SEB Glasgow 2009 - Animal Biology Sessions
Below are descriptions of the animal sessions which ran at the main meeting. For the full meeting programme click here.
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Biology of Elasmobranchs: from genes to ecophysiology and behaviour
Dates: 1st July
Organised by: Gudrun De Boeck, Chris Wood
Contact: Gudrun De Boeck (gudrun.deboeck@ua.ac.be)
Speakers Include:
Gary Andersson (University of Manitoba), Katie Gilmour (University of Ottawa), Neil Hazon (University of St Andrews), Ben Speers-Roesch (University of British Columbia), E.W. Taylor (University of Birmingham), Pat Wright (University of Guelph)
Description:
Elasmobranches evolved about 350 million years ago, and thrived successfully until populations became under pressure in recent years. They use urea as an osmolyte, a trait that they share with another ancient fish, the coelacanth. This influences their physiological processes in iono- and osmoregulation as well as energy and nitrogen metabolism. But there are many more fascinating traits in these unique fish. In this session, we want to explore the exceptional features of elasmobranch fish, from the molecular to the ecological level including behaviour. Doing so, we hope to encourage discussions and collaborations between well established experts and new upcoming talent in elasmobranch biology.
For the full meeting programme click here.
Molecular and Cellular aspects of tissue adaptation and repair
A symposium in honour of Professor Geoffrey Goldspink on the occasion of his retirement
Dates: 1st July
Organised by: Alicia El-Haj
Contact: Alicia El-Haj (bea17@keele.ac.uk)
Speakers Include:
Basic mechanisms involved in tissue maintenance and turnover
K.C. Chang (Nottingham University Veterinary School), Paul Goldspink (Chicago), Ian Johnston (St Andrews), Mark Lewis (Eastman Dental School, UCL)
Evolutionary and Developmental considerations with reference to the muscular-skeletal system
David Goldspink (Liverpool John Moores, UK), Larry Rome (Univ. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia), Neil Stickland (Royal Veterinary College, London), Shugo Watabe (University of Tokyo).
For the full meeting programme click here.
Progress in Ion Transporting Cell Research: studies on invertebrate and vertebrate models and their regulation
Dates: 30th June
Organised by: Nic Bury, Neil Hazon and Gert Flik
Contact: Nic Bury (nic.bury@kcl.ac.uk)
Speakers Include:
Chris Cutler (Georgia Southern University, USA), Julian Dow (Glasgow University, UK), Martin Grosell (Universtiy of Miami, USA),Joost Hoenderop (Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands), Bill Marshall (St. Francis Xavier University, Canada), Christian Tipsmark (University of Southern Denmark, Denmark)
Description
The genome sequencing era and the extraordinary rise in the sophistication and number of molecular tools available to the physiologist have seen a rapid increase in our knowledge of ion transport across epithelial membranes. The aim of the session is to provide a state-of-art overview of some of the exciting developments in this field that have enabled a better understanding of the mechanisms of ion-regulation in aquatic organisms, insects, and terrestrial vertebrates. Our invited speakers will cover a number of ion transporters families of proteins including the bicarbonate transporter (solute carrier family 4 (SLC4), sodium/calcium exchangers (SLC8), sodium/proton exchangers (SLC9), multifunctional anion exchange (SLC26) as well the aquaporins and the diverse calcium and magnesium channels that belong to the transient receptor potential (TRP) channel family. In addition, we hope the session will enable researchers to share knowledge of the exciting tools being advanced in their fields that may transfer to other model organisms, for example the amazing developments in Drosphila genetics that have enabled the understanding of malphigian tubule epithelial ion transport. We would also encourage submission from those studying micronutrient (Cu2+, Zn2+, Fe2+) ion transport processes and in the year of Darwin’s 200th birthday we would also encourage those interested in studying the evolution of these diverse families of proteins.
For the full meeting programme click here.
Replacement of mammalian models: the role of in vitro techniques with fish and invertebrates
Dates: 28th - 29th June
Organised by: Richard Handy and Nic Bury
Contact: Richard Handy (r.handy@plymouth.ac.uk)
Speakers include:
Miren Cajaraville (University of the Basque Country, Spain), William Driedzic (Memorial University, Canada), Tom Hutchinson (PML, UK), Vicki Stone (Napier University)
Click here to download the session flyer
[Adobe PDF, 178 Kb]
For the full meeting programme click here.
General Animal Biology
Dates: 28th - 29th June
Organised by: David McKenzie, Kath Sloman, Tobias Wang,
Contact: David McKenzie (dmckenzi@univ-montp2.fr)
Description:As the name indicates, this session comprises talks and posters on all those aspects of animal biology that are not catered to in the specific Animal Section sessions. As such, the session is an important element of the scientific programme, with high-quality presentations on a wide spectrum of subjects. The General session has been very successful in recent years, and will take place over two full days at Glasgow in 2009. The programme of talks is organised (as far as possible) into the subject areas of the special interest groups of the Animal Section, so delegates can spend a few hours listening to back-to-back presentations within their general area of interest. We particularly encourage presentations by post-grads and post-docs, with the award of General Animal Best Poster or Best Presentation prize (3 of each category) to these early career scientists.
For the full meeting programme click here.
General Biomechanics
Dates: 28th - 30th June (am only on the 30th)
Organised by: Peter Aerts
Contact: Peter Aerts (peter.aerts@ua.ac.be)
Description:
The 'general biomechanics session' brings (young) scientists together dealing in their research with the mechanics of the most diverse topics in biology. From insect flight to suspension feeding, from horse locomotion to the mechanics of water transport in plants, from material properties to kinematics of bird flocks, from muscle mechanics to…, all topics find their place in the session which is traditionally attended by a large and broadly interested audience. Moreover, four years ago, we started a new initiative: General Biomechanics Best Poster and Best Presentation prizes (3 for each category). Yet another reason to join us in Glasgow next summer.
For the full meeting programme click here.
Integration of active and passive control mechanisms in locomotion
Dates: 30th June - 1st July (pm only on the 30th)
Organised by: Monica Daley Andrew Spence, and Alan Wilson
Contact: Monica Daley ( mdaley@rvc.ac.uk)
Keynote speakers:
Prof T. Richard Nichols (Chair of the School of Applied Physiology, Georgia Institute of Technology)
'Hierarchy in the motor system simplifies the task of motor coordination'
Prof Arthur Prochazka (Centre for Neuroscience, University of Alberta)
'Biomechanical imperatives in the neural control of locomotion'
Prof Auke Ijspeert (Head of the Biologically Inspired Robotics Group, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology EPFL)
'Decoding the mechanisms of gait generation and gait transition in salamander using mathematical models and robots'
Invited speakers:
Anna Ahn (Harvey Mudd College, California)
'Translating Neural Control to Behavioral Output: Insights from Insects and Humans.'
Steve Collins (Delft University of Technology)
'Reducing energy use in bipedal gait: A Dynamic Walking perspective.'
Veerle Segers (Ghent University)
'Mechanics of transition in humans'
Andre Seyfarth (University of Jena)
'Conceptual models for jumping, running and walking: How leg compliance shapes the way we move.'
Simon Sponberg (University of California, Berkeley)
'What does a motor spike mean? Interpreting the causal efficacy of neural feedback during locomotor control tasks'
Description:
This session will bring together researchers from the fields of biomechanics, neurophysiology, mechanics and robotics, to advance our understanding of the integration of active and passive control mechanisms in locomotion.
For the full meeting programme click here.
The Respiratory Physiology of Fish in Aquaculture
Dates: 30th June
Organised by: Mark Bayley, Do Thi Tanh Huong, Nguyen Van Cong and David McKenzie
Contact: Mark Bayley (mark.bayley@biology.au.dk)
Speakers include:
Colin Brauner (University of British Columbia)
'The impact of sea lice on the physiology of wild out-migrating juvenile pink salmon'
Denis Chabot (Maurice Lamontagne Institut)
'Comparison of a commercial and three experimental diets for their effects on the SDA characteristics of Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua'
Tony Farrell (University of British Columbia)
'Applications of fish respirometry to aquaculture operations'
Sveinung Fivelstad (Bergen College of Engineering)
Kurt Gamperl (Memorial University of Newfoundland)
'Gadid Aquaculture in Atlantic Canada: A Tale of Temperature Extremes'
Chris Wood (McMaster University)
'Ammonia and urea: the pro's and con's of living in your own N-wastes'
Description
On a global scale, aquaculture is currently undergoing a transition where free-water systems are being upgraded to re-circulating systems, and where new species (including air-breathers) are being introduced. It is the view of the organizers of this session that respiratory physiology continues to have an important role to play in the optimization of animal holding and growth in these systems. The aim of this session is therefore to bring physiologists studying aquatic organisms together to discuss and present physiological data in a broad context. Topics can include hypoxia, hyperoxia and hypercapnia, ammonia toxicity and the role of digestion.
For the full meeting programme click here.
Physiological Energetics
Dates: 1st July
Organised by: David McKenzie, Tobias Wang
Contact: David McKenzie (dmckenzi@univ-montp2.fr)
Speakers Include:
Bas Kooijman (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
“Perturbation as a method for research on metabolic organisation of individuals”
John R. Speakman (University of Aberdeen)
"Limits to sustained energy intake"
Neil Metcalfe (University of Glasgow)
Shaun Killen (University of Montpellier)
Jon Green (University of Liverpool)
Jeff Richards (University of British Columbia)
Description
The objective of this session is to bring together scientists studying all aspects of the physiological energetics of animals. Topics that will be addressed include:
- Energy budget theories and modelling, and their application to natural populations.
- Fundamental mechanisms which control and regulate rates of energy flux within the individual.
- Intra-specific diversity in energetics, and how this might relate to life history trajectories.
For the full meeting programme click here.
Invertebrate Models of Behavioural and Circuit Plasticity
Dates: 30th June - 1st July
Organised by: George Kemenes, Michael O'Shea
Contact: George Kemenes (g.kemenes@sussex.ac.uk)
Scope:
The scientific programme will cover aspects of learning and memory, but will also extend to examples of developmental phenomena that are associated with neural and behavioural plasticity (metamorphosis and phase change, for example). This symposium will pay tribute to Professor Paul Benjamin on the occasion of his recent retirement
Speakers include:
Keynote speakers:
Paul R. Benjamin, University of Sussex, email: P.R.Benjamin@sussex.ac.uk
“Electrical and molecular changes contributing to associative memory in the pond snail Lymnaea"
John G. Hildebrand, University of Arizona, email:jgh@neurobio.arizona.edu
“Plasticity of olfactory information processing and odor-modulated behavior in the moth Manduca sexta”
Randolf Menzel, Free University, Berlin, email: menzel@neurobiologie.fu-berlin.de
“ Neural correlates of learning and memory formation in the honeybee brain”
Catharine H. Rankin, University of British Columbia, email:crankin@psych.ubc.ca
“Genes, neural circuits and behavioural plasticity in C. elegans”
Invited speakers:
Douglas J. Blackiston, Harvard University, email:DBlackiston@forsyth.org
“Memory through metamorphosis”
Andre Fiala, University of Würzburg, email: andre.fiala@biozentrum.uni-wuerzburg.de
“Optophysiological approaches to dissect neuronal circuits underlying learning and memory in Drosophila”
Lindy M. Holden-Dye, University of Southampton, email:l.m.holden-dye@soton.ac.uk
“Hangovers, hairy dogs and worms: Modeling alcohol induced plasticity in C. elegans ”
Lisa C. Lyons, Florida State University, email: lyons@bio.fsu.edu
“Circadian modulation and associative learning: Lessons from Aplysia”
Andres Villu Maricq, University of Utah, email: maricq@biology.utah.edu
“Synaptic organization and function in a single behaviorally relevant neuron”
Uli Müller, University of Saarbrücken, email: uli.mueller@mx.uni-saarland.de
“Dynamic molecular networks of memory formation in the honeybee”
Dick Nässel, Stockholm University, email: dick.nassel@zoologi.su.se
“Peptide and GABA modulation in central circuits of the Drosophila brain"
Thomas Nowotny, University of Sussex, email: T.Nowotny@sussex.ac.uk
“Homeostasis versus neuronal variability: Models and experiments in crustaceans”
Swidbert R. Ott, University of Cambridge, email: sro21@hermes.cam.ac.uk
“The phenotypic plasticity of swarm formation in the Desert Locust: mechanisms and consequences”
For the full meeting programme click here.