MEES 432/632 Physiological Ecology of Animals, 3 credits
Instructor – Christopher Rowe,
Associate Professor, UMCES Chesapeake Biological Laboratory
Format – Interactive video
Course description:
This course is an examination of the
influences of environmental constraints on animal function and energetic
efficiency in the context of abiotic conditions in the habitats occupied by
individuals. The abiotic environment is
being rapidly altered due to climate change and increasing severity of other
anthropogenic impacts on natural habitats. This course evaluates these changes
as influencing variables on animal functions that underlie fitness and thus the
ecology of the species and their communities.
Aquatic and terrestrial animals are considered, although most emphasis
is placed on aquatic and semi-aquatic species.
Outcomes:
1.
Students will gain an appreciation of physiological and bioenergetic
processes as they relate to environmental conditions.
2.
They will understand the impacts of major abiotic stressors
(temperature, salinity/water hardness, water quality, contaminants) on
integrated functions (physiological, behavioral) that may entail fitness costs,
including thermal responses, osmotic exchange, feeding and assimilation
efficiencies, gas exchange, and excretion.
3.
Functional responses to stressors will be evaluated with respect to
influences on energy allocation among maintenance and production pathways.
4.
Ultimately the students will be able to view bioenergetic processes that
underlie population and community-level processes from the perspective of
direct environmental influences on functional attributes of the individuals.
Assessment:
Grades will be assigned based on the
scores obtained on three in-class examinations, an in-class presentation, class
participation, and a final term paper (600-level students only).
Format Overview:
This is a lecture-based course offered
over the Interactive Video Network, originating at Chesapeake Biological Laboratory. Lectures are supplemented with required
readings from the primary literature.
Course format includes three examinations, a student presentation, and a
term paper (the latter for 600-level students only).
Materials:
Lecture notes are provided. Lecture material is largely derived from the
primary literature. Readings from the
literature will be assigned. There is no
text book required for this course.
Other information:
This course is offered for graduate
students (600 level) and advanced undergraduate students (400 level) having
completed an undergraduate course in general ecology.
Contact: