Invertebrate Endocrinology

Invertebrate endocrinology studies how animals without backbones, like insects, mollusks, and worms, regulate their physiology and behavior using hormones. Hormones are chemical messengers that travel through the body to coordinate activities such as growth, development, reproduction, and stress responses. In the context of comparative endocrinology, researchers compare these hormone systems across different invertebrate species and with vertebrates (animals with backbones) to understand evolutionary patterns and adaptations in hormonal control. This field enhances our understanding of biology, ecology, and how different life forms interact with their environments.