Modern Approaches to the Study of Crustacea

When [ teach my undergraduate course in these animals belong together, and we nowlearn that Crustacea at the University of Copenhagen [always they may even encompass the speciose insects. With or tell my students: " Now, if on reading through the without insects the Crustacea are therefore unquestion- chapter on Crustacea you wonder, what could pos- ably one of the most important animal groups. Is this sibly be said in common about these animals, you why we study them? I think not. Our fascination with havegot it exactly right! Indeed, there is next to noth- Crustacea is even deeper rooted and not easily ana- ing that unite them". Crustaceans range in size from lyzed. But one thing is important to me in this context. much below millimeter size to the giant king crabs; As Ibrowse through aU the papers in this book it brings in morphology from the almost stereotyped segment up the memoryofthe highlyrewarding Summer Meet- repetition ofthe Remipedia to animals with a highly The Crustacean Society held in 2000 in Puerto ing of diverse array of appendages such as the Decapoda; Vallarta, Mexico, where I had the privilege to serve as in life form from suspension feeding anostracans to its president.