Background In biomedical research, a huge variety of different techniques is currently
available for the structural examination of small specimens, including conventional light …

Matrotrophy, the continuous extra‐vitelline supply of nutrients from the parent to the progeny
during gestation, is one of the masterpieces of nature, contributing to offspring fitness and …

Background In comparison to more modern imaging methods, conventional light microscopy
still offers a range of substantial advantages with regard to contrast options, accessible …

Molecular techniques are currently the leading tools for reconstructing phylogenetic
relationships, but our understanding of ancestral, plesiomorphic and apomorphic characters …

The phylogenetic position of the Ectoprocta within the Lophotrochozoa is discussed
controversially. For gaining more insight into ectoproct relationships and comparing it with other …

Background Ectoprocta is a large lophotrochozoan clade of colonial suspension feeders
comprising over 5.000 extant species. Their phylogenetic position within the Lophotrochzoa …

Background Cyclostome bryozoans are an ancient group of marine colonial suspension-feeders
comprising approximately 700 extant species. Previous morphological studies are …

Freshwater dreissenid mussels evolved from marine ancestors during the Miocene ∼30
million years ago and today include some of the most successful and destructive invasive …

Ctenostome bryozoans are a small group of gymnolaemates that comprise only a few
hundred described species. Soft‐tissue morphology remains the most important source for …

Bryozoans are mostly sessile colonial invertebrates that inhabit all kinds of aquatic ecosystems.
Extant bryozoan species fall into two clades with one of them, Phylactolaemata, being …