Universität Wien
Achtung! Das Lehrangebot ist noch nicht vollständig und wird bis Semesterbeginn laufend ergänzt.

300123 UE Vergleichende Morphologie, Neuroanatomie & Evolution der Cheliceraten (2026S)

(Spinnentiere i.w.S.)

10.00 ECTS (6.00 SWS), SPL 30 - Biologie
Prüfungsimmanente Lehrveranstaltung

Für diese LV wird eine verpflichtende Sicherheitsunterweisung stattfinden. Nach Ablauf der Anmeldephase und Aufnahme der Studierenden, muss diese absolviert werden. Der link zum entsprechenden Moodle-Kurs wird ihnen nach Aufnahme in den Kurs zugesendet.
Alle Übungsräume dürfen ausschließlich mit Labormantel und geschlossenen Schuhen betreten werden, falls benötigt, muss eine Laborbrille angeschafft werden - Privatsachen bitte in den Garderoberäumen verstauen.

There will be a mandatory safety instruction for this course. After the registration period, the admitted students have to complete this instruction. The link to the corresponding Moodle course will be sent to you after you have been accepted to the course.
All practice rooms may only be entered with a lab coat and closed shoes, and, if needed, lab glasses must also be purchased - please store private belongings in the cloakroom.
_
Moodle

An/Abmeldung

Hinweis: Ihr Anmeldezeitpunkt innerhalb der Frist hat keine Auswirkungen auf die Platzvergabe (kein "first come, first served").

Details

max. 8 Teilnehmer*innen
Sprache: Deutsch, Englisch

Lehrende

Termine (iCal) - nächster Termin ist mit N markiert

The kick-off meeting takes place in SR4.1, 02.03.2026, at 3 pm. Participation is mandatory.

The exact room for the second week of the course will be announced during the kick-off meeting.

  • Montag 02.03. 15:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 4.1, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 4.125, Ebene 4 (Vorbesprechung)
  • Montag 11.05. 09:00 - 17:00 Übungsraum 1.3 Mikroskopie 3, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.049, Ebene 1
  • Dienstag 12.05. 09:00 - 17:00 Übungsraum 1.3 Mikroskopie 3, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.049, Ebene 1
  • Mittwoch 13.05. 09:00 - 17:00 Übungsraum 1.3 Mikroskopie 3, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.049, Ebene 1
  • Freitag 15.05. 09:00 - 17:00 Übungsraum 1.3 Mikroskopie 3, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.049, Ebene 1
  • Montag 18.05. 09:00 - 17:00 Ort in u:find Details
    Übungsraum 1.3 Mikroskopie 3, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.049, Ebene 1
  • Dienstag 19.05. 09:00 - 17:00 Ort in u:find Details
  • Mittwoch 20.05. 09:00 - 17:00 Ort in u:find Details
  • Donnerstag 21.05. 09:00 - 17:00 Ort in u:find Details
  • Freitag 22.05. 09:00 - 17:00 Ort in u:find Details

Information

Ziele, Inhalte und Methode der Lehrveranstaltung

Aims:

At the end of this practical course, participants should:

- be well-acquainted with the external morphological and internal anatomical disparity of body plans in Chelicerata (spiders, scorpions, sea spiders and their kin),

- have significantly advanced their understanding of the structure and function of chelicerate organ systems, in particular the central nervous system and some of its major sense organs (eyes, chemosensory appendages), and

- have obtained the background knowledge to critically evaluate these aspects in the light of the current debate on chelicerate evolution
____________________________________

Contents and methods of the course:

The course will:

- convey the participants an overview of the disparate external morphology (eidonomy) of various chelicerate taxa (predominantly preserved material + selected live specimens) via stereomicroscopic examination and guided identification of key characteristics

- feature a practical case study of the remarkably variable body organization (trunk segment number, evolutionary losses and regains of head appendages) of the marine sea spiders (Pycnogonida), which will be interactively explored by examination of hitherto unstudied bulk samples from Antarctic waters

- include instruction and guidance for the dissection of the central nervous system (CNS) in different chelicerate taxa

- introduce different techniques for the comparative study of arthropod neuroanatomy (e.g., immunohistological stainings, fluorescent backfills); some of which will be practically applied in small student projects (tailored according to participant number, interests and available material)

- cover the structure and function of organ systems other than the CNS and deal with current topics in chelicerate evolution – in part via student presentations

- require a written report, in which results obtained in the course’s different parts are presented, compared across taxa and discussed in the context of competing hypotheses on chelicerate body plan evolution

Art der Leistungskontrolle und erlaubte Hilfsmittel

Active participation during the course; student presentation (topics assigned during kick-off meeting on 02.03.2026); written report + brief one-on-one chat with the instructor after report evaluation

Mindestanforderungen und Beurteilungsmaßstab

Presence during the course is required.

The final grade will be composed of the presentation (30%), active participation (30% - beyond the small group projects, this includes also appropriate sample handling, documentation and dissection) and the written report + one-on-one chat (40%).

Each of the three components needs to be positively evaluated (i.e., at least grade “4”).

Prüfungsstoff

Apart from the specific topic presented in the individual presentation, the course contents need to be appropriately covered in the written report, including the documentation and discussion of the results obtained. After its evaluation, the report will be discussed in a brief one-on-one chat with the instructor.

Literatur

Will be announced/provided at the preparatory first meeting (02.03.2026) and during the course.

Zuordnung im Vorlesungsverzeichnis

MZO2, MZO W1, MZO4, CoBeNe 4, MES5

Letzte Änderung: Mo 27.07.2026 09:27