Invertebrates

Organized in the belief that what we know about these animals is not as important as what and how we think about them. The primary purpose of this book is to provide enough information and ideas to enable you to understand the broad and dynamic concepts underlying the study of life and some of the ways by which biologists have come to develop these concepts. To establish threads of continuity throughout this mass of information, the authors have developed their book around three fundamental themes: (1) functional body architecture, or what they call the Bauplan concept; (2) developmental patterns and life history strategies, mainly as they relate to adult lifestyles; and (3) evolution aqnd phylogenetic relationships. The authors feel these themes are basic not only to understanding invertebrates but also to understanding life in general and how it has evolved.