|
Becca Hale Dept of Zoology |
|
Teaching |
|
|
|
|
My
teaching philosophy has developed while serving as a teaching assistant
for numerous undergraduate courses in the Zoology and Biological Sciences
departments at the University of Florida as well as through working with
undergraduate researchers.
Over the years I have worked with many students who either conducted their
own independent research projects or who volunteered with my studies.
Students conducting independent research projects with me have
examined various aspects of flagfish (Jordanella floridae)
reproductive biology. For example, Erin Gordon quantified the influence of salinity
and dissolved oxygen concentrations on embryo development and hatching
success in flagfish and her project was published in 2004 in Journal of
Fish Biology. Kelly
designed and conducted an experiment to determine whether male flagfish
select nesting sites based on the sites’ exposure to potential
predators.
More recently, Andrea Quaid has been helping me measure metabolic rates of
flagfish acclimated to a broad range of salinities.
Flagfish predominantly inhabit freshwater, but a few brackish
populations have also been identified.
The goal of this project is to determine the extent to which
metabolic rate varies with salinity and to determine whether populations
native to brackish habitats exhibit different responses to salinity than
populations native to freshwater habitats. I have interacted with and taught both undergraduates and graduate students as a teaching assistant nearly every semester while completing my Master’s degree and working toward my PhD. In each course I was responsible for one or more laboratory sessions. Assisting for General Ecology with Craig Osenberg and Animal Behavior with Jane Brockmann also included some laboratory curriculum and web site development.
Current Independent Study Students: Georgina McDowell, Florida State University: Gina is examining the influence of egg fanning and salinity on embryo development in flagfish. She is simulating egg fanning using low-flow water pumps to remove the confounding effects of the male's presence at the nest. Andrew Lane, Florida State University: Andy will begin his project in the spring of 2006. The goal of his work is to develop a ethograms of parental care in local salamander species, including species of the genera Desmognathus and Eurycea. |
|
|
|