|
Research in Physiology and Functional Morphology |
|
Organisms do many amazing things, beginning with just staying alive. How are these basic functions and stunning performances accomplished? Physiologists study the underlying mechanisms at the biochemical, cellular, organ-system and whole-organism levels. Physiologists also study the developmental, behavioral, ecological and evolutionary aspects of function. How is the mechanism that supports a given ability assembled and modified as the organism grows? How does it respond to changing circumstances during an individual's lifetime? And how was it 'invented' (or reinvented) during the evolutionary history of the species? The tools used to approach such questions are necessarily diverse. In our department alone they include (among many others): stable-isotope analysis of water and nutrient flows through plant and animal communities; real-time kinetic analyses of walking, running and jumping in animals of all sizes; metabolic analyses of digestion in mammals; electrophysiological and molecular genetic analyses of neuronal and nervous-system function; and biochemical analyses of the nano-mechanics of flagellar propulsion in bacteria. David Blair Mechanisms of flagellar rotation in bacteria; biological energy conversions at membranes Dennis Bramble Biomechanics, functional morphology and evolution of 'lower' vertebrates; cursorial specialization in hominid evolution David Carrier Comparative physiology; function and evolution of vertebrate musculo-skeletal systems Denise Dearing Plant-herbivore interactions; mammalian detoxification and behavioral defenses against plant secondary metabolites Jim Ehleringer Plant physiological ecology; scaling from plants to ecosystems; biosphere-atmosphere gas exchange C. G. Farmer Vertebrate cardiopulmonary function and metabolism; convergent evolution Franz Goller Behavioral physiology of song production and learning in birds; metabolic cost of singing Uwe Hacke Ecophysiology, Plant Structure/Function Erik Jorgensen Genetic analysis of neurotransmission in C. elegans; synaptic vesicle function; neuronal basis of behavioral rhythms Tom Kursar Physiological ecology of tropical rainforest plants; drought tolerance; chemical and other defenses against herbivores Matthew Linton Plant biology Villu Maricq Synaptic function, neural circuits and behavior in C. elegans; genetic analysis of neurotransmitter receptor function Toto Olivera Molecular mechanisms of nervous-system function; peptide neurotoxins of predatory marine snails in the genus Conus Gary Rose Neural basis of electrosensory behavior in weakly electric fish; acoustic communication in frogs; physiology of sex determination and coloration in marine wrasses Neil Vickers Neurophysiology of insect olfaction; pheromone production and perception in heliothine moths; odor-mediated behaviors of insects |