Animal Diversity - Invertebrates

The course covers the staggering multitude of invertebrates that make up more than 95% of the animal species.

A thorough survey of the current phylogenetic hypotheses that help making sense of animal diversity is a central theme of the course The course will review data from comparative anatomy, developmental biology, natural history, genetics, genomics, and other fields in order to assess our current understanding of animal evolution. A twelve day field course at a marine lab provides first hand encounters with many of the major animal groups. After the course you will be familiar with the main animal groups, their biology, and current phylogenetic hypotheses detailing their evolution.



Teaching Format

Lectures will be on Zoom and material (presentation pdfs) will be available in most cases. In addition we will uses compendia and journal articles.

There will be a field course held at Tjärnö Marina Laboratorium, Strömstad for about two weeks in November. During the field course you will have the opportunity to participate in sampling trips with R/V Nereus. We will also make excursions to the shore and to freshwater habitats.

Active participation in group discussions, the field course, submission of a project report and a presentation for the seminar are all compulsory. Teachers can be contacted by email anytime during his/her block of teaching (see schedule for contact information).


Assessment

There will be a practical test during the field course. The final examination consists of a formal test with questions which will be distributed by e-mail, and the completion of an individual project.

Examiner

Ulf Jondelius
E-mail: Ulf.Jondelius@nrm.se

The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course.
 

Date

Time

Place

2025-11-03

9 AM - 3 PM

Zoom

2025-11-04

9 AM - 4 PM

Zoom

2025-11-05

9 AM - 12 PM

Zoom

2025-11-069 AM - 3 PM

Zoom

2025-11-07

9 AM - 3 PM

Zoom

2025-11-10

Travel to Tjärnö. Arrival by 17.00


2025-11-11

9 AM - 12 PM; 1 PM Collection trip

Tjärnö

2025-11-12

9 AM - 12 PM; 1 PM Lab

Tjärnö

2025-11-13

9 AM - 12 PM; 1 PM Lab

Tjärnö

2025-11-14

9 AM - 12 PM; 1 PM Lab

Tjärnö

2025-11-15

9 AM - 11 AM; Work on projects

Tjärnö

2025-11-16

Work on projects; Review at 5 PM

Tjärnö

2025-11-17

9 AM - 12 PM

Tjärnö

2025-11-18

9 AM - 12 PM; 1 PM Lab

Tjärnö

2025-11-19

8.30 AM - 5 PM

Tjärnö

2025-11-20

9 AM - 12 PM; 1 PM Test

Tjärnö

2025-11-21

Return trip

Tjärnö

2025-11-24

9 AM - 4 PM

Zoom

2025-11-25

9 AM - 4 PM

Zoom

2025-11-26

9 AM 3.30 PM

Zoom

2025-11-27

9 AM - 3 PM

Zoom

2025-11-28

9 AM - 4 PM

Zoom

2025-12-01

9 AM - 4 PM

Zoom

2025-12-02

Work on individual projects


2025-12-03

Work on individual projects


2025-12-04

Work on individual projects


2025-12-05

Work on individual projects


2025-12-06

Work on individual projects


2025-12-07

Work on individual projects


2025-12-08

11 AM - 2 PM

Zoom

2025-12-09

5 PM Deadline for submission of individual project


2025-12-12

9 AM - 2 PM Exam

Zoom

2025-01-16

Second oppotunity exam


Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course.

Brusca, Giribet and Moore. “Invertebrates”. 4. upplagan 2022 Oxford University Press ISBN: 9780197554418

Course reports are displayed for the three most recent course instances.