Did you know that the ancestor of all insects lived on land and breathed air, but that between 100,000 to 1 million insect species have since become aquatic, living and breathing underwater? Some have evolved snorkels, gills or SCUBA tanks, while others even have the ability to regulate their buoyancy to float weightless while hunting zooplankton. Dr Phil Matthews will explore the watery-world of aquatic insects, explaining the unique challenges they face and the often bizarre adaptations they use to survive and thrive underwater.

Phil Matthews is an Assistant Professor in the Zoology Department at UBC who studies the respiratory adaptations of insects.