Introduction
This course is about animal biology. Not just insects, worms, and squishy things lacking a backbone, but 97% of all the Earth’s animal species! Invertebrates are everywhere on the planet and in almost every habitat known. They dominate. Even the phylum that contains all the vertebrates – the Chordata – contains many invertebrate members, some of which look nothing like creatures we typically associate with the word “animal.” All this is to say that invertebrates are wildly and wonderfully diverse. Invertebrates show remarkable variation in form, function, and in their strategies for survival. This course will give you a peek into this fascinating world of zoological exuberance!
After completing this course, you will be able to:
- knowledgeably discuss the evolutionary history of modern invertebrates;
- identify key traits and differences among the major phyla;
- understand the integral ecological roles played by invertebrates in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems;
- evaluate strategies for control of invasive invertebrates, pests, and parasites; and
- professionally discuss and critique contemporary topics in invertebrate zoology.
Materials
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Helpful and interesting links
🦀 Evolution Only Thinks About One Thing, and It’s Crabs