some limited cases. Interests in the processes of the animal life were limited to lifecycle and animal husbandry (gestation and reproduction), and lifestyle and health (diet, environmental needs, disease transmission), all of which were viewed purely through the lens of using animals for human benefit (meat, dairy, plant pollination, guard dogs, pets). A history of early zoology is simply the history of early agriculture .

But the fledgeling science of zoology began in this period. While most were only concerned with those issues above (categorized today as “Animal Science”), Aristotle's broad array of interests ignited the study of animal life beyond the merely functional. He is credited with effectively starting all of biology and although his interest in botany is well-understood, zoology also fascinated him. He looked at the biological functions of animals, commenting on such issues as metabolism, temperature and environment, embryo and sexual reproduction and inherited traits. He was not limited to the functional aspect but was interested in development for itself. His study was the most comprehensive prior to Darwin including classification and dissection, nature, attributes and habitats on the island of Lesbos (3) .

Later, Galen would take up the mantle. This famous early polymath dabbled in the biological sciences. As far as zoology is concerned, his work in anatomy and zoology developed animal sciences that allowed for further expansion of surplus agriculture. Their work would inform zoology for several thousand years and almost up to Darwin's theory with a few modifications. Teleology would later become Natural Theology under Christianity, but the basic philosophy of life remained the same (4) .

Important works in the Middle East and the Far East include Susruta and Zhang Zhongjing. These may not be familiar to a western lay audience, but the importance of their work in zoology is not in doubt. These were physicians primarily but some of their work in no small part focused on animal physiology . In the fourth century BC, Zhuangzi theorized the first ever concept of biological evolution (5) - remarkably suggesting that animals adapted to environmental change and underwent natural drift.

Medieval Europe and the Middle East

In Western Europe, the post-Roman period through to the late Middle Ages is not a source of great scientific knowledge. As stated above, the majority of what we understood in the Classical World informed scholars until the Enlightenment. But that's not to say there was no important work. In the Islamic Middle East, thanks to trade and interaction with the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium) that knowledge was preserved and translated into Arabic as well as Greek.

It was still considered important, but in the Middle East scholars drove learning forward in a period known as The Islamic Golden Age. This lasted until the 15 th -16 th centuries when the fall of Byzantium led to many in the east fleeing to Western Europe. This event is largely credited with kickstarting the Renaissance which, in turn, would eventually lead to The Enlightenment. In the 8 th century, al-Jahiz (6) formulated yet another idea that hinted at an understanding of evolutionary theory. While Avicenna and Averroes - also physicians - pushed our understanding of physiology further forward once more. These people were always trying to understand human physiology but this often had benefits for zoology too. Their philosophical work towards biology would inform later zoology (7) .

Not that medieval Europe was completely devoid of advances in zoology. Towards the end of the medieval period (known as the High Middle Ages), figures such as Hildegard of Bingen - who developed a new taxonomy (8) and Albertus Magnus - who wrote about logic and observation, finally arguing that science and religion were not incompatible, are still celebrated today (9) . Magnus mentored another great European thinker - Thomas Aquinas - one of the world's earliest scientists and the greatest supporter of Classical Theology.

Renaissance and Enlightenment

The Renaissance in Western Europe changed many things. It was the beginning of nation states and the breaking up of the idea of “Christendom”. It was also the beginning of scientific thought. In the early days, zoology (although it still did not have a name) focused as many other disciplines did such as early archaeology , on the collection of exotic items. It was perhaps inevitable that the collection of exotic animals (and plants) from faraway shores such as the Americas would lead to their scientific study and the commenting on their relationships to more familiar species from the Old World. Things replaced reports, living specimens replaced description and anecdote. It was an age of growing empiricism in areas such as taxonomy and anatomy, in animals as well as in humans. This led to a fusing of art and proto-sciences from such people as Leonardo Da Vinci (10) and Albrecht Dürer (11) whose art and technical visual media focused on mechanics and how bodies worked.

But the invention of the microscope was the most important development for biology until Darwin's work. Once Antony van Leeuwenhoek perfected the early microscope (12) , improving resolution and quality, it allowed for the discovery of the elements that could not be seen with the naked eye. Most early microscopists were interested in insects ( entomology ) but it would eventually lead to the ability to look deeper still, such as the discovery of the cell, bacteria, spermatozoa, and eventually viruses. The early years of the Enlightenment also had another conundrum to deal with - the true nature of fossilized extinct creatures. Dinosaurs were once passed off as the biblical race of giants and creatures from before Noah's Flood (13) but the wealth of new evidence across the world simply had to be addressed. Today, paleontology is the result of an unlikely crossover between zoology and geology , straddling both, and providing evidence in many fields.

Enter Darwin

The impact of Charles Darwin's work on every biological science cannot be overstated; zoology is no exception (14) . Until 1859 when his work On the Origin of Species was published, zoology focused on animal physiology (physical apparatus of their bodies), taxonomy (classification), and natural history (diversity and spread - related to taxonomy). But Darwin finally forced zoologists to examine more complex issues - the origin of life and the origins of species, natural selection, and the possibility of common ancestry between all life. Biogeography, biodiversity and the human impact on species all came into question as elements of natural philosophy rather than natural theology. Zoology would eventually crossover with many areas of environmental science. Already discussed is geology, but also ecology , the prospect of environmental forcings and many other areas. Alfred Russell Wallace and those who followed in Darwin's footsteps as early zoologists carried on this work. But Darwin's impact goes way beyond changing the sciences - his work changed how we think about science (15) . Darwin's zeitgeist allowed for new sciences to emerge and for existing sciences to change and evolve.

What of Zoology Today?

The remainder of the 19 th century was effectively an ideological war between the old guard (religionists and scientists who felt the evidence for Darwinian evolution was not strong enough at the time) and the Darwinists who were eager to build on the work (16, p1) . But the war would soon be over at least as far as the academic community was concerned. Researchers began developing new methods and sciences in broad areas ranging from genetics to geology, from ecology to botany, zoology and human anatomy and many more. Microbiology had implications for human health, and for botany and zoology. The nature of zoology from the 20 th century and beyond is about relationships. It became a profession in the early part of the last century at a time when natural history and essentialism (function and form) gave way to experimentation. The following decades would see the arrival of intensive farming, fueled partly by developments in both zoology and botany. But more academic pursuits included microbiology and eventually embryology, particularly for animal and human health (16, p2) . When Gregor Mendel discovered the gene (17) , zoology and biology took on its modern form.

No science exists in isolation and as the 21 st century develops, the importance of each science to each other cannot be overstated. Zoology's relationship with ecology, for example, began in the early 20 th century (16, p6) but as the 20 th wore on, growing concern about the environmental impact took over. Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring looked at the impact of many human actions on both animals and plants, essentially driving modern environmentalism. Also, further developments in genetics and genetic treatments have received no small contribution to (and also benefited) zoological researchers. But zoology has also forged relationships with the traditional sciences of chemistry and physics (16, p7) , and more recently with data science which has proven useful to biogeography and the importance of the environment to conservation and evolution.

Sub-Disciplines of Zoology

There are approximately 2 million animal species on planet Earth with any number currently undiscovered. No zoologist can hope to understand them all; that is why it's necessary to break down zoology into the broad subdisciplines listed here.

Animal Physiology

This is the study of the parts of an animal's body from the cell right up to major organs (18) . Anything a physiologist studies in humans, an animal physiologist studies in the wide variety of animal species. As well as body parts, this will mean disease pathology and their impact on animal bodies, diet, nutrition and metabolism, and even reproduction and reproductive organs, histology and endocrine functions. Not all animals reproduce sexually, and the mechanisms of asexual reproduction are also of interest. This means that physiologists can work in conservation and ecology, looking at issues such as genetic diversity, veterinary sciences, disease prevention and treatment.

Animal Science

While most other subareas of zoology focus on animals in the wild or semi-natural habitats (zoos, animal parks, captivity and conservation) Animal Science is concerned with the biology of livestock animals (19) . That means the health of farm animals, aspects of the food chain, production, management and selection of animals that live on farms and ranches, but also animals in the home - pets. Also known as animal biosciences or animal husbandry, that expanded to include any direct interaction between human and animals which of course means pets but also working animals (assistance dogs, military and police dogs) and those used in medical treatment of humans (pet therapy). Animal scientists can also be involved in conservation, advising on issues such as monoculture, promoting the introduction of animals to complement agriculture by reducing pests, to keep soil aired and healthy for produce.

Animal Taxonomy

How do we classify animals? When animals have attributes in several classes, how do we go about determining in which category they belong (the platypus, for example, is a mammal but lays eggs in its reproduction process - unique in mammals)? Humans love putting things in neat little boxes. In some ways, it's unhelpful, but classification simplifies things for researchers and helps in the study of the discovery of new species. As the tree branches out further, classification aids many things. That's why taxonomy is a subdiscipline of its own (20) . It also helps to examine generalizations in groups in the study of common ancestors between phyla, classes, and orders.

Anthrozoology

Bringing ethnobiology into the world of zoology, anthrozoology studies the interactions that animals have with humans. It includes aspects of anthropology and archaeology, animal health and wellbeing (physical health, mental health and veterinary science) along with ethnology, history , philosophy and sociology (21) . Mostly, they are concerned with qualitative data on relationships and interactions, and the short and long-term effects of those relationships over time. For example, how dogs domesticated themselves in antiquity and the symbiotic relationship that humans now have with canines. They will also look at evidence from archaeology and anthropology of past relationships, including representations of animals and the relationships.

Arachnology

Arachnology is the study of animals in the arachnids class (22) . The most obvious family in this class are spiders and daddy longlegs, but the class also includes fleas, ticks, mites, harvestmen, and scorpions. This is an enormous class with thousands of species. As with any other animal type divided solely by class, arachnologists study the lifecycle, metabolism, environment and other issues concerning arachnids. Researchers will usually specialize in one area (spiders) or can be generalists too. The history of the arachnid is a long and successful one, emerging in the fossil record from around 420 million years ago.

This is the subarea of arachnology concerned with parasitic arachnids such as mites, ticks and fleas (22) .

Archaeozoology (or Zooarchaeology)

Blending archaeology with zoology, this is the study of human interactions with animals in the past through the study of material remains (23) . This means how humans hunted animals, what they did with the bones, horn, ivory (used as tools), fur and leather (for clothing) and even what people ate. Did they have special meaning? At what point did animal husbandry begin, how, and why? These are the sorts of questions that an archaeozoologist will attempt to answer. It differs from anthrozoology in that it is less concerned with current human interactions with animals and the social aspect. This can also include “accidental” or “incidental” interactions such as species that move into an area when the ecological balance changes. Ancient woodland clearance for agriculture will see changes in bird and insect species, for example.

Behavioral Ecology

Blending the environmental science of ecology with zoology and animal behavior, Behavioral Ecology is where researchers examine ecological and environmental forcings on animal behavior - essentially, studying the value of behavior on survival (24) . It's a loose spin-off from ethology (see below). Its key principles include examining evolutionary advantages of key traits to a species, plus the ability to adapt - both core to evolutionary theory. Yet there are also adaptive and nonadaptive traits in natural selection. An animal's size may be advantageous (the ability to dominate its peers and have more opportunities for peers) or disadvantageous (where food resources are scarce, larger animals require more food). The environment and the individual's attributes then determine which go on to breed and spread their genetic code.

Biological Anthropology

Biological anthropology examines both modern humans, our cousins across the breadth of all primate species, and all common ancestors that link them. It is arguably the only area of zoology that examines human biology, anatomy, physiology as an aspect of relationships between animals. It sometimes goes by the name of physical anthropology (25) . It seeks to answer questions centering on when anatomically modern humans diverged from the primates to which we are most related (and traces that path backwards) but also of genetic diversity in modern humans. For example, the study of why such physical attributes as skin color arose (now understood to have developed as a response to levels of UV light and Vitamin D) and physical attributes such as the Epicanthic Fold (26) (present in people from the Far East and Native Americans but not other ethnicities). However, it also seeks to understand physical attributes that may have contributed to language development.

This is an area of applied technology, but it has its roots in zoology. This is the study of how animals move, their motor functions and mechanics, and uses the design concept to apply to technologies. Bionics professionals design and build artificial system based on examples from the natural world (27) . This can include such areas as robotics, prosthetics and even space exploration. It differs from bioengineering in that it doesn't apply to biological entities (such as livestock farming) but creates artificial systems based on the observed mechanics. The next major breakthrough could be in robotics, especially in light of recent AI developments for the web. Pattern recognition as a natural biological instinct could drive bionics and artificial intelligence in future.

Cetaceans are the order of marine mammals which includes all whales, dolphins and porpoises. There are approximately 80 species within these categories and stand apart from all other mammals in that, despite having lungs, are marine creatures. Cetologists study the unique evolutionary development, diet, relationships and everything else related to this group. They have confused since ancient Greece when Aristotle commented on their need to breathe air while living in water but must come up for air, unlike fish and many other marine species. It is believed that cetaceans emerged from the seas like all other mammals but later returned (28) .

Comparative Anatomy

A useful tool for the study of evolution of anatomy, this is an area of study within itself whose primary goal is to examine and look for evidence for common descent, ancestry, and divergence, including atavistic structures within a body (for example, signs of hind legs in whales and other cetaceans) (29) . Within zoology, comparative anatomy can be used to examine links in the tree of life from the smallest and simplest forms of animal life right up to anatomically modern humans. Using other tools and methods such as genetics, comparative anatomists can examine to see whether the same anatomical structure in two different species is indicative of a recent common ancestor or whether they arose independently.

In any animal species, an embryo develops following conception of species that reproduce sexually (30) . Embryo means “unborn” in Greek, so this means the study of anything from fertilization to birth in the animal kingdom. There are many applications and ways of approaching embryology. It can be a medical science (looking for abnormalities and defects), the study of the process of conception (the study of pre-birth development) or to look for common ancestry. Fetuses of most mammal species are difficult to tell apart until the latter stages of the first trimester.

Entomology is the study of all species classed as insects but not including arachnids which are not insects (spiders, fleas, mites and ticks). Insects represent the most populous class of any species and known to have evolved some 400 millions years ago, out-surviving the dinosaurs. Because the class is so large, entomology is further broken down into:

Coleopterology : Refers to the study of any insect classed as a beetle
Dipterology : Anything classed as a fly such as gnats, houseflies, and mosquitoes
Hemipterology : The study of so-called “true bugs” such as aphids, leafhoppers, bedbugs, and cicadas
Isopterology : The study of all termite species
Lepidopterology : Concerning moths and butterflies
Melittology : The study of the many species of bee
Myrmecology : Concerning ants
Orthopterology : locusts, crickets and grasshoppers
Trichopterology : Caddisflies
Vespology : The study of wasps

Ethology is the scientific study of behaviors. Although widely applying to human actions, zoologists are also interested in animal behaviors. They are interested in groups rather than individual behavior or one particular aspect of a species actions (such as variations in fight-or-flight). This means their social structure, how rogues are treated, attitudes and actions towards competition, and such things as aggression across groups or entire species. Effects on adaptation, relationships, symbiosis, predator and scavenger dynamics (31) . What impact do these attributes have on survival and competition for resources?

Helminthology

Parasitology is an academic subdiscipline of biology, it is not limited to animals, but concerns plants as well. Parasites in the animal kingdom come in many types, but none more prevalent than worms. Helminthology is the study of parasitic worms or worm-like creatures (32) including their lifecycle, metabolism and diet, ecology and environments, and of course, their effects on the host body. Parasitic worms include flukes and tapeworms, some species of which cause horrific illnesses, especially in the developing world. However, there is growing evidence that their unique physiology can provide medical benefits too (39) .

Nematodes are roundworms, hookworms, threadworms and others classified as nematodes rather than in the helminth phyla. The different physiology of the nematode (40) requires they are separate disciplines. They are the most abundant form of life on Earth and the most virulent of all parasitic worms.

Herpetology

This is the study of all aspects of the life and lifestyle, genetics, and nature of reptiles and amphibians (33) . Even these two groups are now subdivided due to diversity. Generalists are still called herpetologists , but those whose studies are limited to amphibians (cold-blooded reptiles that can live in the water as well as on land) are called batrachologists while those who study only snakes are known as ophiologists.

The invention of the microscope opened up many new areas of science. It began the sciences of virology and bacteriology, but it also meant the discovery of complex lifeforms too small to be seen with the naked eye. Microscopic animals such as tardigrades (also known as water bears) exist in virtually every environment on Earth and grow to a maximum size of 0.5mm (34) . Far from being simple, they are multi-celled with complex anatomy including digestive systems as complex as some much larger creatures. Other microscopic animals include the Demodex mite, water fleas and copepods

Ichthyology

Fish are one of the most abundant forms of life in our waterways, from freshwater lakes and rivers to the deepest oceans (35) . They include many families and species. Their study is called “ ichthyology ”. This covers vertebrate fish, cartilaginous fish such as sharks, and the jawless fish species. Whether involved in conservation, genetics, environmental study, evolutionary development or their place in the food chain, fish is a vital part of zoology.

Invertebrate Zoology

Some phyla have backbones (vertebrates) while some do not (invertebrates). Invertebrate zoology is an umbrella term for anyone who studies animals that do not have a spine. This includes arthropods, mollusks, and some fish. Around 95% of all species in the animal kingdom do not have a backbone. Evidence suggests that the first rudimentary vertebrates emerged during the Cambrian Explosion (36) . They survive better in the fossil record, but invertebrates clearly had an enormous head start.

Mollusca or mollusks are the second largest group of animals by the numbers. These animals can be land-based such as snails and slugs, or aquatic life such as squid and octopi. Mollusks are invertebrates, so it is a division of invertebrate zoology, but what sets them apart from other invertebrates is that they have a soft body (unsegmented) and no legs (37) . They live in damp to wet environments. Researchers are interested in all areas in other fields, but some are dedicated to examining their unique physiology for medical purposes such as treatment of diseases caused by flatworms that live in snails.

A subdivision of malacology, this is the study of arthropod shells, their nature, development and evolution.

The study of all mammals begins when the first true mammals appeared around 200 million years ago, around halfway through the age of dinosaurs. Mammals are warm-blooded, possesses hair or fur, give birth to live young which the females suckle with milk-giving mammary glands (38) . There are one or two exceptions to these rules such as the platypus and echidna - both lay eggs. Even whales, dolphins and porpoises have a small amount of hair in the form of whiskers. Some other mammals are reported to be able to raise and lower body temperature using external environments in the way that cold-blooded creatures may. It's also important to note that marsupials are mammals.

Marine Zoology

Bringing together ichthyology, cetology, malacology and other areas of study, marine zoology is the study of all creatures that live our seas and ocean. Therefore, it comes under marine biology . As with any of the other areas discussed here, specialists can study specific creatures, communities, species numbers, monitoring, conservation and so on (39) .

Ornithology

Ornithology is the study of birds which are classified as animals with feathers that reproduce through the laying of eggs. It is commonly believed that all birds fly. This is not true. Some, like the emu, rhea, and ostrich, are too large. Others have undeveloped wings such as the kiwi which has the bone structure for wings but too small and lacks support. Others are aquatic and use their “wings” to swim such as the penguin. It is one of the most successful areas of “citizen science” as it requires the amateur observers of the public to report sightings of certain birds, especially those that go on large migrations (41) .

Paleozoology

A result of the cross-disciplinary approaches of geology , paleontology , zoology and sometimes archaeology , paleozoology is the study of fossils of extinct animals. Once about the discovery of new species and examining their bone structures, modern paleozoologists are concerned now with much broader data sets such as diet, environment, ecology and environment, and evolution. This can include any of the subdisciplines listed here including vertebrates and invertebrates, aquatic, birds and protobirds, early mammals and so on.

Primatology

Primates (42) include monkeys, chimpanzees, all apes (gorillas, orangutans, humans), lemurs and tarsiers. Today, primatology is further divided into two subcategories: strepsirrhini (lemurs and lemur-like) and haplorhini (tarsiers and all simians including apes, which means humans too). Primates are mammals with a relatively large brain. With the exception of humans, they live only within the tropics and subtropics and broadly divided into Old World and New World primates.

Protozoology

Protozoa are one of the most unusual and intriguing animal species. They are not true animals, but they are not plants either. Protozoa are simple lifeforms that display many animal-like tendencies. They are single-celled and known as “protozoa”. Their animal attributes include independent movement, predation, and the need to absorb food (rather than creating its own such as plants) (43) .

Soil Zoology

Animals that live in soil have a unique ecology and lifestyle. That is why they require a subdivision. Soil science and the life within it are complex, and so is the fauna that inhabits soils (44) . This can be anything from protozoa and other microscopic forms of life that live in soils, contributing to the nutrient cycle, through to worms and right up to small mammals such as moles. Understanding these lifeforms is vital to our continued food supply. Some are pests but others, believed to be pests, often have beneficial attributes. Worms, for example, may eat crops, but their movement maintains aerobic environments.

Vertebrate Zoology

As invertebrate zoology, but covering all animals that have a spine: amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles.

Zoogeography

This is not the study of specific species or individual animals, but the distribution of species (45) . It's a useful ecological tool using applied math such as statistics to monitor population growth, density, migration and other topographical/geographical attributes of a species profile. While some monitor such data and produce reports, there is also an element of theory to zoogeography. Specifically, some zoogeographers examine trends and try to explain why certain species utilize and inhabit certain environments, why they gravitate towards certain areas or away from others, and define the reasons for seasonal migrations.

Also known as descriptive zoology, this is an applied area of zoology which defines animal habitats and behaviors (46) . It is closely related to zoogeography but is not limited to geographical data although it is interested in such information as a geographic range(s) and their impact on local ecologies - especially for species that migrate with the seasons. They will examine aspects of the animals in conjunction with this information too.

“zoo” meaning “animal” and “metry” meaning “measurement”. What is the typical size range of a particular species? What is average? How large can they grow? What about appendages and body parts? This is the examination of the sizes of species and their bodily attributes. This includes sexual dimorphism (the relative size of males and females). In most cases, males are marginally larger than females, but in some species, the male is considerably smaller. The anglerfish is a case in point (47) where the female exhibits all the signs of a typical fish while the male is tiny, looking for like a parasitical attachment.

What Issues and Challenges Face Modern Zoology?

You'd be forgiven for thinking that this important area doesn't have challenges, especially when some prominent researchers claims most of the major questions have already been solved. However, as we unravel the biological sciences, animals, and their impact on our planet,

Changing Demands for Zoos, Aquariums, and other Animal Parks

These tourist attractions are a big draw all over the globe. By the 1980s, the public began questioning their inherent value and whether they did more harm than good. Taking animals from the wild is (in most cases) was seen as an increasingly bad thing. Zoos were relics of a much older age when high society took animals for the express entertainment of other people. But now, they have gone through a phase of enormous transition.

Where once they were about display and entertainment, they have taken to understanding the needs of the animals, engaged in conservation and breeding programs, moved towards education and research (48) . It is thanks to pressure from conservationists that their adoption of the sciences of zoology merely beyond environment and food. But zoos must continue to employ and consult zoologists and engage in the positive application of researcher findings, to remain relevant and do more good than harm.

Conservation and Ecology

Over the remainder of the century, it is likely that zoology will move from one of pure study to one where roles of professionals engage with ecology and conservation. From the control and management of invasive species to ensuring ecological balance for threatened species, zoology will continue to adapt to and work in conjunction with conservation biologists. Animals do not exist in isolation; they have an ecological role to fulfil that impacts and is impacted by plants, predators, prey, human actions such as agriculture, urbanization and land clearance for any other reason. It is likely that zoology will move more in line with the intended outcomes of environmental sciences, especially as recent degree options include such titles as conservation biology.

Another challenge related to conservation and ecology is the need to respect the boundaries of protected species, to study and conserve with minimal interruption, and performing studies in war zones and conflict areas. Site visits for large projects to examine endangered species bring the risk of ecological damage, animal attack, and risking the ire of a government if not handled properly.

Climate Change

Many of the conservation issues that zoologists may be required to assist with are caused by ongoing anthropogenic climate change. Changing climates can lead to bleaching of the oceans, the death of large areas of tree canopy, some areas will become wetter while some will become arid, extreme weather such as flooding and drought are also more prevalent. With climate change comes ecological change and that means a landscape's zoological profile will change. There are already reports of mosquitoes moving north from the equator and into subtropical regions where they have not been present for thousands of years. This could lead to the spread of diseases such as malaria.

Latitudinal Diversity Gradient

One of the biggest challenges for zoogeographers is in understanding how and why species diversity increases the closer we move to the equator. Heading either north or south towards either pole, biodiversity for animals and plants shrink until reaching the pole. Before we get there, landscapes do not become barren, but diversity certainly decreases (49) . It's been known for decades with many papers published on the phenomena. Perhaps the advent of big data analytics may be able to go some way to solving this puzzle for botanists and zoologists.

Unsolved Evolutionary Puzzles

And then there are the great puzzles for evolutionary theory. Some apply to plants, fungi and animals, but some particularly perplex zoology.

Cambrian Explosion : Specifically, the causes of the Cambrian Explosion, so-called because it led to the emergence of a large number of species in a relatively short time (70-80 million years). This is a long time by human standards, but before it, most life was single-celled and simple. There are few precursors on which to base a theory of how it happened and it is not clear whether the proto lifeforms that appeared prior to The Cambrian Explosion were true animals. By present evidence, the first simple animals are likely to have been sea sponges (50) .

Evolution of flight : This has never satisfactorily been explained - not just the how, but the why (51) . It's likely it developed from a simple wing seen in some modern flying squirrels and the Petaurus. They glide or float rather than engage in true flight, although no common fossils have been found to all birds, to bats, or even insects.

Evolution of sexual reproduction : The earliest single-celled lifeforms reproduced asexually and it's not clear precisely when sexual reproduction evolved (52) , although relatively recently in the fossil record at 1.2 billion years, some 600 million years before the Cambrian Explosion, and even before the earliest plants. Sexual reproduction now occurs in around 99% of species but its true origin and even why it evolved at all, is yet to be answered.

The search for common ancestors : Most of our evidence for evolution before the dawn of genetic science exists in comparisons of bone assemblages. The tree of life is a complex puzzle and sometimes ancestry is moved back. It is unlikely there are ancestor species for which we will never find remains because they no longer exist. With each piece of the puzzle, it's likely that more gaps will appear, although smaller than before. It's always been a problem that not enough fossils exist as they only survive under certain conditions. Yet the search goes on for common ancestors between the enormous range of diverse life.

Understanding Aging

Although we tend to assume that solving the mystery of ageing and age-related disease is one for geneticists studying humans, some of the answers we have received in recent years may yet come from zoology. In a study released in 2017, a seminal work on the anatomy, genetics and aging process of the cold water species the Greenland Shark, showed the creatures experience remarkable longevity - perhaps up to 400 years (with a margin of error of up to 120 years either side which means they could live to close to 500 years under normal circumstances) (52) . They grow just 1cm per year (less than 1/2 inch), live in an extremely cold environment, and have extremely slow metabolic rates.

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145 Zoology Essay Topics

🏆 best essay topics on zoology, 👍 good zoology research topics & essay examples, 🌶️ hot zoology ideas to write about, ✍️ zoology essay topics for college, 💡 simple zoology essay ideas, 📌 easy zoology essay topics, ❓ zoology essay questions.

Animals Division and Classification
Symbiotic Relationship Between Cleaner Gobies and Fish
Animal Behavior of a Snake
Actinopterygii: The Evolution of Ray-Finned Fishes
Teacup Dogs: Appearance, History, Health Complications, Art
Nature Versus Nurture in Dog Aggression
Anatomy, Physiology, and Living Habitats of Red Panda
Watching Animals at the Zoo The act of watching animals at the zoo can reveal a lot about human nature. Zoos have been present within human civilization for centuries.
Turdus Migratorius, American Robin The American Robin is also known as Turdus migratorius is a medium-sized migratory songbird that belongs to the “thrush” genus.
A Peacock Spider’s Mating Rituals and Reproduction This report will cover the mating rituals and all other aspects of the reproductive cycle of a peacock spider.
How to Groom Your Pet? Dogs need to have good hygienic care. The dog owner can learn how to groom his or her dog. There are professional groomers whose sole responsibility in life is to groom dogs at a fee.
Kakapo Should Be Urgently Saved from Extinction This paper aims to investigate the rationale of specific measures to support the statement: kakapo should be urgently saved from extinction.
Octopuses: The Reproductive Process Octopuses are oviparous animals, which means that they lay the eggs outside their body. The female octopus’ mission is to produce viable eggs and ensure that its children come out.
The Impact of Physical, Chemical, and Biological Agents on Marine Mammals The development of ecosystems is affected by various physical, biological, and chemical agents, and these effects can be both positive and negative.
Skull Evolution in the Rhinocerotidae: Phylogeny of Early Rhinocerotoids Modern rhinos with a pointed upper lip and a two-horned African rhino with a wide rectangular mouth, are pitiful remnants of a rich in species group of mammals.
Sexual Reproduction: Advantages and Disadvantages Although sexual reproduction can bring some shortcomings of the parents into the next generation, it tends to favor positive traits.
Reptiles and How They Fit in Their Phylum Reptiles are a large class of animals consisting of thousands of species and have common features, including cold blood, dry skin, and eggs for reproduction.
Nagel’s “What Is It Like to Be a Bat?”: The Concept of Conscious Experience “What Is It Like To Be A Bat?” uses the bat as an illustration of the ability to understand the mind and body operation and how the bat displays its character during an action.
The Turtle-Headed Sea Snake’s Habitation Areas The paper aims to know the exact areas that turtle-headed sea snakes inhabit and quantify the number of such species within that vicinity.
Grey Squirrels: Fieldwork Observations The presented observations of grey squirrels’ behavior might be implemented for estimating animal intelligence and cognition.
Marsupials: Evolutionary History, Key Features, and Ecological Role This paper discusses marsupials to present a phylogeny of their in-group and out-group taxa, key features that unite the clade, ecological roles played by some of these features.
Bonobos’ Sexual Receptivity and Social Behaviour This researcher intends to confirm the behavior patterns of the bonobos. The behaviors in relationship to sociosexual patterns are being assessed.
Horses as Pampered Prisoners in Henderson’s Book While horses do not experience direct abuse, their seemingly favorable living conditions result in psychological and physiological suffering for today’s sport horses.
Horse Population, Evolution, and Physiology The evolution of horses occurred over a period of 55 million years. By analyzing bones and DNA of the ancient horses, we are able to get an idea about their origins.
Becoming a Cat Owner Getting a pet cat might sound very easy – and, it fact, it is – but it is the process of becoming its owner that might need some practice. Some guidelines might be of great use.
Consciousness and Emotions in Animals The paper indicates that animals can sense and respond to external factors and experience emotions generated in their neural system.
Hawksbill Turtle Scientific Description Hawksbill is a sea turtle named after their narrow, pointed beak resembling that of a hawk, and they use it to find food from cracks and crevices.
Florida Wildlife: Burmese Python Burmese Python feed on other animal species such as birds, crocodiles, and mammals. This type of snake is common in South Florida in the Everglades National Park.
Geladas: Habitat and Causes of Extinction Geladas are large-sized monkeys with massive jaw parts and long brown fur. They live in the high mountains and descend to search for some grass and plants.
Giraffe Neck as Result of Sexual Selection The paper reviews giraffe’s evolutions theories and compares their relevance. It concludes that sexual selection theory offers a better explanation for long necks in giraffes.
Analysis of Sea Lampreys Problem Sea lampreys reduce the fish population, which affects the livelihoods of people. They negatively influence economic activities such as tourism and fishing in lakes.
Anatomy, Physiology, and Living Habitats of Tanuki Tanuki, also called the Japanese Racoon Dog, is a subspecies of the Asian Racoon Dog. It belongs in the Canid family, with their close relatives being wolves, foxes, and domestic dogs
Sharks Characteristics Analysis: Danger of Extinction If the sharks disappear from our oceans, a catastrophic imbalance shall occur and affect the human food supply chain as well as the ocean ecosystem.
The North Carolina Zoo Animal Management The North Carolina Zoo is concerned about the animal’s natural environment and it has a project of expanding rhinoceros exhibit at a cost of $6 million.
Teat Dipping and Milk Iodine Concentrations in Dairy Cows The review gives approaches to optimal udder preparation practices before and after milking to obtain high-quality milk.
Should Apartments Ban Dogs Based on Breed? This paper argues that apartments should ban dogs based on breed as a step forward to curbing bite-related cases by specific vicious breeds.
Feline Mental Health and Separation Anxiety The paper discusses feline mental health based on separation anxiety, behavioral categories, significant symptoms, risk factors, and implications.
Feline Mental Health and Separation-Related Problems Physical health in cats has been a very commonly reviewed topic. But it also sparks discussions regarding feline mental health.
Cause and Clinical Characteristics of Rib Fractures in Cats Nontraumatic rib fractures are more common in cats with diseases that induce prolonged respiratory effort or coughing, metabolic conditions, or certain neoplasms.
Blue Macaws: How to Prevent Their Extinction? The blue macaws preferred plain vegetation: single tall trees, thorny shrubs, groves of palm trees, forest belts, and river banks.
Psychological Well-Being of Captive Animals and Types of Enrichment The psychological well-being of captive animals is essential from a moral point of view and because of the animal’s physical condition.
“Diet Choice and the Functional Response of Beavers” by Fryxell and Doucet “Diet Choice and the Functional Response of Beavers” by Fryxell and Doucet explores how the beaver diet would change under the influence of the local environment.
Aspects of Waterfowl Monitoring The paper states that for monitoring waterfowl within particular wetland areas identified on the attached map, twenty-four sites will be chosen.
Ornithology: Annotated Bibliography The authors conduct a profound literature review that seeks to explain the antecedents of this practice and present their investigation results.
“Resistance of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Prions to Inactivation”: Article Summary This article aims to define the patterns of inactivation of the infectious proteins known as “prions” of bovine spongiform encephalopathy from cattle, mice, hamsters, and humans.
Witless Bay Seabird Ecological Reserve Management Witless Bay Seabird Ecological Reserve seeks to protect the seabird species from various risks and preserve the existence of special breeds.
The Process of Excretion in Rodents This paper focuses on the process of excretion in rodents, aiming to synthesize and evaluate the current body of academic knowledge.
Costs and Benefits of Being Honest Among Non-Human Primates Species typically live in groups where they should involve in cooperation with other living creatures for feeding, breeding, and others.
“Modus Ponens”: Horses Should Have Pink Hair This paper argues that horses should have pink hair. It argues for this conclusion via the deductive form called “modus ponens.”
Natural Migration to Bring Wolves Back to Colorado Not all communities, as well as animals, are ready for artificial reintroduction, and Colorado needs to open its doors for wolves naturally, with all related pros and cons.
Modern-Day Chimpanzee and Ancestor Comparison In this paper, the organism of focus will be the Modern-day Chimpanzee. It is also referred to as chimp, robust chimpanzee, or common chimpanzee.
Should Wolves Come Back to Colorado? The article’s aim is expected to prove that grey wolves coming back may have a number of benefits for the citizens, the state, and the country in general.
Scientific Taxonomy and Earths Biodiversity Ruscha’s rat and giant panda were selected for the analysis of mammals. The similar features of all the mammals are shared among all the species
Nutrition for Gorillas at the National Zoo The National Zoo is situated along Connecticut Avenue in Washington, D.C. This essay discusses nutrition for gorillas at the National Zoo.
Defining and Measuring Biodiversity The biodiversity factor should be taken into consideration to breed animals successfully and prevent them from becoming extinct.
Why the King Salmon Population Keeps Getting Smaller Human impact on landscapes and ecosystems, combined with fishing and the increase in the number of other fish, is negatively influencing the populations of chinook salmon.
Chihuahua and a Pitbull as a House Pet: Comparison The Chihuahua and the Pitbulls can be safely kept as house pets, provided the required amount of exercise and correct training and handling are given regularly and from the puppy stage.
Implicit Memory: Animal Observation The focal point of this paper is to enumerate the observation of an animal outside the class in relation to a concept of general psychology.
Resource Value Effects Territorial Defense by Broad-Tailed and Rufous Hummingbirds The species apply expensive territorial behavior to defend its territory. The defending mechanism may change of the quality of resource changes.
Primate Behavior: Observing and Comparing Observing and comparing primate behavior to humans sheds new light on the evolutionary theory by highlighting important connections between our behavior and primates.
How Dogs Respond to Hugging? Comparing the article and newspaper story, we can find some similarities. First, both these are devoted to the same issue and describe how dogs respond to hugging.
The Threat to Gharial Crocodiles in Protected Areas Fishing, agriculture, sand mining, and water extraction for irrigation are a few activities that pose threats to the crocodiles in the protected areas.
Primates and Their Defining Characteristics Primates are the group of mammals. This group consists of such animals as monkeys, lemurs, and apes. Humans are primates too.
Birds Starvation and Death in Alaska The article Thousands of Birds Found Dead along Alaskan Shoreline by Seth Kovar and Steve Almasy addresses the death of the birds in Alaska because of starvation.
Bonobos and Common Chimps Comparison Common chimps and bonobos differ in a number of ways. This paper looks at the similarities and differences that exist between bonobos and common chimps.
Metabolic Power Budgeting and Adaptive Strategies in Zoology: Examples From Scallops and Fish
The Importance of Zoology to Medical Science
A Problem of Zoological Taxonomy: Why Is the Cassowary Not a Bird?
Quantitative Zoology: Numerical Concepts and Methods in the Study of Recent and Fossil Animals
The Type-Concept in Zoology During the First Half of the 19th Century
Research Strategies to Improve Honeybee Health in Europe
New Concepts and Methods for Phylogenetic Taxonomy and Nomenclature in Zoology
A New Bleaching and Decalcifying Method for General Use in Zoology
Zoology Students’ Experiences of Collaborative Enquiry in Problem-Based Learning
The Relationship Between College Zoology Students’ Beliefs About Evolutionary Theory and Religion
How Technology Can Be Used to Enhance Zoological Parks
The Changing Roles of Zoological Parks in Conserving Biological Diversity
Resolving a Zoological Mystery: The Kouprey Is a Real Species
Situating and Teaching 21st Century Zoology: Revealing Pattern in the Form and Function of Animals
Concepts and Issues With Interspecies Scaling in Zoological Pharmacology
Deer Antlers: A Zoological Curiosity or the Key to Understanding Organ Regeneration in Mammals?
Marine Invertebrate Diversity in Aristotle’s Zoology
Anatomical Information Content in the Ediacaran Fossils and Their Possible Zoological Affinities
Species and “Strange Species” in Zoology: Do We Need a Unified Concept of Species?
Zoological Considerations on the Origins of Farming and Domestication
The Domestic Cat: The Biology of Its Behavior
Local Variations in the Response of Birds to Human Presence in Urban Areas
Concept-Driven Teaching and Assessment in Invertebrate Zoology
DNA Fingerprinting in Zoology: Past, Present, Future
Why Do Species Exist in Zoology: Insights From Sexuals and Asexuals
The Movement to Curtail Animal Dissections in Zoology Curriculum
Studying the History of Pre-modern Zoology With Linked Data and Vocabularies
Behavior as a Tool in the Assessment of Animal Welfare
Zoological Diagnostics of Soils: Imperatives, Purposes, and Place Within Soil Zoology and Pedology
Climate Change and Invasive Species: Double Jeopardy
Amphibians in Zoos: A Global Approach on Distribution Patterns of Threatened Amphibians in Zoological Collections
The Meaning of Object Permanence at Different Zoological Levels
Some Recent Advances in Zoology and Their Relation to Present-Day Problems
Social Competition and Its Consequences in Female Mammals
Animal Learning and Memory: An Integration of Cognition and Zoology
Concept of Scientific Wildlife Conservation and Its Dissemination
Zoology: The Hidden History of the American Western Horse
Innovation in Teaching and Learning Invertebrate Zoology in Remote and Online Classrooms
Current Perspectives on Curriculum Needs in Zoological Medicine
Innate Immunity Receptors in the Perspective of Zoological Research
Big City Life: Carnivores in Urban Environments
Zoology Meets Botany: Establishing Intracellular Organelles by Endosymbiosis
Progress in the Zoology and Conservation of Giant Pandas
Comparison of the Genomes of Human and Mouse Lays the Foundation of Genome Zoology
Bounds of Diversity: Queer Zoology in Europe From Aristotle to John Hunter
The Thermal Ecology and Zoology of Reptiles & Amphibians
An Overview of Crustacean Discoveries and New Perspectives on Deep-Sea Zoology and Biogeography
Marine Zooceuticals: Synergy of Zoology & Pharmaceuticals
From Seabed to World Wide Web: Marine Zoological Sampling, Data Processing, and Production of Digital Marine Faunas
Zoology: Its History, Branches, Importance, and Applications
How Has Zoology Changed Over Time?
Is Zoology an Exact Science?
What Is the Importance of Ritualization in Zoology?
Is Animal Science Considered Zoology?
What Is the Difference Between Zoology and Botany?
What Are the Subdisciplines of Zoology?
How Does Evolution Relate to Zoology?
What Is the Meaning of the Term Zoology in Biological Studies?
How Are Zoology and Marine Biology Related?
Why Is Cytology Important in the Study of Zoology?
What Is Fieldwork in Zoology For?
How Many Different Branches of Zoology Are There?
What Is Urban Zoology?
How Is Zoology Related to Other Specializations?
What Is Symmetry and Its Types in Zoology?
Why Is Aristotle the Father of Zoology?
Why Was Charles Darwin Important to Zoology?
How Many Types of Zoology Are There?
What Is Differentiation in Zoology?
Does Zoology Study Animals With Radial Symmetry?
What Is Intraspecific Competition in Zoology?
Is the Existence of Undiscovered Species Possible in Zoology?
What Is an Example of Heterosis in Zoology?
What Is the Purpose of Zoology?
What Is the Function of the Pallial Sinus in Zoology?
Do Dinosaurs Fit in the Category of Zoology?
What Is the Difference Between Zoology and Veterinary Medicine?
What Are the Biological Principles of Zoology?
How Are Zoology and Ecology Related?
What Is the Significance of Zoology for Medicine?

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These essay examples and topics on Zoology were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

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Why study zoology?

If you have a natural curiosity for the natural world, and animals, in particular, a zoology degree offers you the chance to indulge your interest. We guide you through what’s involved.

Have you always had an interest in the natural world and animals in particular? If you have a scientific and biological inclination a zoology degree might be a great fit. Studying a bachelor of zoology can open up many options for you from conservation to veterinary research. It’s time to find out more about this interesting and engaging subject as we take you through everything from what’ll you’ll study to the entry requirements for zoology courses. It’s an A to Z-oology of the degree.

What is zoology?

There can sometimes be a slight misconception as to what zoology is and what it covers. While zoology does focus on the natural world and living organisms, this does not mean it is exclusively oriented towards zoos or safari parks. Zoology is a science-based discipline that draws on the fields of biology, chemistry, statistics, environmental science , geography and psychology .

Studying zoology will give you an intimate understanding of the physiology of animals, their behaviour, evolution and the ecosystems in which they live. A course in zoology also gives you the option of exploring different areas of specialisation including evolutionary biology, genetics, marine biology and even biomedical science.

Explore some of the institutions offering zoology degrees in the UK:

Royal Holloway, University of London
Liverpool John Moores University
University of Liverpool
University of Leeds
University of Sussex

What will you study for a zoology degree?

If you decide to study for a BSc in zoology then you can reasonably expect to cover some core topics during your degree. Remember that it is also possible to study a zoology major alongside another complimentary major subject such as chemistry or biology. Some of the areas that you will cover in a zoology degree include:

Animal physiology
Biological science
Sustainable development
Climate change
Cognitive psychology
Molecular genetics
Quantitative data analysis
Animal behaviour
Botany and plant physiology
Evolutionary biology
Biotechnology
Animal communication
Phylogeny

Remember that you also have the chance to take elective modules that are more in line with your interests, such as microbiology or marine biology.

A lot of institutions do offer zoology courses, some that you may not be aware of. Have a look at some of the places where you could study zoology in the USA:

University of Wyoming
Michigan State University
Washington State University
Oklahoma State University - Stillwater

What entry requirements do you need for zoology?

Entry requirements will vary from one institution to another but there will be some pre-requisite entry requirements that you will have to meet if you want to study for a degree in zoology. It is a science-based subject as a qualification in science, physics, mathematics or biology will always stand you in good stead.

In the UK an A-level result set of AAB* with two science subjects is usually the minimum requirement for automatic entry. If you have taken the International Baccalaureate Diploma you will generally need 34 points, with two science-related subjects rated at 6,5 or above.

For other international qualifications, you will need a minimum of 70 per cent or B-average to get in and if you have taken an SAT the score would need to be 1350 for the reasoning component and 700 or above for three subject tests.

You also have to be able to demonstrate your English language proficiency either through your academic qualifications or through a recognised test . For a degree in zoology, your IELTS score would need to be 6.5 or above with no section score lower than 6.0.

It’s always wise to check with your prospective university about entry requirements before applying to see if your qualifications are recognised and if you could benefit from a pre-sessional English course.

Want to investigate your study options for a zoology course in Australia? Have a look at these options:

University of New England
Western Sydney University
Deakin University
The University of Western Australia

How many years is a zoology degree?

A BSc in zoology will take you approximately three to four years to complete on a full-time basis. If you study part-time this can be between five and seven years. A lot will depend on both the institution at which you study and the country in which you study. Generally, a four-year full-time degree will include either a practical placement or a specialisation.

You also do have the option of continuing to study a postgraduate qualification in zoology with an MSc degree in the subject. To qualify you will need to have achieved well academically at the undergraduate level and have a good idea of an area of zoology in which you want to specialise.

What to do after a zoology degree

Having taken a look at what a zoology degree looks like and how to qualify to study in the area, we turn our attention to what happens after you graduate. The good news is there are quite a few options and areas in which you could put your degree to work. You may be pleasantly surprised to find out that those who have graduated in the subject find jobs across industries and roles including:

Marine science
Academic research
Conservation
Environmental scientist
Veterinary medicine
Biomedical science
Data analyst
Government departments
Non-governmental organisations
Animal behaviourist

According to recent research by Prospects, more than 70 per cent of students graduating in the field are either employed or in further study.

If you’re still wondering whether this choice of degree would be good for you, you can read our guide to selecting a degree in conjunction with a career path . If you’re interested in finding out how different institutions rank don’t miss our guide to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021 and the best universities in the UK .

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What is a pre-masters course?

If you have had your eye on studying a postgraduate qualification, and particularly a master’s degree you would have encountered pre-master’s programmes in your research. Sometimes it’s not always easy to understand the differences between the qualifications and courses on offer and why you would apply or enrol for a pre-master’s programme. We take a closer look at pre-master’s courses and programmes, demystifying the details. What is a

MA vs MSc: What is the best choice?

Two popular postgraduate master’s degree qualifications are an MA and an MSc, but what do these letters mean and how are they different? What are the entry requirements for each one and how will they benefit your career in the future? Read on to find out the answers to these questions. What is an MA? A Master of Arts (MA) is a postgraduate qualification with a focus on subjects in the humanities and social sciences

What are professional degrees?

When evaluating your study options and doing your research you’ll probably have come across qualifications that are categorised as professional degrees. Perhaps you’re not entirely sure what this means or what differentiates such programmes and courses from academic degrees. You may also be asking yourself if they have a particular impact on your career trajectory. We take a closer look at professional degrees for you and examine what they’re all about.

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Why do several species of whale experience menopause, and why does the phenomenon occur at all? Analysing whale data might help to answer these questions and shed light on why menopause evolved in humans.

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Ring-tailed Lemurs are very common in zoos but critically endangered in the wild

Why the world needs zoos

The ongoing extinction crises shows that zoos are needed - even for common species

I have written before about the importance of zoos and the role they have to play in the world for conservation and education. They are in particularly important for endangered species – many animals are critically endangered in the wild and may go extinct there soon but are going strong in zoos. Many others are already extinct in the wild and only survive because of populations kept going in captivity. Even those critical of zoos often recognise this role and that it is better to have species preserved somewhere than be lost for all time. However, even species that are common can come under severe threat very quickly or without people realising.

Take the ring-tailed lemur of Madagascar for example. This animal is almost ubiquitous in zoos and few do not keep groups of these pretty primates as they breed well in captivity and the public are fond of them. However, despite their high numbers in collections around the world, they are under severe threat in the wild. A recent survey suggested that a huge 95% of the wild populations have been lost since 2000 . This is clearly catastrophic and also means that the remaining individuals are greatly at risk. One bad year or a new disease could wipe out those that are left, and small and fragmented populations will be vulnerable to inbreeding so even a single loss can be keenly felt.

Such trends are not isolated. Giraffe are another species that are very common in zoos and unlike the lemurs are very widespread being found in numerous countries across much of sub-Saharan Africa. Anyone who has been on safari in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa or plenty of other countries will have had no trouble in seeing plenty of them in the wild and yet giraffe populations have gone down by a third in the last thirty years . While less dramatic than the lemurs, this is obviously a major loss and again, whole populations (which some scientists think are in fact unique species) are on the verge of extinction.

AFP PHOTO / Paul ELLISPAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images

Cheetahs too, despite protection and efforts to support populations, are showing a major decline in their wild populations, primates as a whole are doing badly (it is suggested some 60% of species are at risk ) and that’s on top of the major crisis facing huge numbers of amphibian species . Many other species are probably facing sudden drops in numbers and some estimates are particularly worrying with suggestions that 50% of species could be gone at the end of this century . Conservationists struggle to monitor even species known to be vulnerable, so it is easy to see why common species might be overlooked especially if the perception is that they are not at risk because there are large numbers. Even a dramatic local loss might be overlooked on the assumption they are populous elsewhere but clearly that’s not always the case.

Ongoing and future issues from climate change (more extreme weather events, as well as things like overall warming and sea level changes) can have dramatic and unexpected effects on wildlife and we will likely struggle to predict which might be at risk. The numbers of species showing major losses, and the number that we overlook until things are already critical is only likely to rise. A new study suggests that climate change has already harmed over half of all mammal species on the endangered species list for example, and that is only likely to increase as more species are put under pressure from climate change and other environmental pressures.

In short, while zoos do provide a critical reservoir for endangered species, many other animals may yet become endangered very soon, or already are and we don’t know about it. Those species that are held in zoos are already protected from any such events and trends. In may not be long until ring tailed lemurs and many other species are only held in zoos and their loss from the world would be otherwise both tragic and irreversible.

There will, I suspect, always be resistance to the arguments for keeping animals in captivity and I will not defend those bad zoos desperately in need of improvement or closure . But if we wish to keep any real measure of biodiversity on the planet, we may lean on zoos and aquaria far more than many realise. If even common and popular species can lose a huge percentage of their populations in a few years, it may be too late to save them with even the best breeding programs or conservation efforts in the wild. As seen here, too often we do not even know a species is under threat until their numbers have crashed to dangerously low levels and this is a trend that is only likely to continue.

Lost worlds revisited

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Why Is the Study of Zoology Important in Your Life?

Zoology is important to study because it helps us understand how animals work and how they fit into their ecosystems .

It also helps us understand the impacts humans have on animals and their habitats.

Table of Contents

What is zoology?

Zoology is the scientific study of animals. It covers everything from the anatomy and physiology of individual animals to their behavior, ecology, and taxonomy.

Where do zoologists work?

Zoologists often work in research laboratories, universities, or museums, but they may also work in fields such as animal husbandry, wildlife management, and veterinary medicine.

Some zoologists even travel to remote parts of the world to study exotic animals in their natural habitats.

The History of Zoology

The study of animals has a long history, dating back to at least the ancient Greeks. Aristotle (384–322 BCE) was one of the first zoologists and is considered the father of biology.

He made detailed observations of animals and categorized them according to their characteristics.

Later zoologists built on Aristotle’s work, adding their own observations and findings.

Charles Darwin

In the 19th century, Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection changed the way we think about animals.

His book On the Origin of Species (1859) showed that all living things are related and that they have evolved over time to adapt to their environments.

This understanding of evolution has led to important advances in our understanding of animal behavior, physiology, and ecology.

Zoology Today

Today, zoologists use a variety of methods to study animals, including field research, laboratory experiments, and computer simulations.

They work in a variety of settings, from zoos and aquariums to research laboratories and universities.

Zoologists play an important role in conservation efforts, helping to protect endangered species and their habitats.

Zoology and Health

Zoologists also conduct valuable research that can help us to solve problems and improve our understanding of animal health and behavior.

For example, by studying animal viruses, zoologists can develop new vaccines and treatments for diseases that affect both animals and humans.

The Benefits of Studying Zoology

There are many benefits to studying zoology. It offers students the opportunity to learn about the diversity of life on earth, how animals have adapted to their environments, and how they interact with each other.

Careers in Zoology

The study of zoology can lead to careers in a variety of fields, such as wildlife management, veterinary medicine, and environmental conservation.

Zoologists also play an important role in public education, working to raise awareness about the importance of protecting endangered species and their habitats.

What Does a Zoologist Do?

Zoologists conduct research on a variety of topics related to animals. They may study the anatomy, physiology, and behavior of individual animals, or they may focus on larger issues such as animal evolution, ecology, and conservation.

Zoologists often work in research laboratories, universities, zoos, or museums. They may also travel to remote areas to study animals in their natural habitats.

Methods of Research

Zoologists use a variety of methods to conduct their research. They may observe animals in their natural habitat or in captivity, collect specimens for analysis, or perform experiments in the laboratory.

Types of Zoology

There are many different subfields of zoology. Some zoologists focus on a particular group of animals, such as mammals, reptiles, birds, or fish.

Others study a specific type of animal behavior, such as feeding, communication, or reproduction.

Still, others focus on the ecology of animals and their interactions with their environment. Here are just a few of the many subfields of zoology:

Animal Behavior

The study of how animals behave, including both their innate (instinctual) behaviors and those that they learn is another role that zoologists fill.

The study of animal behavior can help us to better understand the natural world and how animals have evolved to survive in their environments.

It can also provide insights into the evolution of human behavior. Behavior research is important for developing humane methods of controlling animal populations and for protecting endangered species.

Conservation biology

Conservation biology is the scientific study of the preservation and restoration of ecosystems and the biodiversity within them.

Conservation biology is one of the most important fields of zoology. It is concerned with protecting the environment and ensuring that all forms of life are preserved for future generations.

By studying conservation biology, students learn about the complex relationships between organisms and their environment, and they gain the skills needed to protect our planet’

Animal Physiology

This is the study of how animals function, including the mechanisms by which they obtain and use energy, grow, move, and respond to their environment.

Animal physiology is essential for understanding how animals survive in their environment.

By studying the physiology of different species, we can learn about the adaptations that have enabled them to thrive in their particular habitats.

Physiology research is also important for developing ways to improve the health and welfare of animals.

Evolutionary Biology

This is the study of the origin and evolution of life on earth, including the genetic changes that have led to the diversity of organisms today.

Evolutionary biology is one of the most fundamental fields of zoology. It helps us to understand how life has changed over time and how different species are related to one another.

Evolutionary biologists also study how environmental factors influence the evolution of plants and animals.

Animal Ecology

Animal ecology is the study of how animals interact with each other and their physical environment. This includes topics such as habitat selection, foraging behavior, and predator-prey relationships.

Animal ecology is important for understanding how animals live in their natural environment.

By studying the ecology of different species, we can learn about the adaptations that have allowed them to thrive in their habitats.

Ecology research is also important for developing ways to conserve and protect animal populations.

This is the study of how living things have changed over time. It includes the mechanisms of evolution, such as natural selection, as well as the history of life on Earth.

Taxonomy is the classification of living things into groups based on their similarities and differences. Taxonomists use a variety of methods, such as physical characteristics, DNA sequencing, and anatomy, to determine how animals are related.

Taxonomy is important for understanding the diversity of life on earth. By classifying organisms into different groups, taxonomists can better understand how they are related to each other.

Taxonomy also helps us to identify new species and to learn more about their biology and ecology.

If you’re interested in a career in zoology, you may also want to consider a career in one of the related fields listed below.

Each of these fields requires a similar set of skills, including strong analytical and critical thinking abilities, as well as excellent communication.

Zoological Parks

A zoo is a facility in which animals are kept for public exhibition, while zoological parks usually have large areas where the animals can roam freely.

Why do we need zoological parks?

Zoological parks are important for conserving wildlife. They provide a safe place for animals to live, and they also help to educate the public about the importance of biodiversity.

Zoological parks can also be used for research purposes, and they often support conservation projects in the wild.

An aquarium is a facility that displays aquatic plants and animals in tanks or other enclosures. Aquariums can be public or private, commercial, or nonprofit.

Why do we need aquariums?

Aquariums are important for educating the public about aquatic plants and animals. They can also be used for research purposes, and they often support conservation projects in the wild.

Aquariums are a great way to get people interested in marine biology, and they can inspire people to take action to protect our oceans.

Herpetology

The study of reptiles and amphibians. Herpetologists typically focus on the anatomy, physiology, ecology, and behavior of these animals.

Why study herpetology?

Reptiles and amphibians play an important role in the ecosystems where they live. By studying these animals, we can learn more about the ways that they interact with their environment.

Animal Husbandry

Animal husbandry is the practice of raising livestock for meat, milk, eggs, or fiber. It also includes breeding and raising animals for show or recreation.

Why study animal husbandry?

Animal husbandry is an important field of agriculture. It helps us to produce food and fiber for humans, and it also helps to support the ecosystems where livestock are raised.

Animal husbandry research can help us to improve the welfare of livestock and to develop new methods of raising them.

Ornithology

The study of birds. Ornithologists typically focus on the anatomy, physiology, ecology, and behavior of birds.

Ornithology research can also help us to protect bird populations and to manage their habitats effectively.

Why study ornithology?

Birds play a vital role in many ecosystems. By studying their biology and ecology, we can learn more about how they contribute to their habitats.

Wildlife Management

Wildlife management is the conservation and sustainable use of wild animals and their habitats.

It includes activities such as regulating hunting and fishing, controlling invasive species, and protecting endangered species.

Why study wildlife management?

Wildlife management is an important field of conservation. It helps us to protect and conserve the biodiversity of our planet.

Wildlife management research can help us to develop new methods of managing habitats and controlling invasive species.

It can also help us to save endangered species from extinction.

Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease in animals.

Veterinary physicians (veterinarians) work in a variety of settings, including private clinics, zoos, and research laboratories.

Why study veterinary medicine?

Veterinary medicine is an important field of health care. It helps us to protect the health of animals, and it also helps to prevent the spread of diseases between animals and humans.

Veterinary medicine research can help us to develop new methods of treating disease in animals.

Zoology is the study of animals. Zoologists typically focus on the anatomy, physiology, ecology, and behavior of animals.

Zoology research can also help us to protect animal populations and to manage their habitats effectively.

Archaeologist,Working,In,Natural,Research,Lab.,Laboratory,Assistant,Cleaning,Animal

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Rationale for the Existence of Zoos

Patricia g. patrick.

1 Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX USA

Sue Dale Tunnicliffe

2 Institute of Education, University of London, London, England UK

This chapter looks at the stated goals of zoo mission statements and provides examples of how zoos are addressing their missions. Moreover, with the pressure of zoos to become biological conservation mentors, zoos assume five roles as the executor of the relationship between society and nature. First, zoos take on the role of the “model citizen” by conveying a conservation message. They advocate for a sensible, sustainable use of natural resources and promote less wasteful, green-building alternatives. Many zoological institutions are developing organizational plans that include the use of solar, wind, and thermal power in their daily operations. Additionally, they are growing food for the animals, composting, and using recycled materials in their exhibit design. Second, zoos are maintaining a viable and genetically diverse collection. Zoos are managed under the premise that wildlife conservation is of foremost importance. As zoological institutions have become more active in field studies, their research findings are being applied to larger conservation efforts. Moreover, the conservation research that takes place in situ and ex situ is important in saving small fragmented wild populations. Third, zoos directly influence the attitudes and behaviors of the community in relation to the conservation of plants, animals, and habitats. Due to their urban locations within heavily populated cities, zoos have a unique geographic placement within the community. The urban location of zoos provides them with a unique opportunity to influence government policy. Fourth, the zoo is a conservation mentor. Through mentoring efforts, future generations of scientists and citizens will be more aware of the benefits of long-term conservation. As conservation mentors, zoos must lead the public to become citizen conservationist. Fifth, zoos are a place for people to learn basic facts about organisms and their behavior.

Ultimately, in this century, we have begun to realize that the way we display animals truly affects the way people view them and people speaking reverentially, and quietly before exhibits that were truly natural. Just as often standing before, old barren cages, I saw zoogoers yell, throw food and make fun of the animals inside. (Croke, 1997, p.93) Today’s zoos serve two basic functions: community resource and conservation entity (Hanna, 1996, p. 76). Some individuals and groups view zoos and aquariums as prisons for animals. If we, as zookeepers, maintain our facilities with humanity and high standards, we needn’t hang our heads and call ourselves wardens. We can instead look at our facilities with pride and see them as bridges between our visiting public and the wild they may never see. We can look our captive charges in the eye as we treat them with the respect due the highest-level ambassadors—ambassadors of the wild. (Hanna, 1996, p. 82)

Today, zoos, by their own definition, are conservation organizations and recognize themselves as places which are involved in the conservation of flora/fauna. However, the primary reasons cited by visitors for visiting a zoo are for the educational benefit of children and to see animals. Animals can and do interest visitors without the additional interpretation provided by institutions. As a specimen on display in a zoo, the animal becomes an “exhibit” and takes on the “mantle of history” and becomes part of the story that the zoo wants to tell. The animal specimen is part of the evidence for its species characteristics, just as a human artifact is evidence for aspects of human civilization. Furthermore, industrialization and urbanization are reducing students’ direct interactions with nonurban nature. Due to the reduced contact people have with nonurban nature, interest in the variety of living things is perhaps becoming redirected toward human artifacts. As the world becomes more urbanized, our personal experiences with animals become more isolated, in many cases limited to domesticated pets and urban species. No matter how zoos choose to get their message to visitors, education is their most important conservation function.

Today, more than ever, zoos need to think harder [about] why they are there and what role they will fill in conservation, education, and research. Millions of dollars go to house artwork in museums, but there are more Rembrandts in the world than there are Siberian tigers. (Hutchins, 2003 , p. 25)

As discussed in the second chapter, the functionality of zoos has evolved drastically since the 1820s, when the main focus was to display a vast collection of exotic animals for public enjoyment (Conway, 2003 ; Rabb, 2004 ). Zoos originally emerged as a place of scientific collections. The London Zoo is the predecessor of the modern zoo. This institution’s founding body, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), envisioned the zoo as a scientific collection for the advancement of zoology as well as comparative physiology of animals. In the beginning, the zoo was open only to members of the ZSL and their guests, but the financial demands of maintenance and upkeep influenced the opening of the zoo to a paying public. The business of the zoo would from then on be influenced by the zoo visitor, and the survival of zoos would be based upon the public’s perception of the everyday role it plays in society.

Originally, most zoos were created as a place for recreation with an emphasis on biological literacy. The conservation of wildlife diversity and biological conservation education were not the most pressing issues to zoo founders. Indeed, the original pedagogical approach of zoos was to display animals in rows of enclosures so that people could see strange creatures and make comparative observations of the physical form of different species. As zoos developed during the 1960s, in addition to places of fun and family recreation, they saw themselves as having four functions: recreation, education, research, and conservation (Nichols, 1996 ). In the 1970s, as ecological concerns began to emerge, zoos could no longer justify themselves as primarily entertainment facilities and started to consider making conservation their central role (Hancocks, 2001 ). During the 1970s, zoo professionals began conservation programs, and the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) maintained that conservation had become its highest priority (Hancocks, 2001 ; Reed, 1973 ). Today, due to the deteriorating link between humans and the nonurban natural world, zoos are coming under pressure to develop conservation plans and educate the public about the living world while maintaining financial stability. Therefore, zoos have evolved to include education as a priority along with conservation and research (Karkaria & Karkaria, 1998 ; Patrick, Matthews, Ayers, & Tunnicliffe, 2007a ; Patrick, Matthews, Tunnicliffe, & Ayers, 2007b ). Modern zoos work to bring biological conservation to the forefront of their educational programs and have the potential to shape public opinion, to encourage empathetic attitudes toward wildlife, and to educate the public about ecology, evolution, and wild organisms.

Presently, zoos must justify their existence against a constant barrage of anticaptivity and animal rights groups, who dispute that any education is taking place and promote the idea that zoos exist purely as a form of entertainment at the expense of the organism’s natural instincts. Some critics of zoos have gone so far as to compare the exhibits of animals to pornography and suggest there is a negative educational impact on zoo visitors (Acampora, 2005 ; Wagoner & Jensen, 2010 ). Acampora ( 1998 ) believes that zoos are not educationally beneficial because

…the public is largely indifferent to zoo education efforts (few stop even to look at, let alone read, explanatory placards); animals are viewed briefly and in rapid succession; people tend to concentrate on so-called babies and beggars—their cute countenances and funny antics capture audience attention (Ludwig 1981 ). Of course, this sort of amusement is at the heart of what a zoo is (scientific ideologies of self-promotion notwithstanding). Consequently, and insidiously, what visits to the zoo instruct and reinforce over and over again is the subliminal message that nonhuman animals are here in order to entertain us humans. Even when, during our deluded moments of enlightenment, we insist that they are here rather to edify—even then their presence is still essentially assigned to or for us . Thus the phenomenological grammar of their appearance precludes the possibility of full otherness arising; this is what it means to put and keep a live body on display (a structural inauthenticity [sic] that remains despite the best intentions of humanitarian/ecologic pedagogy). (p.2)

The evolution of how a zoo defines itself is dependent on the public’s perceptions of the zoo’s contributions to society. The problem is that the day-to-day operations of the zoo go unnoticed, and citizens do not realize that the zoo’s practices have an immeasurable and direct impact on the community and wildlife. Therefore, it is important to validate the existence of zoos through the programs they offer, their contributions to society, and the perceptions that the zoo-going public hold regarding these institutions. Zoos typically identify their own self-worth through their mission statement.

The [AZA] ( 2011a ) defines the mission of zoos as striving to be global leaders in “animal care, wildlife conservation and science, conservation education, the guest experience, and community engagement.” Patrick, Matthews, Ayers & Tunnicliffe, ( 2007a ) and Patrick, P., Matthews, C., Tunnicliffe & Ayers, ( 2007b ) analyzed AZA-accredited zoos’ mission statements and established that there are seven main themes in zoo mission statements: (1) education , (2) conservation , (3) recreation , (4) facilities , (5) research , (6) administration , and (7) culture . In addition to the seven themes found in mission statements, the literature identifies five main purposes of zoos: (1) exhibiting animals for the public (Mazur & Clark, 2001 ), (2) providing education (Clayton, Fraser, & Saunders, 2009 ; Ogden & Heimlich, 2009 ; Owen, Murphy, & Parsons, 2009 ; Price, Vining, & Saunders, 2009 ; Visscher, Snider, & Stoep, 2009 ), (3) conservation ( Ballantyne, Packer, Hughes, & Dierking, 2007 ; Wagoner, Chessler, York, & Raynor, 2009), (4) research (Fernandez & Timberlake, 2008 ; Hutchins & Thompson, 2008 ; Kolbert, 1995 ; Rabb, 2004 ), and (5) providing recreational opportunities for visitors (Bostock, 1993 ; Chizar, Murphy, & Lliff, 1990 ; Martin, 2000 ). There are overlaps in how zoos define themselves through their mission statements and how the literature defines the purposes of zoos. Even though modern zoos are placed in a unique position in which they can serve numerous functions, the average zoogoer does not understand the intricacies and mélange of their purposes (addressed in 10.1007/978-94-007-4863-7_4).

Part of realizing the zoo’s role in conservation is informing and involving the public in the conservation mission. Zoos are in a unique position to provide environmental education and biological conservation education to large numbers of visitors. In 2007, 132 (96%) of the 137 AZA-accredited zoo mission statements include education as a predominant theme (Patrick, Matthews, Ayers, et al., 2007 ; Patrick, Matthews, Tunnicliffe, et al., 2007 ). However, no mission statements made a direct or specific reference to biological conservation education. Mission statements used the words conservation and education but not together. Therefore, a reference to education in the mission statement does not match the literature’s specific call for biological conservation education. As early as 1989, the Zoological Society of Philadelphia stated that the modern zoo was failing to realize its potential for biological conservation education. Moreover, in 1994 , Koebner stated that biological conservation education had become the first priority of accredited zoos and aquariums. The 1993 Conservation Organization Strategy (IUDZG/CBSG, 1993 ) developed specific goals for zoo conservation education: “(1) make it clear that nature conservation affects everyone, (2) increase public awareness of the connections between consumption and lifestyle and the survival of species and biological systems, and (3) inform the public about the threatened status of animals (p. 25).” However, zoo mission statements do not state they are specifically interested in conservation education. Zoo mission statements identify education as a general term, which could include knowledge of plants and animals, taxonomy, habitats, behavior, etc. Since 1994, the literature has focused specifically on biological conservation education (Clayton, Fraser, & Saunders, 2009 ; Ogden & Heimlich, 2009 ; Owen, Murphy, & Parsons, 2009 ; Price, Vining, & Saunders, 2009 ; Visscher, Snider, & Stoep, 2009 ) instead of the previously mentioned learning about plants and animals. Now, individual zoos need to specify biological conservation education as a mission and purpose, if biological conservation education is in fact their main goal.

Zoo mission statements may not define zoos as responsible for conservation education, but today’s research literature specifically identifies conservation education as the prominent theme of zoos. A Google Scholar ( http://scholar.google.com ) search, inserting “zoo conservation education” as the search term, reveals that 5,500 documents are available on the topic since 2007. Therefore, zoo education research is shifting toward looking at zoos as sources of conservation education. The specific aim of biological conservation education is to develop lifelong knowledge and skills for conservation action. Biological conservation education recognizes the central role of people in all nature conservation efforts and is designed to people and their perceived roles in nature. Biological conservation education promotes the public education and awareness of the conservation of biodiversity by providing information about species and their natural habitats and working to develop a relationship between the public, wildlife, and wild habitats (AZA, 2011a ; International Zoo Educators Association [IZEA], 2011 ; World Association of Zoos and Aquariums [WAZA], 2011 ). The zoos of the world have a unique role to play in the global efforts to make people conscious of the role of zoos in biological conservation (Carr, 2011 ; Hancocks, 2001 ; IUDZG/CBSG, 1993 ; IZEA, 2011 ; Sommer, 1972 ). Therefore, it is not only important that zoos formally define their role in education, but it is imperative that they define their role in biological conservation education.

The World Conservation Strategy (IUDZG/CBSG, 1993 ) defines conservation education in zoos as

… explaining the irreplaceable value of the entire biological system of our planet and all of its constituent components…conservation education in zoos can make it clear that nature conservation affects everyone, and that everyone needs to be concerned with it. They should play an active role in increasing the public and political awareness of the connections between consumption and lifestyle and the survival of species and biological systems. Conservation education includes informing the public about the threatened status of the species of zoo animals, and other animals which are taxonomically and/or geographically related. Conservation education in zoos can make it clear that nature conservation affects everyone, and that everyone needs to be concerned with it. (p. 25)

The International Zoo Educators Association states that biological conservation education is

… the process of influencing people’s attitudes, emotions, knowledge, and behaviors about wildlife and wild places. This is done through the efforts of skilled educators and interpreters, who use a variety of techniques, methods, and assessments to reconnect people with the natural world. (IZEA, 2011 )

Zoos give visitors the opportunity to see unique organisms, as well as a chance to learn more about familiar animals. During these close encounters, zoos have the attention of individuals, which gives them an opportunity, be it short, to emphasize their importance and the importance of conservation (Falk & Dierking, 2000 ; Tunnicliffe, 1995 , 1996 ). Currently, conservation messages are shifting from endangerment and captive breeding to the importance of saving habitat (Mazur & Clark, 2001 ). As zoo programs continue to grow and improve, students and teachers remain a core audience served by classes, tours, outreach programs, and special curricular materials. Progress in conservation depends on reaching out to schools through educational opportunities and advancing public understanding of science issues and human roles in conservation.

Conservation

Conservation of endangered species and their habitats is a key role of zoos. Through their mission statements, zoos characterize their role in conservation as practice and/or advocacy (Patrick, Matthews, Ayers, et al., 2007a ; Patrick, Matthews, Tunnicliffe, et al., 2007b ). AZA defines zoos as conservation centers that are responsible for ecosystem health and species survival. To inform AZA of their conservation and research contributions, each AZA-accredited zoo submits data to the AZA Annual Report on Conservation and Science (ARCS) database. The ARCS database accounts for the $90 million that zoos spend each year on conservation initiatives and tracks over 3,700 conservation projects (AZA, 2011b ). The World Association for Zoos and Aquariums has branded over 185 projects as conservation endeavors. Fifty percent of these projects were directed at the conservation of mammals (Dick, 2010 ). Zoos’ conservation programs are important because the rate at which species are becoming extinct or threatened is occurring at a faster rate than at any time in Earth’s recent history (Rogers, & Laffoley, 2011 ; Convention on Biological Diversity, 2010 ).

Zoological institutions are continuing to evolve into centers of wildlife conservation (Rabb & Saunders, 2005 ). Human population growth has led to the loss of habitat, habitat fragmentation, overhunting, climate change, and invasive species producing unnatural environmental stresses on wild populations (Bertram, 2004 ). The extinction of a single plant or animal has an unmeasurable effect on the surrounding ecosystem and represents not only the loss of a plant or animal but also the loss of millions of years of genetic evolution and adaptation (Cameron et al., 2011 ; Fonseca, 2009 ). In order to combat the loss of genetic variability, many zoos have frozen zoos, in which they freeze plant seeds and/or animal tissue. Plant-frozen zoos have been established by the Millennium Seed Bank Kew Gardens (UK) and the Missouri Botanical Garden (USA). Animal-frozen zoos were first established at the San Diego Zoo in the 1970s (Linington, 2000 ). In 2004, the Frozen Ark Project was established and invited zoos to be active participants. The Frozen Ark Project saves animal tissue with the goal of saving “the genetic material of threatened animals species and, where possible, their viable cells before they become extinct” (Clarke, 2009 , p. 222). Each 1 cm² tissue contains thousands of cells and holds the entire genome of the animal. By sampling and preserving DNA, viable somatic cell cultures, and gametes in cryogenic labs, the Frozen Ark Project offers researchers the ability to develop new in vitro and ex situ techniques which can save some species from complete extinction, especially those which are difficult to breed in captivity (Clarke). These vast databases can lead to a better understanding of the interplay of cytogenetics and infectious disease and play a more crucial role in biosurveillance. With the recent outbreaks of West Nile virus, SARS, and monkeypox, researchers have turned to zoos’ frozen collections for genetic samples and tissue.

All AZA-accredited zoos are required to have a conservation plan in their mission statement, and the goal of each institution should be to have a “measureable impact on wildlife conservation” (AZA, 2011b ). However, setting zoos’ goals and policies for conservation action is increasingly a scientific, monetary, and political endeavor with numerous factors influencing the selection of ecosystem species (Leader-Williams et al., 2007 ). Some AZA-accredited zoos do participate in restoration programs. People believe that zoos are saving large numbers of mammalian species, when in reality, much of the conservation that occurs is the sustainability of small populations of animals. The conservation of these small numbers is safeguarding the species against extinction with the prospect of reintroducing them into the wild. Additionally, many of these species are used to raise funds and public awareness of environmental issues such as deforestation and habitat destruction (Bertram, 2004 ; Turley, 1999 ).

There are several examples of the conservation work zoos do with small, localized populations. One such example is the California Condor. In 1952, the San Diego Zoo established a captive breeding program to increase the wild populations. In the 1980s, growing concern of high mortality rates for the California Condor led to a massive effort to rescue this majestic animal from sure extinction as a result of lead poisoning from ingesting bullets lodged in carcasses. By 1987, only 27 individuals remained, but breeding efforts saw an exponential growth of captive populations, and by 1992, reintroduction efforts began. By 1999, 88 birds had been released in 16 separate attempts (Meretsky, Snyder, Beissinger, Clendenen, & Wiley, 2000 ). Currently, the Los Angeles Zoo, the San Diego Wild Animal Park, the Portland Zoo, and the World Center for Birds of Prey in Idaho have very successful captive breeding programs. There are around 370 living California Condors with about 180 living in the wild, but the threats of lead poisoning and habitat destruction are still difficult barriers in the wild populations. Other US reintroduction programs include the black-footed ferret at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and the Smithsonian National Zoo, the Karner blue butterfly at the Toledo Zoo, and the desert antelope and the Mexican wolf also at the Smithsonian (AZA, 2011c ; Smithsonian National Zoological Park [SNZP], 2011 ; Sweet, 2006 ).

One of the main tenets of zoo mission statements is the involvement of zoo staff and researchers in zoo wildlife conservation programs. However, zoos need to involve the public in their conservation and reintroduction programs to make them more successful. For example, the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust runs the Toadwatch campaign. The Toadwatch campaign asks people in the community to report when and where they see the Jersey toad ( Bufo bufo ), known locally as crapaud. Since 2005, the trust has recorded over 300 separate sightings and determined that the Jersey toad population is declining in natural ponds and increasing in garden ponds. In addition to reporting their Jersey toad sightings, volunteers participate in the Toads on Roads campaign. On wet, warm winter nights, volunteers pick up toads, weigh and measure them, and carry them across busy roads (Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, 2011 ). Zoos are also working with local farmers and local community environmental watch programs to develop conservation programs. For example, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is working with Indonesian farmers in southern Sumatra to develop a peaceful coexistence with local elephants ( http://www.wcsip.org/ ). Moreover, the WCS has worked with the local community and conservation groups to bring back the Bronx River in New York. The Bronx River was heavily polluted but is now home to native fish species that have since returned.

The work at the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust proves that citizen scientists are an important resource in gathering large amounts of data over a vast area and citizen conservationists are an essential part of ensuring the survival of a species. Citizen conservationists are individuals who are inspired to take action in caring for natural resources, maintaining local wildlife habitats, and participating in local environmental conservation efforts. It is now the role of the zoo to figure out how their work in conservation and their animal displays can be a bridge between people and conservation action, inspiring individuals to become citizen conservationist .

Recreation or Entertainment

Even though zoos tout conservation and biological conservation education as their main goals and promote a conservation image, 69% of AZA-accredited zoo mission statements state that the zoo is for recreation (Patrick, Matthews, Ayers, et al., 2007a ; Patrick, Matthews, Tunnicliffe, et al., 2007b ). Moreover, public perceptions persist that zoos are places of entertainment rather than institutions of scholarly, scientific, or conservation pursuits (Bitgood, 1988 ; Frost, 2010 ; Kellert & Dunlap, 1989 ). Even though 60% of US zoo visitors state that zoos are places for education (Lessow, 1990 ), few people visit zoos with the declared aim to be educated. People generally visit zoos to be entertained (Martin, 2000 ). Zoos in developed countries compete with other attractions for the leisure time of visitors, while zoos in less-developed countries are one of the few available places for recreation. Even when adults recognize the educational importance of zoos, they do not visit the zoo intending to learn, but they encourage their children to do so (Lessow, 1990 ). As far back as 1885, the prospectus of the Zoological Society of London suggested that “vulgar admiration” was not the objective of their animal collection (Jordan & Ormrod, 1978 ). However, despite the educational and scientific aspirations of the learned society, the zoological garden became a place for a leisure visit.

Balancing the role of conservation advocate, educator, and recreational promoter is a major issue facing zoos (Tribe, 2004 ). However, when zoo specialists say that “you should use your selling experiences to advocate your mission (Holst, 2010 )” and that zoo websites are “places to increase revenue (Israel, 2011 )” and “the website’s number one job is commerce not conservation education (Israel, 2011 ),” then the mission is entertainment not conservation. In the past, zoos have relied solely on live animals to draw visitors to the zoo. Today, the mission is selling an experience that the zoo hopes will bring people to the end goal of recognizing the importance of the zoo. In the past, zoos have utilized animal shows, 3D IMAX adventures, traveling art shows, informational carts, overnight camps, Halloween celebrations, and the announcement of babies on display to entertain people and increase visitorship. In today’s digital world, these ploys are not enough. To address the need for more entertainment experiences, zoos provide enrichment activities for the visitor as well as for the animals. The Ocean Park zoo of Hong Kong and the Chessington World of Adventures in England combine animal exhibits with entertaining, rollercoaster rides. Visitors are provided with the opportunity to get their photo taken with an elephant, wash an elephant, participate in ropes courses, ride on zip lines, and ride in swan boats (Ellis, 2010 ; Garner, 2010 ; Holst, 2010 ). The John Ball Zoo recently added ropes courses to get 12–13-year-olds to visit the zoo. Holst stated that since the ropes courses were added, sales in the gift shop had increased, and zoo visitors stayed 20 minutes longer, thus increasing the zoos opportunity to deliver their biological conservation message to visitors. Providing zoo visitors with entertainment for an additional 20 minutes does not translate to more time to teach them the conservation message of the zoo, but 20 minutes of involvement in a conservation-related project does.

Facilities have been addressed in 54% of AZA mission statements. Patrick, Matthews, Ayers, et al. ( 2007 ) and Patrick, Matthews, Tunnicliffe, et al. ( 2007 ) have found that the term most prominently used when describing the zoo’s facilities is exhibits. The educational importance and influence of exhibits are discussed in 10.1007/978-94-007-4863-7_5; therefore, exhibits are not discussed in detail in this chapter. At present, zoos are changing their approach to exhibit design and their facilities. Hands-on laboratories, interactive technology, computer simulations, teleconferencing centers, discovery rooms, and immersion exhibits are now an integral part of what zoos have to offer. Classrooms are being built around themes such as habitats, biogeography, and educational expeditions. Zoos are taking into account their own learning objectives and that of national and state educational standards. Zoos are developing zoo schools in cooperation with their local school system. The idea of education for all visitors is apparent in their more recent pursuits to build libraries and teaching resource centers (Carr, 2011 ).

In addition to exhibiting animals, the institution’s facilities must be maintained. The everyday maintenance of the zoo, including animal care, is a sensitive matter that requires knowledge and skill. The average visitor may think that animal care means that the animals are clean, properly fed, and have adequate space, but there are many facets of animal care. Superior health, husbandry, and welfare of zoo collections are of paramount importance to any AZA – (AZA, 2011b ) and European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA, 2011a ) – accredited institution. The priority of the zoo is not merely feeding the animals. Animal diet is an important aspect of maintaining healthy, breeding animals. EAZA ( 2011b ) states that:

Providing a good diet, which fulfills as many aspects of natural feeding ecology as possible, is an essential consideration in the welfare of zoo animals. As a basic foundation of animal management, nutrition is also integral to longevity, disease prevention, growth and reproduction. Proper feeding management incorporates husbandry skills and applied nutritional sciences.

During the 1960s, many zoos employed the services of licensed veterinarians to monitor the health and breeding of captive animals (Puan & Zakaria, 2007 ). The AZA recommends that all accredited institutions employ an on-site veterinarian. However, in some cases, zoos do not have the financial support to employ a full-time veterinarian. Therefore, all zoos are required to have a part-time veterinarian that inspects the collection twice a month and is able to respond quickly in case of emergencies. In other words, zoos must have a veterinarian available 24 hours a day. Additionally, zoos participate in year-round pest control, test for pathogens that could potentially ravage their collections, and use preventative measures such as quarantining newly arrived and sick animals (AZA, 2011c ).

AZA ( 2011b ) states that A commitment to scientific research, both basic and applied, is a trademark of the modern zoological park and aquarium. An AZA accredited institution must have a demonstrated commitment to scientific research that is in proportion to the size and scope of its facilities, staff and animal collections (p. 14).

Even though research is considered essential by zoological institutions (Benirschke, 1987 ) and 37% of AZA-accredited zoos include research as a mandate in their missions (Patrick, Matthews, Ayers, et al., 2007 ; Patrick, Matthews, Tunnicliffe, et al., 2007 ), historically, zoos have not been regarded as elite research institutions. Previously, zoos have worked with each other to share animal collections and study behavior of captive animals. The in situ and ex situ research conducted by zoos has traditionally been considered isolated from universities and research institutions (Turley, 1999 ). Today, however, zoological institutions are becoming more engaged in collaborative studies with major research institutions. Moreover, the EAZA states that one of their main objectives is “to promote the potential conservation value of zoo and aquarium research among authorities, universities, and conservation bodies (EAZA, 2011c ).” Zoos are involved in animal research programs at universities and in research concerning infectious diseases (McNamara, 2007 ; Turley, 1999 ).

Zoological institutions’ in situ scientific research has driven the standards of animal husbandry and behavior and has produced visible results. Animals in zoos provide valuable data concerning the behavior of both captive and wild-living populations (Barbosa, 2009 ; Watters, Margulis, & Atsalis, 2009 ). Since the 1980s, much of the research conducted in zoos has involved the psychological health of captive animals. Monitoring the animals’ daily behaviors plays a significant role in the assessment of animal well-being. The psychological health of captive animals can have drastic consequences on its physiological health. To address the psychological, social, nutritional, and physical health of the animal collection and the public’s view of zoos, modern zoos aim to display animals in what are deemed naturalistic environments. Traditional cages are no longer considered healthy for the animals and the visitor.

Zoological institutions have concluded that in situ behavior may not mimic the behaviors normally seen in the organism’s natural environment. For example, zoological institutions have found that breeding success is not a determinant of an animal’s mental health. Some domestic animals breed readily in captive environments and in close proximity to humans. This might explain why these animals were selected for domestication. Domestic dogs will breed even in cramped and unsanitary conditions, such as breeding farms and puppy mills. A number of wild animals living in captivity also follow this breeding pattern, including certain species of monkeys, anteaters, and birds. The previously named organisms have been documented reproducing in small cages and under stressful stimuli. Conversely, some animals such as the giant panda, mountain gorilla, and rhinoceros have difficulty breeding in captivity and require assistance from zoo personnel. The welfare of the organism is a priority (Wickins-Drazilova, 2006 ), but breeding is paramount from a conservation standpoint. In fact, the in situ research at zoological institutions has made great advances in animal husbandry. As a result of the research conducted, zoos have reduced the need to capture wild animals to maintain their collections and are striving to release animals back into their natural environment (AZA, 2011d ). The genetic exchange programs zoos have developed help maintain the genetic diversity of the collection (Bertram, 2004 ; Bostock, 1993 ; Watters et al . , 2009 ; Wickins-Drazilova, 2006 ).

Even though zoological institutions have established that there is a relationship between long life and overall health (Bostock, 1993 ), the animals that live in zoos, on average, enjoy a longer lifespan than most captive animals. This is a result of being kept in a controlled environment with access to routine expert veterinary care. Zoo animals receive superior medical care and may play a key role in public health. Exotic animals are highly susceptible to foreign pathogens. Therefore, they are monitored daily through observations and blood tests. The results of the test can alert the animal management team and the public health organization of possible epidemics. For example, in 1999, wild crows began dying at an alarming rate, and epidemiologists were scrambling to find the cause, and exotic birds began to die at the Bronx Zoo. When the zoo-owned birds began to die, the zoo’s veterinarian rushed to uncover the underlying cause in fear that other collections might become infected. The zoo uncovered the link between mass avian deaths and human disease when they determined that the West Nile virus was responsible for the birds’ deaths. Even though zoos had played a vital role in the detection of the disease common in Africa and the Middle East, the results were not immediately released to the public. In 1999, zoos were not seen as a viable research institution and were considered disconnected from the mainstream public health (McNamara, 2007 ).

When animals are kept in captivity, they may exhibit undesirable and unnatural behaviors such as pacing, head swaying, and staring (Bostock, 1993 ; Wickins-Drazilova, 2006 ). The monitoring programs at zoos identify the circumstances in which stereotypic behaviors exist. As zoos have evolved so has their management of captive animals. They have been active in pursuing optimal care for the organisms and designing zoo exhibits. In situ research in zoological institutions provides a wealth of knowledge in captive breeding, behaviors, and effective environmental stimuli.

Animal husbandry, behavioral monitoring, and epidemiology are not the only scientific endeavors that take place within zoo collections. Contemporary research is concerning itself with climate change and global warming and the effects these have on captive and wild animals. As geologists have uncovered the geological patterns of long-term climate change, they have revealed periods of glaciation and extreme drought. Geologists believe glaciation and drought, in particular regions of the world, may have lead to megafaunal extinctions. Taking these geological patterns into consideration, zoological institutions are paying closer attention to the changes in the health of their animal collections and wild populations as they relate to environmental health. Although zoo animals live in controlled environments, they may offer some insight into parasitic infections and zoonotic diseases (Barbosa, 2009 ). As the climate warms, infections and diseases may become more prevalent. The Wildlife Conservation Society has found an increase of fly larva infecting baby birds in Argentina due to an increasingly muggy climate. The parasitic maggots burrow into the skin of nesting chicks and can kill the baby birds or cause abnormal growth (WCS, 2010 ).

The science of global warming and climatology is a relatively new research frontier for zoos. Because zoos have 150 years of meteorological, climatological, and geographical data (Barbosa, 2009 ), they are well positioned to be research leaders in climate change and its effects. We term this new science bio-climatogeography . Bio-climatogeography uses the meteorological data gathered by zoos and their geographical locations to determine how ecosystems, plants, and animals will react to global climate change and climatic patterns. Research into understanding the role zoos play in the critical issues of conservation is only beginning.

Culture and Society

Zoos are cultural institutions (Wharton, 2011 ). Throughout the historical development of zoos, they have been a part of society and have matured into important institutions that reflect current cultural and societal changes ( Ballantyne et al., 2007 ; Fraser & Wharton, 2007 ; Hoage & Deiss, 1996 ; Marino, Lilienfeld, Malamud, Nobis, & Broglio, 2010 ). Zoos’ architectural and exhibit designs reflect the past and present cultural impacts and subsequently project cultural perspectives to zoo visitors (Tarlow, 2001 ).

Society has and will probably continue to view zoological collections as centers of recreation. However, zoos perceive themselves as providing society with an enriching connection to conservation, biology, and organisms. Although the mission statements of zoos emphasize conservation, education, and research, zoos appear to be devoted to providing an enjoyable experience in a fun atmosphere. Now, zoos’ goals need to focus on devising a plan that utilizes enjoyable, entertaining experiences to encourage informal education as the zoo increases much-needed revenue. Zoos need to utilize their marketing strategies and present information regarding their scientific activities. The style in which they choose to publicize their scientific and conservation endeavors must be interesting and entertaining. For example, the North Carolina Zoological Park produces ZooFilez with a local television news station. ZooFilez provides viewers with an opportunity to learn about organisms and the zoo’s conservation efforts. According to a survey of 270 high school students living in the same county as the North Carolina Zoological Park, 90 students were aware of ZooFilez and stated their knowledge of zoos was gleaned from ZooFilez (Patrick & Tunnicliffe, 2009 ). Zoos can fulfill their commitments to conservation and research as well as deliver quality conservation education.

Globalization and other environmental factors have led to a not-so-promising future. The relationship between human impact and habitat sustainability may not be easily conveyed through a simple visit to the zoo, but zoos must continue to communicate their message. Zoos hold the key to shaping the future relationship between society and nature. Most zoos have a limited capacity and are not able to manage large areas of natural habitats. However, all zoos assume five roles as the executor of the relationship between society and nature.

First, zoos take on the role of the “model citizen” by conveying a conservation message. They advocate for a sensible, sustainable use of natural resources and promote less wasteful, green-building alternatives. Many zoological institutions are developing organizational plans that include the use of solar, wind, and thermal power in their daily operations. Additionally, they are growing food for the animals, composting, and using recycled materials in their exhibit design. Second, zoos are maintaining a viable and genetically diverse collection. Zoos are managed under the premise that wildlife conservation is of foremost importance. As zoological institutions have become more active in field studies (i.e., dallaszoo.com/conservation/cs3_current), their research findings are being applied to larger conservation efforts. Moreover, the conservation research that takes place in situ and ex situ is important in saving small fragmented wild populations. Third, zoos directly influence the attitudes and behaviors of the community in relation to the conservation of plants, animals, and habitats. Due to their urban locations within heavily populated cities, zoos have a unique geographic placement within the community. The urban location of zoos provides them with a unique opportunity to influence government policy. Fourth, the zoo is a conservation mentor. Through mentoring efforts, future generations of scientists and citizens will be more aware of the benefits of long-term conservation (Rabb, 2004 ). As conservation mentors, zoos must lead the public to become citizen conservationist. Fifth, zoos are a place for people to learn basic facts about organisms and their behavior.

This is a technological era in which electronics rule our daily lives, and their use has become second nature. Information is available at the click of a button, but nothing can replace the mental health that interacting within nature provides (Louv, 2006 ). Even though most organisms in zoos are exotics, they do represent organisms in a simulated natural setting. Viewing animals in a naturalistic, though simulated, setting provides a sensory response that two-dimensional representations cannot duplicate (Broad & Smith, 2004 ; Rabb, 2004 ). Although it is difficult to measure the impact of a single zoo visit on an individual’s behavior, zoos frequently ask visitors to participate in surveys that gauge the efficacy of the biological conservation message. Zoo visitors, even if it is their first visit, have preexisting knowledge of zoos (Patrick, 2010 , 2011 ). A zoo visit may be the only interaction that a person living in an urban setting has with wildlife. Children are out of touch with nature, and their knowledge of organisms and biological conservation may be based on media, books, and formal classroom education (Falk et al., 2007 ; Patrick & Tunnicliffe, 2011 ; Rabb & Saunders, 2005 ). The number of zoo visitors each year looks promising. Each year, AZA-accredited institutions tout approximately 140 million visits. However, this statistic does not take into account repeat visitors who have a deeply rooted curiosity of organisms and biological conservation. How can zoos encourage people who are not interested in research, conservation, education, or the use of organisms for entertainment to visit? How can teachers utilize zoos as places for student research and education? Zoos and educators should capitalize on the human need to experience the diversity of the natural world and the knowledge people have of zoos.

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Short Essay on the Importance of Study of Zoology

1. Zoology and our Food – Many of us take eggs and meat of different animals and almost all of us use the milk of cows and buffaloes. The study of zoology helps us to increase the number and improve the quality of animals that give us eggs, meat and milk.

2. Zoology and industry – From animals, we get many things of daily use e.g. leather, horn, shells, honey, wax, pearls etc. many industries are based on these products and the study of zoology helps in their useful utilization.

3. Zoology and Agriculture – A study of Zoology helps us to understands properly the life of many insect that harm our crops and enables us to control them to a large extent. An agriculturist is thus benefited.

4. Zoology and Human diseases – Many diseases are due to animals which cause and transmit them the drugs are tested on animals before using them on human beings. Similarly, much of our knowledge of human physiology and surgery has come from experiments and dissections of other animals. The study of zoology is therefore, very helpful to a medical man in curing the therefore, very helpful to a medical man in curing the diseases and performing life saving surgical operations.

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5. Zoology and Improvement of Humans Race – With the study of genetics and eugenics human race can be improved a lot. It gives us an insight into our heredity and betterment.

6. Zoology and Aesthetics – Many animals give us aesthetic, pleasure, Fishes birds and butter flies are kept for entertainment and hobby.

7. Zoology and mental Improvement – Many people believe that the bite of all snakes is deadly and lizards are poisonous but the study of zoology tells us that only a few snakes are poisonous and lizards are non-poisonous. Zoology helps to clear several such misconceptions.

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Essay on Zoology: Top 6 Essays

Here is an essay on ‘Zoology’ for class 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Find paragraphs, long and short essays on ‘Zoology’ especially written for school and college students.

Essay on Zoology

Essay Contents:

Essay on the Importance of the Study of Zoology

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Essay # 1. Meaning of Zoology:

Zoology (Gr., zoion = animal + logos – study) is the; branch of life sciences that deals with the animal organisms as contrasted to botany, the science that is concerned with the plant organisms. Zoology and botany make up the science of biology (Gr., bios = life + logos = study) or the study of living things.

Biology is the branch of science which investigates the origin, structure, functions and distribution of life in all its forms. Both zoology and botany seek to establish; exact and quantitative principles for the basic organisation of living system.

Essay # 2. Relation of Zoology to Other Sciences :

All the sciences are inter-related. Although biology uses physics, chemistry and other physical sciences in explaining its phenomena, biological principles are not merely an application of physicochemical laws. The laws of many life processes have no counterparts in physics or chemistry.

Many biological concepts can be expressed mathematically but others cannot. Biological sciences at present are often restricted to mere descriptive statements of general phenomena without quantitative connotation.

Biological systems are represented by many levels of organisation, not all of which have been resolved into concise concepts and testable theories. Many branches of study serve to connect biology to other sciences, such as paleontology, biophysics and biochemistry. There has been a marked trend for some time towards a synthesis of the biological sciences with other sciences.

Essay # 3. Subdivisions of Zoology :

Zoology is such a vast subject that advanced workers in the field tend to specialise in one or more of the subdivisions in which they can hope to become very proficient. The subdivisions are grouped according to two types of approach.

I. Subdivisions According to Subject Matter :

a. Morphology (Gr., morphe = form; logos – study):

The study of the physical structure of organisms.

(i) External morphology:

The study of external features of animals.

(ii) Anatomy (Gr., ana = up; tome = cutting):

The study of gross structure of the internal organs by dissection, that which can be seen with the naked eyes.

(iii) Comparative anatomy:

The study of gross structure emphasizing similarities and differences between animals.

(iv) Histology (Gr., histos = tissue; logos = study):

The study of fine (microscopic) structure of tissues, which include the cells and their intercellular materials.

(v) Cytology (Gr., kytos = hollow vessel; logos = study):

The study of the detailed structure of individual cells and their components.

b. Physiology (Gr., physis = nature; logos = study):

The study of functional mechanism of animals. The method of digestion of food in the human body and the way in which cells construct new protoplasm are typical physiological aspects of zoology.

(i) Cellular physiology:

The study of internal functions of cells and their components.

(ii) Comparative physiology:

The study of the similarities and differences between functional mechanisms of different animals.

(iii) Physiological chemistry:

The study of animal functions involving chemical reactions.

(iv) Systematic physiology:

The study of the functions of organs and organ systems.

(v) Pathological physiology:

The study of disturbances that occur in various functions of the organism during certain diseases.

c. Taxonomy (Gr., taxis = organisation; nomos = law):

The study of the classification of animals into logical groups; the study of the evolutionary relationship of animals with one another.

d. Endocrinology (Gx.,endon = within; krinein = to separate; logos = study):

The study of endocrine glands and the hormone actions in animals.

e. Embryology (Gr., embryon = embryo; logos = study):

The study of development of organism from its beginning until it reaches a form of recognisable as the adult type. Since most animals have their beginning as single cells, embryology starts when the single cell begins divisions and continues with the formation of the various body parts until all the basic adult characteristics are present.

This termination is at birth if the animal is a mammal, or at the hatching of the egg for most other forms of animal life.

f. Ecology (Gr., oikos = house; logos = study):

The study of organisms in relation to their environment. An example would be how a certain animal gets its food, what animals threaten it, how it protects itself from those animals and how it survives un-favourable climatic conditions.

g. Genetics (Gr., genesis – origin):

The study of heredity and variations. It seeks to find the explanation for similarities and differences between parents and their offspring. Since the basic unit of the heredity is gene, genetics involves a study of nature of the genes and chromosomes and how they control the growth and development of living organisms.

h. Evolution (L.,e = out; volvere = develop):

The study of evolution is a study of how living organisms develop inherited characteristics which better adapt them to their surroundings, the progress of these adaptive changes in the present and the course of such changes in the past. This study extends back into the possible origin of living things.

The study of distribution of animals on the surface of the earth.

II. Subdivisions According to Animal Studied :

i. Protozoology (Gr., protos = first; zoios = animal; logos = study):

The study of one-celled animals, the Protozoa.

ii. Helminthology (Gr., helmins = worm; logos = study):

The study of parasitic worms or helminths.

iii. Parasitology (Gr., para – beside; sitos = foods; logos = study):

The study of parasitic animals.

iv. Entomology (Gr., enton = insect; logos = study):

The study of insects.

v. Malacology (Gr., malakos = soft; logos = study):

The study of molluscs.

vi. Ichthyology (Gr., ichtys = fish; logos = study):

The study of fishes.

vii. Herpetology (Gr., herpein – to creep; logos = to study):

The study of amphibians and reptiles.

viii. Ornithology (Gr., ornis = bird; logos – study):

The study of birds.

ix. Mammalogy (Gr., mamma = breast; logos = study):

The study of mammals.

Essay # 4. Divisions of Zoology:

1. Morphology or Anatomy:

The study of gross structures of organisms both external and internal and the relation of one organ with the other.

2. Microanatomy:

The study of histological structures or tissues under magnification.

3. Physiology:

It deals with the functions of organs in relation to structure.

4. Cytology:

The study of structural details of the cells, their modifications and divisions.

5. Embryology:

The science of development of animals from zygote stage to fully formed young individual. Now-a-days it has been replaced by the term morphogenesis.

6. Parasitology:

The structure, modification and the influence of parasitic life both on parasite and host.

7. Entomology:

Various aspects of insects including their influences on other animals.

8. Taxonomy:

Nomenclature of animals and classification or assigning them proper position in the animal kingdom.

9. Ecology:

Relation of animals with the environment and the influence of the latter on the former.

10. Zoogeography:

Distribution of animals on the surface of the earth.

11. Evolution:

Descent with modifications or the appearance of new species from pre-existing species.

Essay # 5. Practical Application of Zoology:

Our ever-increasing knowledge in zoology has enabled us to apply this science in human benefit, ranging from prevention of diseases to production of various items for our use, introduction and stabilisation of new hybrids and in many other fields.

1. Medicine:

A knowledge of animals producing various diseases, viz. malaria, filaria, dengue, liver rot, etc., is essential for proper treatment. Further knowledge on anatomy and physiology of experiment animals like rabbit, monkey and others enables us not only to test the drugs but in the manufacture of hormones, enzymes, vaccines, etc.

The beautiful silk is really the secretion from the silk glands of the silkworm Bombyx mori. The larva builds a hard protective cocoon around it, within which it pupates. The silk thread is obtained from this cocoon.

The lac is a resinous substance secreted by the female lac insect Tcichardia lacca to build their nests on the branches of food tree. The dye obtained in the processing of lac is used for colouring and the shellac in various industries, viz. pottery, polish, toy, phonograph records, etc.

The pearl is an important item of commerce. It is extensively used in the manufacture of ornaments and decorative articles. Large scale pearl cultivation is carried out in a number of countries including India, of which Japan tops the list.

The animals themselves or their products are very important items in the list of our food. With increased demand for animal food, fishery, poultry and dairy have been started on commercial basis.

(a) Fishery:

The knowledge on anatomy, physiology, breeding, growth, migration and behaviour of marine, estuarine and fresh water fishes is being utilised in fisheries and it has been possible to produce a number of high yielding fishes. Sea is a vast reservoir of fish and sea fishing is encouraged by a number of countries.

Healthy cattle and buffaloes are a good source of protein and milk. In dairy in addition to maintaining proper health of the live-stock, efforts have been made with success to improve stock by hybridization.

Birds are a good source of most tasty meat and egg. Fowl and duck are the common animals of a poultry. The maintenance of the health of the birds and improvement of stock by hybridization and other means go side by side in an ideal poultry.

Essay # 6. Importance of the Study of Zoology :

Zoology is a complex science having immense number of problems yet to solve. This alone is a challenge to an enquiring mind, but there are also other motives for zoological study.

i. Man is the product of the biological heritage. He is a part of the animal kingdom and a product of the evolutionary process. He is limited by the potentialities of living matter, for his roots are found in his biological background.

No group of animals stands alone and isolated from other groups; all are linked in a sequence of life patterns, many of which have been displaced by other patterns in the long evolutionary process. Much information about man is obtained by studying other animals, for there is an underlying unity of structure and function throughout the animal kingdom.

ii. The study of zoology is necessary for pre-professional work in medicine, dentistry, nursing, veterinary science, dietetics, agriculture, fishery, poultry, sericulture, apiculture, conservation of wildlife, sanitary engineering and many other fields. Medical sciences have profited from zoological discoveries, for concepts formed by studying one group of animals can be applied also to other groups, including man.

iii. Zoology is of practical importance because of our dependence upon animals for many products and uses, such as food, clothing, sources of drugs, subjects of experimentation, etc. Genetics, one of the branches of zoology, has been a factor in producing better domestic animals and even promises some progress in the improvement of human stock.

iv. Zoological study furnishes the basis for psychological and sociological studies. At present there is a lively study of animal behaviour and its implications of human application, which is indicative of this interest. Animal sociology is rapidly becoming a branch of zoology in its own right.

v. An interest in living forms is basic. Primitive man followed the chase from necessity; modern man does it as a relief from the tension of organised society and for the sheer love of hunting and fishing.

vi. Animals influence man’s welfare in harmful ways. Parasites injure man and his domestic animals. Many animals carry disease (vectors) and others themselves disease agents, such as those causing malaria. Destruction of crops and fruits by insect pests is a problem for agriculture everywhere.

vii. All animals, including man, fit into a balance of nature. This is the web of life in which all plant and animal life fits into a pattern of environmental relationship.

viii. The study of zoology is an excellent discipline for your mind. This is true for all sciences, but it is particularly true of life sciences that have a unique role in man’s cultural pattern. Biological concepts influence your thinking in every realm of human interest.

For instance, the concept of evolution or the transformation of organisms from one type to another during geological eras, has affected concepts in philosophy, psychology, sociology, religion and many other disciplines.

One of the fascinating facets of biological study is the ever changing nature of its concepts. Much biological investigation may be done with practical objectives in mind, but a greater amount is motivated by curiosity and an urge to explain what lies beyond our present knowledge of life process.

ix. There are aesthetic values in a study of biology as well. A student can expect to learn all or even many of the names and characteristics of the vast variety of plants and animals but a knowledge of the structure and functions of the major types will greatly increase the pleasure of a stroll in the woods or an excursion to the sea shore.

The average city dweller gets only a small glimpse of vast panorama of living things, for so many of them live in places from where they cannot easily see the sea, or parts of the earth that are not easily visited. Trips to botanical gardens, zoos, aquariums and museums will help give one an appreciation of tremendous variety of living things.

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Botany and Zoology in the Classroom Essay

Life sciences are an essential part of the Montessori classroom. It is important to develop children’s connection to nature and understanding of the world around them. Botany and zoology areas are useful for this development. They represent living objects and their connection to each other and to humans. Such activities as repetition, sequencing, sensorial experience, and others could enhance children’s knowledge and inclination to the learning of nature. The role of adults is especially important in areas of preparation and material presentation. The teacher should increase kids’ interest in botany and zoology and prevent possible mistakes in the process of learning.

How Do the Botany and Zoology Areas Relate to the Other Curriculum Areas? Please Give Examples

Typically, a Montessori classroom consists of five main learning areas: practical life, sensorial activities, languages, math, and culture. The area of culture is especially important for natural world discovery (Lillard, 2016). On Earth, all living and non-living objects create a global ecosystem. Therefore, it is impossible to study botany and zoology with no relation to other Natural Science areas, in particular, to geography, chemistry, physics, and astronomy. On the one hand, plants and animals change their surroundings and have an impact on the relief and available sources.

On the other hand, the environment determines the conditions in which organisms live. It is the connection to Geography. Life itself depends on chemical reactions within living cells. Therefore, without knowledge of chemistry, it is impossible to learn the physiology of plants and animals. Living organisms also depend on physical characteristics of the environment such as temperature, light intensity, mechanical pressure, radiation level, and others. Finally, no life is possible without the Sun. Understanding the relationship between our planet, the Sun, and other sky objects are important. All life sciences require math calculations to provide studies and to find and prove regularities. Therefore, math is highly essential for understanding the laws of botany and zoology.

Please Define the Sensorial Experience in the Botany and Zoology Areas and Give Examples.

Sensorial experience in botany and zoology areas is the process of gathering information about living objects using humans’ senses. According to Rathunde (2013), a sensorial experience is a basis for abstract thinking development. Natural sciences are an especially important resource of children’s sensorial experience. Botany and zoology areas provide a wide range of opportunities for sensorial experiences. Different colors and patterns of living organisms (colors of flowers, birds, and insects, patterns of wild cats and snakes) affect the visual sense. Flowers’ smells develop odor sensing. Besides, nature is especially rich for sounds: animals’ “conversations,” birds’ songs, sounds of a wild forest. It is possible to record the audio for children in the classroom. Sensorial experiences are important for the children’s all-around development.

What are the Purposes of the Botany and Zoology Areas in the Classroom?

These areas provide an opportunity to learn about the surrounding world in detail. A botany area is focused on plants. It typically contains seeds, plant parts (leaves, branches, flowers), and models. Available materials should represent different classes of plants. A zoology area is focused on animals. In this area, children learn about vertebrate and invertebrate animals, discuss their relations and role in the environment and global life cycle. It is also important to change materials in the areas according to the current learning topics. The purposes of these areas are the following: to help children to discover the natural world and relations between living organisms, to enhance knowledge about the structure and functions of botany and zoology objects, and to develop natural observation abilities (Johnson, 2013).

What are the Roles of the Adult in Preparing the Botany and Zoology Areas? Please Give Examples

The Montessori system is based on children’s freedom. A teacher performs a role of a tutor who directs children on their path of self-development and self-construction (Isaacs, 2014). The role of a teacher is to prepare botany and zoology areas. The areas should contain material according to the children’s age and current topic of learning. It is also important to change the provided content because kids need more information to learn. A tutorial should also pay attention to the learners’ feedback, notice what was the most interesting for them, and attracted the most attention. Another possible function of an adult person is to control the process of learning and to save children from possible mistakes (Isaacs, 2014). A tutorial should explain to children what objects and processes are represented in the area and what is their global role in the environment.

Please Define Sensitive Periods in the Botany and Zoology Areas and Give Examples.

Sensitive periods are special periods in the children’s psychological development when they have an intense interest in particular areas of learning. The process of learning became much easier for children during this period because of the increase of the natural ability to accept the information as well as the growth of the interest (Lillard, 2016). Sensitive periods in botany and zoology are periods when children are especially interested in learning about living organisms: plants and animals. For example, children could ask about the different animals’ names and where they live. In older age, they could be interested in different relations between living organisms and how they create the world around them. Children have an inclination to learning nature. Their interest in living objects and the surrounding world is natural. The role of a teacher is to maintain children’s desire to discover nature (Johnson, 2013).

Please Define Mathematical Mind in the Botany and Zoology Areas. Please Give Examples.

The mathematical mind is the natural inclination to calculate and to learn math. All-natural sciences are connected to math (Lillard, 2016). The ability to calculate is especially important for understanding biological features. Characteristics of living objects could be divided into qualitative and quantitative. Children need the mathematical mind to calculate and remember quantitative features of animals and plants. For example, children need to calculate how many petals a flower has, how many seeds produced a plant, or how many paws an insect has. The ability to calculate would be important for older children to measure the size of living objects and their proportions.

Please Define the Importance of Repetition in the Botany and Zoology Areas. Please Give Examples.

According to Montessori’s ideas, sensitive periods are periods of repetition. In this time, a child repeats certain actions or information over and over again until he or she remembers it. The repetition, therefore, is highly important for learning (Lillard, 2016). For younger children, the repetition could be used for teaching them the name of different animals or flowers. Such approaches as songs and verses are highly effective tools. Repetition is also important in practical doings, for example, in flowers and animals painting (for younger children) or herbarium preparation (for older children).

Please Define Sequence in the Botany and Zoology Areas and Give Examples.

Sequencing is a highly important approach for learning. According to this principle, each new lesson should contain just one type of new information. After learning the basic concept, more advanced information should be introduced by one factor in time (Cifuentes & Prozesky, 2014). In the case of botany and zoology areas, it means that children should learn the basic information at first and more advanced issues later. For example, kids should first learn the names of different animals, then be introduced into its systematic. When older children learn the anatomy and physiology of animals, they do it step by step, from one body system to another (muscles and skeleton, breathing, digestion, and others). In the botany area, the principle is the same: at first, children learn the name of plants and their general structure, then they discover more about systematic plant functions and their role in the environment.

How Do We Prepare the Botany and Zoology Areas in the Classroom to the Young Children? Please Give Examples.

Botany and zoology areas should represent different aspects of plants and animals’ life and functions. It should be clear and interesting for children. To prepare a botany area, it is possible to make a herbarium with dried leaves and flowers. Examples should be collected in spring and summer. It is also necessary to prepare illustrations and models of plants. A zoology area should contain animals’ pictures and models. All the provided materials should be bright and attractive to children. Besides, the concept of safety is crucial. All the preparation materials should be safe for kids’ usage and do not contain sharp or fragile parts (MacDonald, 2016).

Please Plan a Field Trip. What Do you Need to Prepare or Do Before, During, and After the Field Trip? Please Give Examples and Include Any Additional Information.

Outdoor activities are very important for children. They make their connection to nature stronger and teach them to love and respect the surrounding world. Class field trip is one of the possible outdoor activities. Before the trip, it is important to plan it in detail and to determine the purpose. A possible aim of the activity could be to collect herbarium. A teacher should explain to children the purpose and the procedure of herbarium collection. Before the trip, it is also important to determine the place that should be not far from the school. During a journey, adults should first of all care about children’s safety and attentively watch their activity. A teacher should focus children’s attention on different plants and explain how to distinguish them. It is also important to explain the role of grasses in the ecosystem. After a trip, children should be given a task to prepare a herbarium and to share with the class their feelings and thoughts about the trip. This activity is useful to increase children’s interest in nature, to develop their attentiveness and ability to analyze information (Johnson, 2013).

Cifuentes, L., & Prozesky, K. (2014). The Montessori approach to integrating technology. Problemy Wczesnej Edukacji , 1 (24), 29-38.

Geography songs . (2012). Web.

Haydn, T., Stephen, A., Arthur, J., & Hunt, M. (2014). Learning to teach history in the secondary school: A companion to school experience . Abingdon-on-Thames, UK: Routledge.

Isaacs, B. (2014). Learning and teaching in Montessori nurseries. Early Years Educator , 16 (2), 38-44.

Johnson, K. (2013). Montessori and nature study: Preserving wonder through school gardens. Montessori Life: A Publication of the American Montessori Society , 25 (3), 36-44.

Lillard, A. S. (2016). Montessori: The science behind the genius . Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

MacDonald, G. (2016). Technology in the Montessori classroom: Benefits, hazards and preparation for life. NAMTA Journal , 41 (2), 99-107.

Mellor, R. E. (2015). Nation, state and territory: A political geography . Abingdon-on-Thames, UK: Routledge.

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Guest Essay

New York’s Subway Is Still Not Safe, but Not for the Reason You Think

A cartoonlike illustration of a woman with a small child in a stroller navigating a maze of floating staircases.

By Julie Kim

Ms. Kim is a writer who lives in Brooklyn.

A few months before Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered some 1,000 members of the state police and National Guard to patrol New York City’s subway system in response to a string of violent attacks, some of them deadly, I had an unsafe subway experience of my own. It didn’t involve crime — unless you’d call the system’s shameful lack of elevators and accessible stations criminal.

An infection in my 10-year-old son’s leg required us to make regular trips from our Brooklyn home to a hospital on East 71st Street in Manhattan. He had been getting around on crutches, but these trips were long, so, much to his embarrassment, I loaded him into his younger sister’s stroller and wheeled him to the nearest accessible subway station, at Atlantic Avenue.

On a good day, it takes three elevator rides to get from street to platform. We entered the first, a dirty green box tacked onto the side of a warehouse, then wheeled to and entered the second, another metal box reeking of urine and industrial cleaning fumes. When we finally got to the third, we discovered it was out of service.

Before I knew it, my son had stood up on his one good leg and, without his crutches, hopped down several steps, around a corner and down a few more. I followed him to the bottom of the stairs, carrying the empty stroller, where he waited, teetering in the center of the narrow platform. I scooped him back into the stroller and stayed put, not daring to further navigate the treacherous strip between the broken elevator and the tracks. We’d made it to the platform safely, but our trip involved far more danger than we expected.

There was a political logic to Ms. Hochul’s decision to deploy troops; it was a response to heightened safety fears among subway riders and workers. When citizens feel unsafe, politicians and city officials tend to act fast to quell those fears. To explain the sudden presence of soldiers in the subway, she described subway crime as “not statistically significant but psychologically significant.”

For millions of commuters, the current state of the system is an urgent safety matter, too. Nearly three-quarters of the city’s 472 stations don’t have elevators, leaving millions of New Yorkers — including older people, the disabled and caregivers with young children — with no choice but to avoid the subway altogether. This issue affects far more New Yorkers than does violent crime, but it is treated much less urgently. The number of New Yorkers age 65 and older has increased by 40 percent since 2000, already surpassing the Bloomberg administration’s projection of 1.35 million by 2030. More than 500,000 New Yorkers have a temporary or permanent disability that makes it difficult for them to walk.

The dangers caused by our broken, inaccessible transportation system are very real, but they don’t often make headlines, perhaps in part because they are hard to measure — an unreported tumble on the subway stairs, the monetary, physical or psychic toll of delayed or canceled trips, errands left undone or the exhausting, harrowing and sometimes painful trials faced by vulnerable commuters. Our family has felt some of these costs: I haven’t taken the subway with my 6-year-old daughter, who has permanent disabilities that require her to use a wheelchair or a stroller every day, for nearly three years. The last time I carried her down the stairs leading to an inaccessible station, I felt something pop in my back. My response has been to avoid riding the subway with her. But the effects of this poorly maintained system affect a broad range of New Yorkers, far beyond those who use wheelchairs.

The lack of elevators in the subway system is not just a matter of the city meeting a legal obligation to make public spaces accessible. It is also a safety issue that should be treated with the same urgency as crime, if not more.

It’s true that state and city officials are working — albeit defensively and slowly — to fix the subway’s accessibility problem. To settle two class-action lawsuits, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority agreed in 2022 to spend billions of dollars to bring 95 percent of stations into compliance with accessibility and safety standards of the federal Americans With Disabilities Act — by 2055. The agency’s plan is crawling along at a pace of roughly 10 station upgrades per year; occasionally, a project gets bolstered by an infusion of federal funds.

In the meantime, older riders are walking backward down stairs into stations; disabled residents who cannot enter stations without an elevator are relegated to inefficient buses or a paratransit ride-share service known for its hourslong trips and leaving passengers stranded . Caregivers of children and adults with mobility limitations risk injury or keep their orbits small.

New Yorkers are all the more impatient for the M.T.A. to fix this because we’ve seen how quickly and effectively officials can act when there’s political will behind fixing a problem — Governor Hochul’s quick mobilization of troops and officers is a case in point. And we’ve seen what can happen when the system works.

When my son and I got off at the Q station on East 72nd Street in Manhattan, it was like entering another world. It was my first time there since it opened in 2017 as part of the century-long Second Avenue subway expansion. The train doors opened onto a spacious and well-lit platform. I paused in the center to get my bearings: We were far underground, yet the space felt open and airy. The Q train had delivered us directly into an accessible waiting area, in front of the entrance to a steel-and-glass elevator with grab bars and generous clearance on all sides — margins wide enough for a person using a wheelchair, stroller, crutches, cane or walker to safely pass or for someone to hold a (small) dance party. We boarded with a delivery person and his bicycle, and the inside smelled as it should, like nothing. Up on the mezzanine, a Taylor Swift song played softly over the speakers.

My son looked up from his book. “Where are we?” he asked. We made our way to the turnstiles; the station agent saw us coming and activated the automatic emergency gate. Passing through it, I stood taller, like royalty. A short, wide corridor led to the elevators — five of them in a row — the station’s crown jewels. We waited alongside others — older couples, AirPodded commuters, the delivery person and his bike. Within seconds, three elevators arrived. We scurried into one of them with two other people; the lucky delivery person got his own.

The door closed, and we were lifted gently up to the street, a ride that any New Yorker or visitor would have appreciated and that should not have felt so precious.

Julie Kim is a writer living in Brooklyn and working on a book about everyday acts of inclusion.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , WhatsApp , X and Threads .

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Zoology
zoology, branch of biology that studies the members of the animal kingdom and animal life in general. It includes both the inquiry into individual animals and their constituent parts, even to the molecular level, and the inquiry into animal populations, entire faunas, and the relationships of animals to each other, to plants, and to the nonliving environment.
Why is Zoology important?
Zoology considers the impact of environmental factors upon different animals and their habitats, developing an appreciation of not only nature, but also of the importance of animals and their environments in sustaining nature as we know it. Through learning about animals at a micro level, we are better equipped to consider the wider picture.
Why Zoology?
Zoology is an Exciting Field of Study! Zoology makes a huge impact on our world through the scientific study of the evolution, anatomy, physiology, behavior, habitats, and health of animals and humans. It includes diverse approaches such as electron microscopy, molecular genetics, and field ecology. By studying animals we develop a better ...
Zoology
Zoology is the branch of biology concerned with the study animals and animal kingdom. It is also known as animal biology. The study of zoology includes the interaction of animal kingdom in their ecosystems such as classification, habits, structure, embryology, distribution, evolution, and extinct species. Zoology is the division of biology that ...
Free Zoology Essay Examples & Topic Ideas
Free Zoology Essay Examples & Topics. Zoology is the study of animals. As the branch of biology dedicated to studying the animal kingdom, it can be theoretical as well as practical. The field is constantly evolving along with our understanding. Today, there are as many different approaches to zoology as there are animals on planet Earth.
Importance of zoology in our daily life
Zoology refers to the branch of science that deals with the study of the mannerisms, habitats, structure and classification of animals. It is referred to as the proverbial "Noah's Ark", protecting the declining global ecosystem by programs such as rehabilitation, breeding, awareness campaigns, etc. It is an immensely important stream of biology that makes life… Read More »
How Does a Zoologist Contribute to the World?
The importance of zoology in medicine has influenced modern understanding of disease and treatments. According to the educators at Unity College, research zoologists are hired by pharmaceutical and private medical research companies for their expertise in animal behaviors and life.From developing veterinary medicines to discovering vermin-control drugs, zoologists conduct scientific studies to ...
Zoology: Exploring the Animal Kingdom as Academic Pursuit
As with many scientific disciplines, the term "zoology" comes from ancient Greek through Latin (2). "Zōion" - shortened to "zoo" simply means "animal". The second part of the word "ology" comes from "logos" which means study, learning, or knowledge. The older Latin term for the phrase was "Zoologia".
145 Zoology Essay Topics & Research Titles at StudyCorgi
These essay examples and topics on Zoology were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you're using them to write your assignment.
How to Write a Stunning Zoology Essay: Tips from Specialists
To implement this part in the most effective manner, you have to present it step by step. Limit your intro to a paragraph or two. This is long enough to give a quick overview of the subject that you've researched. In discovering how to craft a Zoology essay, you will see the importance of providing a strong hook.
What's new from the zoo? An analysis of ten years of zoo-themed
There is a significant relationship between the number of papers published on each taxonomic class, the year of publication and the mean number of species in that class held (F 14,35 = 58.59; r 2 ...
Why study zoology?
Zoology is a science-based discipline that draws on the fields of biology, chemistry, statistics, environmental science , geography and psychology . Studying zoology will give you an intimate understanding of the physiology of animals, their behaviour, evolution and the ecosystems in which they live. A course in zoology also gives you the ...
what is the importance of zoology essay
One interesting fact about zoology is that a zoologist can travel to remote locations to do field work. They may travel to deserts, remote mountainous locations or spend months at sea aboard a research ship.... An informative essay is any type of essay that has the goal of informing or educating an audience. By definition, it is not used to persuade or to give one's personal beliefs on a ...
Zoology
Zoology is the scientific study of animals. This discipline can include animal anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, genetics, evolution, ecology, behaviour and conservation. The quality of a bird ...
Why the world needs zoos
In short, while zoos do provide a critical reservoir for endangered species, many other animals may yet become endangered very soon, or already are and we don't know about it. Those species that ...
Why Is the Study of Zoology Important in Your Life?
Animal Behavior. The study of how animals behave, including both their innate (instinctual) behaviors and those that they learn is another role that zoologists fill. The study of animal behavior can help us to better understand the natural world and how animals have evolved to survive in their environments.
Rationale for the Existence of Zoos
Abstract. This chapter looks at the stated goals of zoo mission statements and provides examples of how zoos are addressing their missions. Moreover, with the pressure of zoos to become biological conservation mentors, zoos assume five roles as the executor of the relationship between society and nature. First, zoos take on the role of the ...
Short Essay on the Importance of Study of Zoology
The study of zoology helps us to increase the number and improve the quality of animals that give us eggs, meat and milk. 2. Zoology and industry - From animals, we get many things of daily use e.g. leather, horn, shells, honey, wax, pearls etc. many industries are based on these products and the study of zoology helps in their useful ...
Why Zoos are Important? Essay
A zoo is a place where animals live in captivity and are put on display for people to view. The word "zoo" is short for "zoological park.". Zoos contain wide varieties of animals that are native to all parts of the Earth. Though people have kept wild animals for thousands of years, those collections have not always resembled modern zoos.
Essay on Zoology: Top 6 Essays
Essay # 6. Importance of the Study of Zoology: Zoology is a complex science having immense number of problems yet to solve. This alone is a challenge to an enquiring mind, but there are also other motives for zoological study. i. Man is the product of the biological heritage. He is a part of the animal kingdom and a product of the evolutionary ...
The Importance of Zoology in today's World
The importance of zoology in today's world is that it is one of the most significant branches of science. It is a science which has a large influence in the world and can provide solutions to some of the most pressing problems. It is the scientific study of animal life and the structure of the animal kingdom.
How Zoos Benefit Society And The Animals They Protect
The benefits of zoos to local communities and to society in general are largely underestimated by the wider population. Zoos, aquariums and aviaries are amongst the most popular tourist ...
Botany and Zoology in the Classroom
Sensorial experience in botany and zoology areas is the process of gathering information about living objects using humans' senses. According to Rathunde (2013), a sensorial experience is a basis for abstract thinking development. Natural sciences are an especially important resource of children's sensorial experience.
Opinion
There was a political logic to Ms. Hochul's decision to deploy troops; it was a response to heightened safety fears among subway riders and workers.
Global Value Chain and Inflation Dynamics
We study the inflationary impacts of pandemic lockdown shocks and fiscal and monetary stimulus during 2020-2022 using a novel harmonized dataset of sectoral producer price inflation and input-output linkages for more than 1000 sectors in 53 countries. The inflationary impact of shocks is identified via a Bartik shift-share design, where shares reflect the heterogeneous sectoral exposure to ...

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Geographic differences in body size distributions underlie food web connectance of tropical forest mammals

Immunomodulatory potential of Sarcophaga argyostoma larval hemolymph as a natural alternative to berenil in treating Trypanosoma evansi in vivo

Synthesis of eco-friendly layered double hydroxide and nanoemulsion for jasmine and peppermint oils and their larvicidal activities against Culex pipiens Linnaeus

A GPS assisted translocation experiment to study the homing behavior of red deer