SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY

BIOLOGY 596; PHYSIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND ECOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS

3 units, Spring Semester, 2002

Professor: Colin Brauner, Ph. D

Time: Tuesday and Thursday, 3:30 - 4:45pm

Place: Life Sciences North, Room 132

Office hours: Tues./Thurs. 4:45-6:00 pm, or by appointment

Office Location: Life Sciences North, Room 204E/F

Phone Number: (619) 594-1081

Fax Number: (619) 594-5676

E-mail: cbrauner@sunstroke.sdsu.edu

Texts:

Course Reader: A collection of scientific papers that will be used as the basis for discussions are available from the bookstore.

Recommended text book: Spicer and Gaston. Physiological Diversity and its Ecological Implications. Blackwell Science. 1999.

Prerequisites:

Biology 560 (Animal Physiology; or equivalent)

Biology 354 (Ecology and the Environment)

or permission from the instructor.

Course Description

Diversity or variation is a key characteristic of animal life. This course will present an overview of physiological diversity in animals, ranging from variability within a given system (within and between animals, populations and species) to diverse physiological strategies to cope with environmental challenges. Traits such as thermal tolerance, aerobic metabolic rate, osmoregulatory ability, and hemoglobin-oxygen affinity will be discussed, among others. These aspects of physiological diversity will be further explored in light of their ecological implications.

Grading

The grade in this course is based on two, non-cumulative 75 minute lecture exams, a written termpaper (including outlines, peer-review of your colleagues first drafts) and oral presentation of that paper, and class participation. The relative weighting is indicated below. The exams will consist entirely of short answer and essay type questions. Makeup examinations will be given only to those who inform me in advance of the actual scheduled examination, and who have a written, verifiable, legitimate excuse.

Summary of Course Grading Letter Grades

Lecture Exam I 25 % A 91.5 + C 66.5 - <71.0

Lecture Exam II 25 % A^- 87.5 - <91.5 % C^- 62.5 - <66.5

Outline of Termpaper 5 % B⁺ 83.5 - <87.5% D⁺ 59.0 < 62.5%

First draft of Termpaper 10% B 79.0 - <83.5 D 54.0 - <59.0

Peer Review of Termpapers 5 % B^-75.0 - <79.0 D- 50.0 - <54.0

Final Draft of Termpaper 10% C⁺ 71.0 - <66.5% F <50%

Oral Presentation 10 %

Discussion Participation 10 %

Total 100%

Important Dates

Jan. 31 Title of term paper

Feb. 14 Outline of termpaper

March 7 Lecture Exam I

March 14 First draft of termpaper

March 26 Critique of 2 termpapers

April 16 Final termpaper

May 14 Lecture Exam II

Termpaper and Oral Presentations

In this course, you will be required to write a 10 page termpaper (not including references and figures) on the topic of your choice, describing a physiological process or system and the implications this has for the organism and/or the environment it inhabits. Because physiology is such a diverse field, this paper will give you the opportunity to explore a system of your choice in great detail. As many of you may already have specific interests in Ecology and/or Evolutionary Biology, I encourage you to think about the organisms that interest you from a physiological perspective. How does the organism live where it does or function the way it does? If you are having difficulty choosing a topic, come see me, I have a number of suggestions.

The first draft of the termpaper is due March 14^th and will be anonymously distributed to two students within the class who will critique the termpaper. These comments, in addition to those from Dr. Brauner, should be used in preparation of the final version of the termpaper.

In addition to writing this paper, each student will give a brief (15-20 min) oral presentation of their paper in Power point, accompanied with handouts to be provided for the other students. Information from the oral presentations will be eligible for testing on Lecture exam II.

Biology 596: Physiological Diversity and Ecological Implications