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BISC 445 ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY OF ANIMALS. Julian Christians (julian_christians@sfu.ca) Office: SSB 8101 Office hours: Monday, 11:30-12:30 TA: Rodrigo Solis Sosa Email: unitec.solis@gmail.com Office hours by appointment www.sfu.ca/biology/courses/bisc445/ www.sfu.ca/lectures/.
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BISC 445ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY OF ANIMALS Julian Christians (julian_christians@sfu.ca) Office: SSB 8101 Office hours: Monday, 11:30-12:30 TA: Rodrigo Solis Sosa Email: unitec.solis@gmail.com Office hours by appointment www.sfu.ca/biology/courses/bisc445/ www.sfu.ca/lectures/
abiotic What is environmental physiology? • Physiology is about mechanisms. • Environmental physiology is about physiological responses to environmental challenges. • Environment = physical, chemical and biotic
What is environmental physiology? Willmer et al. 2005; Fig. 5.20 Willmer et al. 2005; Fig. 5.16
Evolution of health and disease Medicine Response to environmental change Toxicology Why study environmental physiology? Physiology Evolution Environmental physiology Ecology
Will NOT focus on humans or mammals Course outline • Four general principles • Evolutionary processes • Oxygen • Temperature • Water and ions • Deep sea
Course objectives I want you to: • Understand four basic physiological principles, and be able to illustrate these with examples, and relate new material to these principles. • Be able to distinguish between evolutionary responses (adaptation) and within-individual responses. • Understand the importance of modern evolutionary approaches to the study of environmental physiology. Proximate causes: How? Ultimate causes: Why?
Course objectives I want you to be aware of: • Mechanisms available for response to environmental challenges (including different responses at different time scales). • General mechanisms frequently involved in a variety of responses. • Some incredible examples of physiological responses to environmental challenges. A Bacterium That Can Grow by Using Arsenic Instead of Phosphorus http://www.sciencemag.org/content/early/2010/12/01/science.1197258.full.pdf
Mark distribution • Final exam: 40% • 2 x Midterm exams: 25% each • Tutorial presentation: 10% Exams will be based on tutorial and lecture material.
Tutorials- what’s the point? • To study “primary literature” • To practice critical thinking • To practice presenting scientific material in a clear, jargon-reduced way. • To gain “public speaking” experience in a non-threatening environment. • To study other examples that illustrate the “4 general principles” and other material presented in lecture. Make them interesting! YOU are responsible for rescheduling!
Important dates Monday, February 3: Midterm #1 Monday, March 10: Midterm # 2 Tuesday, April 22, 8:30-11:30am: Final exam
Textbooks One copy of each on reserve: • Willmer, P., Stone, G., & Johnston, I. 2005. Environmental Physiology of Animals. Second Edition. Blackwell. ISBN 1405107243. (aka Willmer et al.) • Moyes, CD & Schulte, PM 2006. Principles of animal physiology. Pearson Benjamin Cummings. ISBN 0805353518. (aka Moyes and Schulte)
Why are you taking this course? What other courses (Biology or other) have you liked best? Does this course relate to your career/grad school goals? If so, how?