Biology 205 is a comparative survey of primarily marine invertebrates, a field so vast that we can only begin to scratch the surface in one 4-unit course. Consequently, we will treat most groups only superficially. However, over the next 14 weeks you will be introduced to a diverse array of animals that you may never have seen before and at present cannot even imagine!

The course is organized along three major themes that are fundamental to zoology:

(1) Functional morphology: form, function & system compatibility
(2) Ontogeny: development & life history
(3) Phylogeny: unity, diversity & evolutionary history

The objectives of the course are (1) to introduce you to how animals are organized, how they work, and how they reproduce themselves; (2) to provide you with a basic understanding of animal diversity; (3) to stimulate an appreciation of invertebrates and their remarkable evolutionary innovations; and (4) to provide you with a solid foundation in the field of invertebrate zoology, so that you can make informed decisions regarding environmental/conservation policy, biomedical research and public education programs.

In order to accomplish these goals, it will be necessary for you to assimilate a substantial amount of new factual information, but also to integrate and synthesize that information into ideas and concepts. Together, we can learn a great deal from invertebrates, and I hope you will experience a high level of enjoyment during our exploration not only of these fascinating organisms but also the broader phylogenetic context within which each one of our populations has evolved.

This course is offered in the Winter term only.

Contents of this web page are maintained by Brian Leander - bleander@mail.ubc.ca