Animal Diversity

What is the difference between an earthworm, a round worm or a slowworm? Are goldfish more closely related to starfish or to jellyfish? This course will uncover the science behind sorting out members of the Animal Kingdom and reveal their evolutionary relationships.
Together we will examine the structure and life cycles of key animal groups and discover what makes them unique and successful. By exploring animal structure and the evolutionary processes that resulted in their diversity, you will be able to place animals into related groups.
Animal Diversity can be studied as a stand-alone course, but it is also a core module for the Certificate of Higher Education in Field Ecology at Aberystwyth University. This distance learning course enables you to study from home and participate in an online learning community. The course is delivered through Blackboard, our online learning environment and will include one or more live webinars.
Assessments
1. Presentation Slides (max 12 slides) summarising of the taxonomy,
morphology and diagnostic features of an animal species (25%)
2. Written assignment comparing the life cycle and survival strategies of different
animal taxa 1500 words (75%)

Note

This module is at CQFW Level 4