BIOL 4270/5550: Invertebrate Biology/Zoology
Fall of every other year
This course is designed to teach you how to investigate animals without backbones (invertebrates) and to review some of the many invertebrate taxa using evidence-based learning approaches. Due to the enormous number of these taxa (97% of all animals on earth), we will focus on covering the basics of each major phyla.
Learning Outcomes (At the end of this course you will be able to):
1. Know, understand, and utilize multiple methods for gaining expertise about a particular invertebrate taxa
2. Answer basic questions about the major invertebrate phyla, including questions related to classification, phylogeny, physiology, behavior, life-cycles, and ecology
3. Become proficient communicating information about invertebrate taxa to others using presentations, blog posts, and scientific writing
4. Recognize similarities and differences between invertebrate taxa in order to observe possible evolutionary development of structures (e.g. eyes, kidneys) and behaviors (e.g. predator avoidance)
5. Understand some of the roles of invertebrates in ecological communities and ecosystems