CRAZY CRUSTACEANS
Professor Mike Bruton, informal science educator, museum and science centre development consultant
Monday 19 January 1.00 pm COURSE FEES R115; Staff and students R58
Crustaceans are the insects of the sea and freshwaters and resemble their terrestrial cousins by having hard exoskeletons and complex life cycles. They have jointed legs that allow them to crawl, swim, burrow and carry out specialised functions in every aquatic habitat. They are masters of stealth and camouflage, and range in size from minute planktonic larvae to giant spider crabs with 3.7-metre leg spans. They have a single- chambered heart, and their blood (haemolymph) is not confined to vessels but circulates directly through tissues. Our oceans could not function without crustaceans as they are major movers and shakers in food webs and carbon cycles, and krill are keystone species that are a vital food source for fish, seabirds, seals and whales. Crustaceans are even used by human researchers as sensitive indicators of environmental changes. We need to learn more about them to appreciate their importance.
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