Physiological Ecology

Research in Physiological Ecology addresses numerous issues involving a variety of organisms. Examples of such research efforts include:

• understanding the physiological effects of natural and anthropogenic factors (such as flooding) on plant survival, productivity, and distribution,
  
  
• evaluating the effects of salt water intrusion on plant systems in the Gulf of Mexico,
  
  
• identifying the influences of environmental conditions on nest emergence in hatchling turtles and embryological development in a variety of vertebrates,
  
  
• identifying environmental influences on digestive efficiency and feeding in snakes and crocodilians,
  
  
• identification of the nature of behavioral and environmental cues used by birds to time reproduction and how this is influenced by nutrient status,
  
  
• determining the role of environmental influences and hormones such as melatonin on the regulation of seasonal cycles in mammals,
  
  
• determining factors that limit growth and reproduction of channel catfish in aquaculture, and
  
  
• assessing the influence of predators on foraging and vigilance behavior of elk in western national parks.