Teaching

BIOLOGY 4431 Comparative Vertebrate Physiology

Course Outline & Goals:

This course is an introduction to the physiology of marine, freshwater, and terrestrial animals, with an emphasis on understanding how different species have adapted to their habitat.  As such we will approach most topics from a comparative perspective. In the class, students develop an understanding of how the environment that animals live in impacts their physiology and behavior. Initial lectures introduce students to the variety of challenges that animals face, and the basic physical laws that govern all physiological processes. Subsequent lectures compare how different species have adapted to particular physiological stresses imposed by unique habitats. Students then apply this knowledge to predict expected physiological mechanisms for animals in particular environments. Lectures approach problems experimentally and acquaint students with the techniques used to determine physiological status. Once students have achieved an understanding of the comparative approach to the study of animal physiology, they will be better able to understand animal behavior and ecology.

BIOLOGY 5380 Integrative Ecophysiology

Course Goals and Objectives:

The overall goal of this course is to clarify the role and importance of physiological processes in animals as it pertains to the flow of nutrients from environment through excretion. This class will apply the principles of nutrition to the study of fish, reptiles, birds and mammals in their natural environments. Students will learn and apply the principles of food acquisition, its digestion and absorption and the retention and utilization of energy substrates and ultimately the cycle of nutrients between environment and predator. Specifically, the course goals are to prepare graduate students to understand the theory of, or quantify, feeding dynamics, food consumption, digestive function, energy use and integration as well as integrating nutrient supply and demand in variable environments. Using an integrated approach this class will connect behavioral, morphological, and biochemical traits of animals to their life histories along with their response to changing environments. One of my objectives is to provide students an in-depth knowledge of the fundamental mechanisms and processes which underlie organ systems and adaptation in various environmental scenarios. Another primary objective is to approach problems mathematically and experimentally and acquaint students with the techniques used to determine nutritional status.

BIOLOGY 5100 Seminar; Using animal models in research

The decision to use animals in research requires critical thought, judgment, and analysis. Using animals in research is a privilege granted by society to the research community with the expectation that such use will provide either significant new knowledge or lead to improvement in human and/or animal well-being. It is a trust that mandates responsible and humane care and use of these animals. In this class we will discuss, through insightful papers and critique, questions surrounding the use of animals in human-based research.