Animal Diversity lectures

Director Chris Cathrine has been back at the University of the West of Scotland again this year to do more lectures for third year zoology students.  

As part of the 'Animal Diversity' course, Chris has been giving lectures on plankton and cnidaria as well as running practicals on different aspects of invertebrate identification including spiders and freshwater invertebrates. Here he is collecting bog water for the practical on the invertebrates that like living in sphagnum moss. 

Students are often not very interested in the tiny bugs and beasties of the natural world until they meet Chris, and he really enjoys spreading his enthusiasm and knowledge.  If all else fails, pointing out that some of the largest animals in the world (like this amazing whale shark) rely upon tiny animals to survive usually gets their attention!