Aquatic invertebrates

Saltwater covers seventy-one percent (71%) of its surface, and many aspects of the marine world minimize physical and chemical stresses on organisms. The barrier to evolving gas exchange and osmotic regulatory structures that can function in freshwater and terrestrial environments are formidable, and relatively few lineages have escaped their marine origins to do so. Thus, it is not surprising to find that the marine environment continues to harbour an enormous diversity of higher taxa and significant body plans. Productivity in the world’s oceans is very high, and this also probably contributes to the great variety of animal life in the sea.

Taxonomy of aquatic invertebrates is a course designed to present the diversity of aquatic life forms submitted in the animal kingdom. The course structure enables the student to observe the increasing complexity of animals from the simpler life forms to multiple groups. Classification, morphology, physiology, behaviour and ecology of major aquatic invertebrate groups as they relate to phylogenetic relationships, adaptations for specific habitats and lifestyles will be studied. It also highlights the dominant aquatic invertebrates that are of economic/commercial importance.