The Doctoral study programme of Zoology studies individuals, populations, species and higher taxa as well as ecological groups of animals, including their functions in natural communities and ecosystems. Unicellular ”animals“ (former protozoans) can occur among zoological objects of interest. Various methods are used to study animals, such as morphological, morphometric and caryological ones; of particular importance are methods of molecular biology applied to taxonomy. In contrast with human and veterinary medicine and social sciences, zoology considers all animal species equivalent as objects of study. In contrast with palaeozoology, living species figure as a matter of zoological interest. Zoology also deals with natural relations among species and higher taxa and with phylogenetical taxonomy of animals. According to the fields of study, zoology can be divided into taxonomy, anatomy, ecology, ethology (behaviour), etc., according to the objects of study into protozoology, entomology, malacozoology, ichthyology, herpetology, ornithology, mammalogy etc. Excluded from Zoology - being a part of the Doctoral programme of Biology - are studies of animal parasites, water invertebrates and animal physiology having their own study programmes (Parasitology, Hydrobiology, Animal Physiology). Whether or not are studies in animal ecology included, depends on the agreement with the Ecology study programme.