A5054020273- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Advanced Numerical Analysis Techniques
- Marine animal studies overview
- Innovative Teaching Methods
- Biomedical and Engineering Education
- Morphological variations and asymmetry
- Career Development and Diversity
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Education and Critical Thinking Development
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- 3D Shape Modeling and Analysis
- Meningioma and schwannoma management
- Numerical methods in engineering
- Adhesion, Friction, and Surface Interactions
- Diversity and Career in Medicine
- Conservation, Ecology, Wildlife Education
- Computational Geometry and Mesh Generation
- Higher Education Practises and Engagement
- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
Allegheny College
2014-2024
University of South Florida
2005-2010
Michigan State University
2010
The performance of an organism's feeding apparatus has obvious implications for its fitness and survival. However, the majority studies that focus on chondrichthyan have largely ignored role teeth. Studying functional morphology shark teeth not only elucidates biological play in feeding, but also provides insight specifically into evolution because are often structures available fossil record. In present study, we investigate puncture draw three general categories extant teeth, tearing-type,...
Abstract The majority of studies on the evolution and function feeding in sharks have focused primarily movement cranial components muscle function, with little integration tooth properties or function. As teeth are subjected to sometimes extreme loads during feeding, they undergo stress, strain, potential failure. attributes related structural strength such as material overall shape may be natural selection, both prey processing ability parameters must considered understand shark teeth. In...
Abstract The nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum , is an obligate suction feeder that preys on benthic invertebrates and fish. Its cranial morphology exhibits a suite of structural functional modifications facilitate this mode prey capture. During suction‐feeding, subambient pressure generated by the ventral expansion hyoid apparatus floor its buccopharyngeal cavity. As in suction‐feeding bony fishes, shark expansive, compressive, recovery kinematic phases produce posterior‐directed water...
ABSTRACT Morphological studies of fossil and extant shark teeth have typically been qualitative in nature, with resulting taxonomic problems due to the complicated forms heterodonty exhibited by many sharks. This is apparent designation species assigned Isurus (Lamniformes), where status putative Neogene xiphodon I. hastalis solely based upon supposed differences tooth morphology. Here we apply geometric morphometric techniques Procrustes superimposition, resampling-based Goodall's F-test,...
Given the conservation status and ecological, cultural, commercial importance of chondrichthyan fishes, it is valuable to evaluate extent which research attention spread across taxa geographic locations assess degree scientific appropriately addressing challenges they face. Here we review trends in effort over three decades (1985–2016) through content analysis every abstract (n = 2,701) presented at annual conference American Elasmobranch Society (AES), oldest largest professional society...
A regional mass extinction event in the late Neogene western Atlantic is widely thought to have generated evolutionary opportunities for survivors, including enemy-related adaptation (escalation). The Strombus alatus species complex one potential example of this phenomenon. Strombid gastropods are abundant Plio-Pleistocene fossil record and Recent subtropical Florida, percentage these shells bearing a row short spines on last whorl increased from nearly zero almost 100% over time. As shell...
Failure is often taken as a given in higher education, an inevitable part of learning new things. Yet, it remains that students tend to fear, and faculty neglect. As faculty, we do not always strategize with or leverage our students’ struggles failures for improved learning. Instead, hope learn from their mistakes study harder try the next time, because moving on material class necessary meet objectives. In this article, outline several strategies using failure advantageously promoting...
Despite evidence of their importance to marine ecosystems, at least 32% all chondrichthyan species are estimated or assessed as threatened with extinction. In addition the logistical difficulties effectively conserving wide-ranging species, shark conservation is believed have been hindered in past by public perceptions sharks dangerous humans. Shark Week a high-profile, international programming event that has potentially enormous influence on sharks, research, researchers, and conservation....
Synopsis Core concepts offer coherence to the discourse of a scientific discipline and facilitate teaching by identifying large unifying themes that can be tailored level class expertise instructor. This approach has been shown encourage deeper learning integrated across subdisciplines biology adopted several other subdisciplines. However, Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, although one oldest biological areas study, not had its core identified. Here, we present five seven competencies (skills)...
Muricanthus fulvescens, one of the largest muricid gastropods in world, was once thought to be a behavioural specialist, using its shell grind feeding holes bivalve prey. New experimental observations, however, reveal that this predator employs up four modes predation, including selective use grinding and edge drilling interactions with large, thick-shelled venerid clam Mercenaria campechiensis. Shell-grinding attacks were found slightly faster than edge-drilling attacks, but had lower...
This paper introduces the collection of manuscripts from symposium, "Biology Beyond Classroom: Experiential Learning through Authentic Research, Design, and Community Engagement," presented at 2021 annual meeting Society for Integrative Comparative Biology. The following papers showcase innovative approaches engaging undergraduate students in experiential science learning experiences. Specifically, we focus on three high-impact practices that allow to take their outside classroom increased...
The ability of plethodontid salamanders to jump has been recognized for over 100 yr, but the mechanics are only now being elucidated. These often autotomize tails that can be as much a third body mass. Tail loss alters performance in some lizards and therefore may also alter salamanders. In this study, we used high-speed camera record subjects representing three species jumping with without tails. kinematic analyses indicate take-off velocity, angle, maximum height similar between Jump...
Abstract Plethodontid salamanders have a myriad of defense mechanisms with which to escape predation. One the most poorly understood is jumping, driven by lateral body bending; rapid straightening propels salamander into air. previous examination jumping in one plethodontid found little evidence ontogenetic changes mechanics jumping. Here, we investigate six species salamanders, across wide array sizes. Comparing morphological and kinematic variables, jump height scaled size forelimb length....
Given the importance of phylogenetic trees to understanding common ancestry and evolution, they are a necessary part undergraduate biology curriculum. However, number misconceptions, such as reading across branch tips homoplasy, can pose difficulties in student understanding. Students also may take be fact, instead hypotheses. Below we outline case study that have used upper-level evolution ichthyology courses utilizes shark teeth (representing fossils), body characters, mitochondrial genes....
Scientific professional societies are reviewing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices policies in response to recent calls for much-needed change. Organizations like scientific contribute establishing disciplinary norms, can influence the diversity of workforces multiple ways through both action inaction. This paper examines these issues using American Elasmobranch Society (AES), a medium-sized society, as case study. It consists three parts: (1) an analysis demographics AES...
The extensive chondrichthyan fossil record spans 400+ million years and has a global distribution. Paleontological studies provide foundation of description taxonomy to support deeper forays into ecology evolution considering geographic, morphologic, functional changes through time with nonanalog species climate states. Although teeth are most studied, analyses dermal denticle metrics soft tissue imprints increasing. Recent methodological advances in morphology geochemistry elucidating...