Laboratory work includes the study and dissection of representatives from different vertebrate classes as well as an overview of some of the important evolutionary adaptations for differing habitats and lifestyles. This course builds upon some of the material presented in Biology 212, providing students with a much more detailed look at the structure and function of various organs and organ systems of the vertebrate body. Dissections and display material are used during laboratories to allow students to compare and contrast these systems in representative vertebrates. This course explores various aspects of animal behaviour, primarily from an evolutionary perspective. Topics covered include the development and expression of behaviour, animal communication, predator-prey interactions, reproductive and parental strategies of males and females, and the application of an evolutionary approach to the study of human behaviour.
Laboratories focus on how behavioural data are collected and interpreted.
My students and I study various aspects of vertebrate development and behaviour. We are particularly interested in how early stress affects subsequent life history characteristics in fish and amphibians. Some Current Projects 1. Exposure and effects of endocrine disrupting substances associated with intensive agricultural practices. It has been well documented that aquatic ecosystems can be exposed to chemicals through intensive agricultural practices.