BYRNES, G. T.; University of California, Berkeley: Landing kinematics of a gliding mammal, Glaucomys volans One selective pressure common to all volant animals, both gliding and flapping is the need to return safely to the substrate. How organisms coordinate their movements to land in a controlled manner is an overlooked aspect of flight biology. Recent […]

PADIAN, K.*; MAZIN, J.-M.; BILLON-BRUYAT, J.-P.; Univ. of California, Berkeley; Univ. of Poitiers, France; Univ. of Poitiers, France: How pterosaurs landed: the first evidence from footprints Pterosaurs, the first known flying vertebrates, were closely related to dinosaurs and contemporaneous with them during the Mesozoic Era (Late Triassic � Late Cretaceous, about 220-65 million years ago). […]

HENRY, H.T.*; MARSH, R.L.; ELLERBY, D.J.; Northeastern University; Northeastern University; Northeastern University: Function of the avian lateral gastrocnemius in jumping The function of the same muscle may vary greatly during different locomotor behaviors. The main function of the avian lateral gastrocnemius (LG) during running is to produce force. During running the LG is active on […]

BOUGHTON, R.K.*; KAMP, M.F.; BRIDGE, E.; SCHOECH, S.J.; Univ. Memphis: Testosterone, immune function, and energetics in Japanese Quail Evolutionary theory predicts that the high energetic cost of reproduction will induce a trade-off between reproduction and other physiologic functions, such as the immune system. Though this assumes a cost to maintaining or increasing immune function, few […]

CZARNOWSKI, M.R.*; LOMBARDO, M.P.; POWER, H.W.; HASSELQUIST, D.; Rutgers University, New Brunswick; Grand Valley State University; Rutgers University, New Brunswick; Lund University, Sweden: Sudden energetic deficit in male tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) has negligible effect on immunocompetence and glucocorticosteroid levels An organism�s response to a sudden, unpredictable event is integral in determining its current and […]

FRENCH, S.S.*; MOORE, M.C.; Arizona State University; Arizona State University: Immune Function Varies with Reproductive Stage in Female Tree Lizards, Urosaurus ornatus A major challenge in integrative biology is understanding the mechanisms by which organisms regulate trade-offs among various functions competing for limiting resources. Key among these competing processes are reproduction and immune function, and […]

OWEN-ASHLEY, N. T.*; HASSELQUIST, D.; WINGFIELD, J. C.; Univ. of Washington, Seattle; Lund University, Sweden; Univ. of Washington, Seattle: Examining the indirect pathways of testosterone-induced immunosuppression in male songbirds. I.) Effects of corticosterone and estradiol on acquired immune function Recent evidence suggests that testosterone (T)-induced immunosuppression in male birds occurs through a combination of indirect […]

CHAKRABORTY, Mukta *; HEWS, Diana K.; Indiana State University; Indiana State University: Endocrine-immune interactions in male Sceloporus lizards: testing assumptions of the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis Variation in male secondary sexual traits contributes to explaining variation in reproductive success. Regulation of secondary sex traits is often mediated by the endocrine system, especially testosterone. Although high testosterone […]

LUTTON, B.L.*; CALLARD, I.P.; Boston University: Endocrine-Immune Interactions In The Little Skate, Leucoraja erinacea The cartilaginous fish offer a novel approach to the study of endocrine-immune interactions. In these species the gonads are directly associated with a unique lymphomyeloid tissue, the epigonal organ. It is known that steroid hormones affect both the innate and acquired […]

KELLY, D. A.; Zygote Games LLC: Using Games to Reinforce Facts and Concepts in the Biological Sciences Ironically, although biology is filled with competitive events, �educational biology games� often reward the mastery of names and facts without addressing their underlying organizational framework. Zygote Games LLC is trying to move beyond this �trivia game� model for […]