Department of Zoology and Physiology

Professors:
CRAIG W. BENKMAN, B.A. University of California at Berkeley 1978; M.S. Northern Arizona State University 1981; Ph.D. State University of New York 1985; Robert Berry Professor of Ecology, Professor of Zoology and Physiology 2004.
HAROLD L. BERGMAN, B.A. Eastern Michigan University 1968; M.S. 1971; Ph.D. Michigan State University 1973; Director SENR/IENR 1997; Professor of Zoology and Physiology 1984, 1975.
STEVEN W. BUSKIRK, B.S. University of Redlands 1969; M.S. University of Arizona 1972; Ph.D. University of Alaska 1983; Head of the Department of Zoology and Physiology 1994; Professor of Zoology and Physiology 1997, 1984.
DANIEL F. DOAK, B.A. Swarthmore College 1983; Ph.D. University of Washington (Seattle) 1990; Professor of Zoology and Physiology 2007.

FRANCIS W. FLYNN, B.A. University of Colorado, Boulder 1973; M.A. Northern Arizona University 1977; Ph.D. Kansas State University 1981; Professor of Psychology 1994, 1986, Zoology and Physiology 2001.
ZOLTAN M. FUZESSERY, B.S. University of California-Santa Barbara 1970; M.S. 1973; Ph.D. University of Illinois 1982; Professor of Zoology and Physiology 2004, 1993, 1987.

WILLIAM A. GERN, B.A. Western State College-Colorado 1971; M.A. 1973; Ph.D. University of Colorado-Boulder 1976; Professor of Zoology and Physiology 1989, 1979.
HENRY J. HARLOW, B.A. California State University 1966; M.A. 1973; Ph.D. University of Wyoming 1979; Director UW-NPS 1992; Professor of Zoology and Physiology 1996, 1981.
WAYNE A. HUBERT, B.S. Illinois State University 1969; M.S. Southern Illinois University 1972; Ph.D. Virginia Polytechnic Institute 1979; Assistant Leader, Wyoming Cooperative Research Unit 1982; Professor of Zoology and Physiology 1991, 1982.
JAMES R. LOVVORN, B.S. University of Georgia 1977; M.S. Purdue University 1980; Ph.D. University of Wisconsin 1987; Professor of Zoology and Physiology 2002, 1989.
CARLOS MARTINEZ del RIO, B.Sc. Universidad Nacional de Mexico 1984; Ph.D. University of Florida 1990; Professor of Zoology and Physiology 2004, 2000.
JOSEPH S. MEYER, B.S. Lehigh University 1973; Ph.D. University of Wyoming 1986; Professor of Zoology and Physiology 2005, 1999, 1993.
GRAHAM MITCHELL, B.Sc. University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa 1967; Ph.D. 1977; B.V.Sc. University of Pretoria, South Africa 1971; D. V.Sc. 1983; FRSSAf; Professor of Zoology and Physiology 1998, 1991.

FRANK J. RAHEL, B.A. Kenyon College (Ohio) 1974; M.S. University of Wisconsin 1977; Ph.D. 1982; Professor of Zoology and Physiology 1998, 1991.
 

Associate Professors:

MERAV BEN-DAVID, B.S. Tel Aviv University 1984; M.S. 1988; Ph.D. University of Alaska 1996; Associate Professor of Zoology and Physiology 2004, 2000.
BRUCE W. CULVER, B.S. University of Wyoming 1969; Ph.D. University of Kansas Medical Center 1975; Associate Professor of Pharmacy 1981, 1977, Zoology and Physiology 1984.
ROBERT O. HALL JR., B.S. Cornell University 1989; Ph.D. University of Georgia 1996; Associate Professor of Zoology and Physiology 1998.
DAVID B. MCDONALD, A.B. Harvard College 1973; Ph.D. University of Arizona 1987; Associate Professor of Zoology and Physiology 2002, 1996.
ROBERT S. SEVILLE, B.S. San Diego State University 1981; M.S. University of Wyoming 1987; Ph.D. 1992; Associate Professor of Zoology and Physiology 2001, 1995.
DONAL C. SKINNER, B.S. Rhodes University 1987, B.S. University of the Witwatersrand 1988; Ph.D. University of Cambridge 1993; Associate Professor of Zoology and Physiology 2005, 2002.

CHARLES J.  WOODBURY, B.S. Arizona State University 1982; Ph.D. State University of New York, Stony Brook 1989; Associate Professor of Zoology and Physiology 2008, 2003.
 

Assistant Professors:
MICHAEL E. DILLON, B.S. University of Texas, Austin 1998; Ph.D. University of Washington 2005; Assistant Professor of Zoology and Physiology 2009.

MATTHEW J. KAUFFMAN, B.A. University of Oregon 1992; Ph.D. University of California, Santa Cruz 2003; Assistant Professor of Zoology and Physiology 2006.

QIAN-QUAN SUN, B.Sc. Shandong Normal University 1990; M.S. 1993; Ph.D. St. Andrews University 1998; Assistant Professor of Zoology and Physiology 2004.
 

Assistant Academic Professional Lecturers:
MARGARET J. FLANIGAN, B.Sc. University of Strathclyde 1984; PH.D. University of the Witwatersrand 1993; Academic Professional, Zoology and Physiology 2006, 2003.

Senior Academic Professional Research Scientist:

ZHAOJIE ZHANG, B.S. Shandong University 1985; M.S. 1988; Ph.D. University of Oklahoma 1999; Director, Microscopy Core Facility, University of Wyoming 2006, 2004; Associate Academic Professional /Research Scientist 2007, 2004.

Assistant Academic Professional Research Scientist:
ANNA D. CHALFOUN, B.A. Smith College 1995; M.S. University of Missouri-Columbia 2000; Ph.D. University of Montana-Missoula 2006; Assistant Research Scientist, Zoology and Physiology 2008.

AMY C. KRIST, B.A. S.U.N.Y. Potsdam 1991; Ph.D. Indiana University 1998; Research Scientist, Zoology and Physiology 2004.
 

Temporary Academic Professionals:
DIANE GORSKI, B.S. University of Wyoming 1989; M.S. 1991; Lecturer, Zoology and Physiology 1996.
BETH RINTZ, B.S. Pennsylvania State University 1995; M.S. University of Wyoming 2005; Lecturer, Zoology and Physiology 2006.

Professors Emeritus:

Robert W. Atherton, Robert P. George, Robert M. Kitchin, J.A. Lillegraven, Frederick G. Lindzey, James D. Rose, Joan Smith-Sonneborn

Academic Professional Lecturer Emeritus:

Jane Beiswenger

Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Leader: Hubert

Assistant Leader: Kauffman

Assistant APRS: Chalfoun

The department of Zoology and Physiology offers a variety of courses in the biological sciences that encompass many aspects of animal form, function, and biology.

Students are able to study disciplines ranging from the intricacies of cell biology to the complexities of ecosystem functioning. Genetics, cell biology and physiology, histology and developmental biology, human, animal, environmental, and comparative physiology, organismal biology (invertebrates, fish, amphibia, reptiles, birds, mammals), terrestrial, aquatic, and community ecology, and wildlife and fisheries management can be studied.

Graduate Degrees

The department offers programs leading to Plan A or B Master of Science degrees and offers a Ph.D. degree. Refer to the Graduate Bulletin for a description of graduate programs.

Undergraduate Degrees

Biology Major

The Biology major is an interdepartmental program that provides a broad education in biological sciences. It enables students to combine courses in biology, botany, zoology, physiology, and other biological sciences to meet the requirements of the major. On completion of the core requirements for the major, specific courses selected to complete the major may vary according to students’ interests and are worked out by consultations between student and adviser. The requirements for a bachelor’s degree are outlined in the Biology section of this Bulletin or see the web site at www.uwyo.edu/biology.

Physiology Major

Physiology is the study of how animals work: how they breathe, feed, interact with their environment, and carry out many other activities and functions. Physiology is the knowledge that the health sciences are built on and so is especially important for students who may be thinking of becoming medical practitioners, veterinarians or health professionals. In addition to the University and College of Arts and Sciences requirements, a degree in physiology typically involves the following courses:

Freshman Year

Students take introductory courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics as these are essential for understanding physiological processes.

Sophomore Year

Students finish any introductory courses they have not yet completed and take basic courses in Human Systems Physiology, Integrative Physiology, and Anatomy. Systems Physiology is concerned with how the cardiovascular and respiratory systems function. Integrative Physiology is concerned with how the body regulates such functions as reproduction or blood glucose concentrations.

Junior and Senior Years

Having completed these basic and introductory courses, students can specialize in an area of physiology they find particularly interesting. The department has strong expertise in neuroscience physiology, cell physiology, ecological, and comparative physiology. For details, visit our web site.

At the end of this program students will have a thorough knowledge of physiology, will be well prepared to enter health sciences or graduate education, and will have a range of skills attractive to employers.

Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and Management Major

Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and Management is a professional degree designed to prepare students for state, federal, and other positions in resource management and conservation biology. The degree provides students with knowledge of the natural world, understanding of processes governing dynamics of wildlife and fish populations, as well as an appreciation of human-mediated effects on wildlife and fish populations. A student graduating with this degree will be familiar with the theory of resource management as well as with methods used to determine population status, habitat quality, and conservation. In Wyoming the abundance of wild animals and pristine habitats provide a unique natural laboratory for studying the responses of wildlife and fish populations to changing climates and habitats.

In addition to the University and College of Arts and Sciences requirements, a degree in wildlife and fisheries biology and management typically involves the following:

Freshman Year

Students take introductory courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics as these provide essential tools for understanding ideas and processes in wildlife and fisheries biology and management.

Sophomore Year

Students finish any introductory courses they have not yet completed and begin the study of wildlife and fisheries biology and management by taking courses in resource management, natural history of vertebrates, physiology, genetics, and evolution, as these subjects provide the underlying principles of population dynamics and the mechanisms of evolution.

Junior and Senior Years

Students can elect to concentrate in those areas of wildlife and fisheries biology and management they find most interesting and can specialize in a terrestrial or aquatic option. For details of these options see our web site.

A student graduating with a degree in WFBM will have a comprehensive knowledge of wildlife and fisheries biology and management, will have earned a degree that is compatible with the requirements for professional certification with the American Fisheries Society or the Wildlife Society, and will have a range of knowledge and skills that are valuable to potential employers.

Zoology Major

Zoology is the study of animals: their structure, physiology, development and evolution, and life cycles. One of the enduring fascinations of zoology is that we can learn so much about ourselves and our environment by studying what our fellow creatures do.

In addition to the University and College of Arts and Sciences requirements, a degree in zoology typically involves the following courses:

Freshman Year

Students take introductory courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics as these provide essential tools for understanding zoological ideas and processes.

Sophomore Year

Students finish any introductory courses they have not completed and begin the study of zoology by taking courses in anatomy, physiology, genetics, ecology, and evolution, as these subjects provide the underlying principles of the mechanisms of evolution, and animal structure, function, and ecology.

Junior and Senior Years

Students take courses in the five main animal kingdoms: Invertebrate Zoology, Ichthyology, Herpetology, Ornithology, and Mammalogy. For details of these and other courses see our Website. At the end of this program students will have a comprehensive knowledge of zoology, will be well prepared for graduate education, and will be well equipped to enter any of the many employment opportunities that are available.

Learning Outcomes for Undergraduates

The learning outcomes that direct the teaching of the department’s degrees and which we expect our graduates to have acquired are:

• Competence in basic sciences;

• Competence in the content of the specific courses that constitute the principal knowledge of the degree; and ability to

• Comprehend, analyze, and interpret biological data where appropriate; and

• Synthesize information from the biological literature, and communicate it effectively in writing or orally.

Undergraduate Minor

Minors in zoology, physiology, and wildlife fisheries biology management are offered. Contact the department for further information or see the web site http://www.uwyo.edu/zoology.

Zoology (ZOO) Courses

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Please send comments or questions to registrar@uwyo.edu

Last Change: 02/24/09