Department: Biology
Course Number:
BIO 623
Credit Hours: 3.0
Class Meeting Times:
9:30-10:20 MWF
Instructor:
Dr. T. Derting
Physiological
ecology is an examination of physiological
diversity in relation to the environments in which organisms live or
have
lived. This encompasses aspects of
behavior, morphology, biochemistry, and evolutionary biology among
other fields. Problem-solving approaches
will be stressed
to promote the learning of strategies of scientific research. (3 hours lecture, Prerequisites
- BIO 330; BIO 322 is recommended)
The primary purpose
of the course is to help you develop
an integrated knowledge of the role of physiological mechanisms in
ecology. Physiology and ecology are
frequently regarded as separate areas of study while, in fact, neither
exists
in isolation from the other. Likewise,
plants and animals are often considered separately despite the fact
that both
are confronted with similar ecological challenges (e.g., acquisition of
sufficient food energy, predation, and access to mates).
Through an integrated approach to the study
of plants, animals, physiological processes, and ecology you can
achieve a more
comprehensive and realistic understanding of how organisms survive,
reproduce,
and co-exist. In addition, you gain
insight into the variety of physiological options available to
organisms,
similarities among organisms, both plant and animal, and the uniqueness
of
individual and groups of species.
Lastly, you will increase your understanding of physiological
and
ecological constraints associated with particular groups of organisms
and the
environment in which organismal characteristics have evolved.
The objectives of the course are four-fold:
A research-oriented approach will be followed throughout
the course. Discussions will be in the
format of developing questions that focus on physiological and
ecological
phenomena, followed by investigation and evaluation of potential and
actual
solutions to these questions. Discussion
sessions will include critical evaluation of published articles that
address
specific physiological and ecological topics.
VI.
Instructional Activities:
Basic concepts in the field of physiological
ecology will be presented
in a discussion format. The specific
topics covered may include energy acquisition and digestion strategies,
thermoregulation, osmoregulation and water conservation capabilities,
defense
mechanisms, body form, priorities among interacting physiological
systems, and
phenotypic plasticity and genetic correlation with respect to the
evolution of
physiology. Intra- and interspecific
interactions will be considered during investigation of these topics. You will use the information presented in
discussions as a basis for critically evaluating published papers and
grant
proposals. Each of you will make and
defend a recommendation for funding of the proposals.
There are two major resources for this course:
your textbooks and handouts which are provided
for discussion.
Grades
for all components of the course are assigned as follows:
90 – 100%
A
80-89%
B
70-79%
C
60-69%
D
<60%
E
Final grades are based on:
Participation/leadership in discussions
30%
Exams (2)
30%
Proposal critique
15%
Final Exam
25%
Students are expected to participate actively in all
discussions and class activities. All
assignments must be turned in by the assigned due date.
Please see the Attendance Policy in the current Graduate
Bulletin. You are expected to attend all
scheduled course activities.
Please see the Academic Honesty Policy in the current
Graduate Bulletin. Cheating, plagiarism
(submitting another person’s material as one’s own, or doing work for
another
person who will receive academic credit) are all impermissible. This includes the use of unauthorized books,
notebooks, or other sources in order to secure or give help during as
assignment, the unauthorized copying of examinations, assignments,
reports, or
term papers, or the presentation of unacknowledged material as if it
were your
own work. If substantial evidence exists
for a violation of this policy, you will receive a grade of ‘E’ for the
course. Disciplinary action may be taken
beyond the academic discipline that I administer in the course itself.
Required Texts:
American Journal of Physiology
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology
Functional Ecology
Journal of Comparative Physiology
Journal of Experimental Biology
Journal of Thermal Biology
Physiological and Biochemical Zoology
Respiration Physiology
Trends in Ecology and Evolution
Taxonomic journals - e.g., Condor, Copeia
Ecological
journals - e.g., Ecology, Oecologia
XIII.
Prerequisites:
BIO 330; BIO 322 is recommended