BIO 320 Research topics for presentation

Keep in mind that this research project is intended for students to learn about a specific research topic in comparative vertebrate anatomy that is beyond the scope of the lectures, and to present their findings in a 20 minute seminar to the other students. The goals are thus to research the topic in sufficient depth and breadth to be able to summarize the major research questions and findings, and to convey this summary to your fellow students in an understandable and hopefully interesting way. Check your course guidelines for the exact evaluation criteria.

Please let me know of your topic choice by March 21, and submit an outline of your research topic by April 6. Outlines are the logical and natural step between doing a lot of reading and thinking, and sitting down to write a research paper or talk. An outline should explicitly state the topic being researched and the specific question(s) being addressed. It should also list in point form the subtopics that will be covered to answer the question(s) being asked. A good outline is a roadmap to your talk or paper; it saves you from getting lost or sidetracked during the writing. You are required to meet with me to discuss your outline during the week of April 11-15.

Presentations will be done in the last week of class. Presentations must use some visual aids to illustrate graphical or diagrammatic information, to highlight key points, terms, concepts, etc., and to generally help guide the listener through your talk. If you want a mini-workshop on making a Powerpoint presentation package, let me know by April 9.

Function and evolution

1. Filter feeding by jawed fishes (whale and basking sharks) and mammals (whales)

2. Cranial kinesis and feeding in snakes

3. Comparisons of feeding styles in aquatic larval and terrestrial adult amphibians

4. Lungs and gas bladders in fish

5. Respiratory adaptations of birds

6. Gait in running tetrapods

7. Venom injection - Eric

8. Bipedalism in tetrapods: basilisk lizard that runs on water

9. Primate locomotion - Laura

10. Cooling devices in endothermic vertebrates

11. Endothermy in fishes

12. Electric organs

13. Pineal and/or parietal (third) eyes

14. Swimming in birds and mammals - Bethany

15. Suckling behavior in mammals

16. Sonar and echolocation in dolphins or bats - Kaitlyn Riley

17. Regulation of skin pigmentation in response to stress or environment

18. Auditory system

19. Hummingbird flight and feeding - Jennifer

20. Eyes and light reception -Katie

21. Gliding in non-winged vertebrates, including snakes - Lauren

22. Electroreception - Mike

Some other specialization of locomotion or feeding in the vertebrate group of your choice (check with me first though)

Development and evolution

1. Hox genes in fin and limb development and evolution (you should be prepared to understand and explain some developmental genetics for this topic)

2. Teeth

3. Placentas

4. Anatomical specializations for internal fertilization

5. The turtle shell - Alix

6. Effect of miniaturization on the skeleton and/or neural anatomy.

7. Pigment patterns in amphibians, fish or birds

8. Integumentary derivatives: one of antlers and horns - Charity, skin glands, hair, feathers, sense organs

9. Regeneration and wound healing across vertebrates

Some other anatomical specilizations in the vertebrate group of your choice (check with me first though)

Paleontology

1. Fossil evidence for the early evolution of birds and flight

2. Dinosaurs: arguments and evidence for their being warm-blooded versus cold-blooded - JIn

3. Fossil evidence for the early evolution of whales and other secondarily aquatic mammals

4. Recent fossil findings on the water to land transition

3. Fossil evidence for the early evolution of the horse Ð Katelynn Atwood