Environmental Physiology (BIOL 414.01) Spring 2004

Lecture: Tuesday and Thursday, 0800-0915; Bond 316

Laboratory: Thursday, 1300-1550; Duckett 314

Instructor: LTC Paul Rosenblum

Office: Duckett 119

Telephone: 953-7928

Home telephone: 958-9584

E-mail: paul.rosenblum@citadel.edu

Office hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 0900-0950; Tuesday, 1400-1450

Course objectives: To study the physiological and biochemical adaptations in animals in response to varying environmental parameters including temperature, salinity, pH, and oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.

Text: Willmer, P., et al., (2000) Environmental Physiology of Animals, Blackwell Scientific

Grading: Your course grade will be based on five take home exams (each weighted equally and making up 65% of your grade), journal article presentations (10% of your grade), and laboratory work (25% of your grade). All grades will be assigned as follows: 0 - 59 = F, 60 - 69 = D, 70 - 79 = C, 80 - 89 = B, 90 - 100 = A.

Lecture and Exam Schedule

Date Topic Chapter

01/15 I. Introduction 2

Problems and Solutions to Them

Physiological Strategies

Reflex Arcs

01/20-01/27 II. Energy and Metabolism 6

Common Metabolic Pathways

Enzyme Kinetics

01/27 Take Home Exam #1 (Topics I and II)

01-29-02/03 III. The Nervous System

Organization of the Nervous System

Structure and Function of the Autonomic Nervous System

02/05-02/10 IV. The Endocrine System

Organization of the Endocrine System

Hormone Mechanisms of Action

02/10 Take Home Exam #2 (Topics III and IV)

Date Topic Chapter

02/12-02/19 V. Hydromineral Balance and Nitrogenous Waste Excretion 4 & 5

Mechanism of Transport

Organs for Hydromineral Balance

Energetics of Hydromineral Balance

Nitrogenous Wastes

02/24-03/02 VI. Gas Exchange, Delivery, and pH Balance 7

Fick’s Law

Design of Gas Exchange Organs

Design of Circulatory Systems

Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Transport

pH Balance

03/02 Take Home Exam #3 (Topics V and VI)

03/04-03/16 VII. Body Temperature 8

Effects on Enzyme Activity

Effects on Membrane Fluidity

Heterothermy and Homeothermy

03/18-03-30 VIII. Adaptations in Marine Environments 9

04/01-04/06 IX. Adaptations in Freshwater and Changing Environments 10 & 11

04/06 Take Home Exam #4 (Topics V – VII)

04/08-04/13 X. Adaptations in Terrestrial Environments 13

04/15-04/20 XI. Adaptations to Extreme Environments 14

04/22-04/27 Journal Article Presentations

05/03 Take Home Exam #5 (Topics VIII and IX and Journal Articles)