Advanced invertebrate zoology - MB170P07

• Title: Advanced invertebrate zoology
• Czech title: Pokročilá zoologie bezobratlých
• Guaranteed by: Department of Zoology (31-170)
• Faculty: Faculty of Science
• Actual: from 2024
• Semester: winter
• E-Credits: 7
• Examination process: winter s.:
• Hours per week, examination: winter s.:3/0, C+Ex [HT]
• Extent per academic year: 1 [weeks]
• Capacity: unlimited
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Note: enabled for web enrollment; priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan
• Guarantor: Mgr. Ondřej Korábek, Ph.D.
• Teacher(s): Mgr. Ondřej Korábek, Ph.D.; RNDr. Věra Opatová, Ph.D.; Mgr. Tomáš Pánek, Ph.D.; RNDr. František Šťáhlavský, Ph.D.

Annotation

English

The course provides an overview of all invertebrate phyla, their basic characteristics and phylogenetic relationships. The course focuses on morphology, ecology, systematics and evolution of non-parasitic Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelmintes, Arthropoda (except Hexapoda), Ectoprocta, Annelida and Mollusca. The lecture is complemented by practical lab sessions focused on morphology and anatomy of selected above-mentioned groups.

Last update: Korábek Ondřej, Mgr., Ph.D. (07.10.2025)

Czech

The course provides an overview of all invertebrate phyla, their basic characteristics and phylogenetic relationships. The course focuses on morphology, ecology, systematics and evolution of Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelmintes, Arthropoda (except Hexapoda), Ectoprocta, Annelida and Mollusca. The lecture is complemented by practical lab sessions focused on morphology and anatomy of selected above-mentioned groups.

Last update: Korábek Ondřej, Mgr., Ph.D. (07.10.2025)

Literature

English

Giribet G., Edgecombe G.D.: The Invertebrate tree of life. Princeton University Press. 2020

Last update: Gáliková Kristýna, Mgr. et Mgr., DiS. (24.10.2025)

Czech

Giribet G., Edgecombe G.D.: The Invertebrate tree of life. Princeton University Press. 2020
Zrzavý J. 2006: Fylogeneze živočišné říše. Scientia.

Last update: Opatová Věra, RNDr., Ph.D. (23.01.2023)

Requirements to the exam

The requirements:

I) attendance and active participation in the laboratory practices, II) oral exam

 

Last update: Korábek Ondřej, Mgr., Ph.D. (23.08.2023)

Syllabus

This course provides an advanced overview of the diversity, morphology, systematics, ecology, and evolutionary relationships of major invertebrate animal groups, with emphasis on non-parasitic taxa. It integrates current views of animal phylogeny with detailed treatment of key phyla, including Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Annelida, Mollusca, Ectoprocta, and Arthropoda (excluding Hexapoda), within a modern evolutionary and comparative framework. The course addresses fundamental aspects of invertebrate body plans, organ system organization, reproduction, life-history strategies, and locomotion, while highlighting ecological roles and evolutionary innovations across lineages. Lectures are complemented by practical laboratory sessions focused on comparative morphology and anatomy, enabling students to directly examine representative taxa. By combining phylogenetic theory, organismal biology, and hands-on anatomical study, the course equips students with a robust understanding of invertebrate diversity and evolutionary patterns.

1. Animal phylogeny (Tomáš Pánek)
2. Non-bilaterian phyla, introduction to Bilateria (Tomáš Pánek)
3. Deuterostomia, introduction to Spiralia (Ondřej Korábek)
4. Spiralia (Ondřej Korábek)
5. Annelida, Mollusca (Ondřej Korábek)
6. Ecdysozoa, introduction to Arthropoda (František Šťáhlavský)
7. Mandibulata (František Šťáhlavský)
8. Chelicerata (Věra Opatová)
9. Reproduction, life histories, movement (Ondřej Korábek)
10. Digestion, excretion, respiration (Věra Opatová)
11. Multicellularity, body plans, animal genomics (Tomáš Pánek)

Last update: Korábek Ondřej, Mgr., Ph.D. (19.01.2026)

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes: 

KNOWLEDGE

After completing the course, the student will be able to:

1. Describe the morphology, anatomy, ecology, and evolutionary relationships of all invertebrate phyla.

2. Explain the fundamental principles of invertebrate systematics and phylogeny, including current hypotheses on animal evolution and body plan diversification.

3. Explain major structural and functional adaptations of invertebrates in relation to reproduction, life history strategies, and ecological roles.

4. Summarize the major metazoan body plans and their evolutionary significance.

SKILLS

After completing the course, the student will be able to:

1. Identify representatives of selected invertebrate taxa to major taxonomic groups based on morphological and anatomical characteristics.

2. Compare and contrast morphological and functional traits across major invertebrate lineages.

3. Apply phylogenetic frameworks to interpret relationships among major metazoan clades as well as homologies between their traits.

4. Demonstrate practical skills in microscopic observation, specimen handling, and dissection of selected invertebrates.

COMPETENCES

After completing the course, the student will be able to:

1. Integrate morphological, ecological, and phylogenetic information to evaluate evolutionary relationships among invertebrate taxa.

2. Use comparative and phylogenetic reasoning to interpret diversity and adaptation in invertebrates.

3. Demonstrate professional laboratory conduct and accurate documentation of morphological observations.

Last update: Korábek Ondřej, Mgr., Ph.D. (19.01.2026)