Dr. Joseph Dallon, Jr.
Office: G-324
Phone: (201) 684-7730, Secretary's extension: 7748

ZSRS 421-901 RHYTHMIC PHENOMENA IN PLANTS AND ANIMALS

COURSE DESCRIPTION: An interdisciplinary approach to the understanding and application of classical rhythmic phenomena in plants and animals and the possible implications thereof.  Emphasis is on the critical analysis of phenomena such as aging, photoperiodism, migratory habits of birds and other animals, hibernation, dormancy and regeneration, and senescence, as they are triggered and/or regulated by hormonal and other physiological changes through environmental cues.  The approach is both applied and theoretically based.

SEMINAR DISCUSSION TOPICS

I.    INTRODUCTION: A review of the discovery and history of rhythmic phenomena and
       psychibioenergetics.  A survey of common rhythmic phenomena in living organisms.

II.   ENVIRONMENTAL CUES AND THEIR EFFECTS ON GENETIC EXPRESSION,
       DIFFERENTIATION, AND DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESSES IN LIVING
       ORGANISMS.

III. BIOLOGICAL CLOCKS
           Daily, tidal, lunar, and annual rhythms
           Endogenous rhythms
           Circadian rhythms
           Environmental synchronizers
           Celestial navigation and constantly consulted clocks
           photoperiodism [seasonal timing]
           Biological clock mechanisms
           Perception sites for environmental cues

IV.     BEHAVIORAL PHOTOPERIODISM

V.      IDENTIFICATION AND MEASUREMENT OF RHYTHMIC CYCLES

VI.     HORMONAL INFLUENCES OF BIORHYTHMS

VII.    MIGRATION

VIII.   HIBERNATION

IX.      DORMANCY AND REGENERATION

X.       AGING AND SENESCENCE

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING POLICY

   Bibliography, outline, and introduction             10%
    Take home exercise                                        25%
    Paper                                                             25%
    Topical discussion leadership                          15%
    Seminar presentation                                       25%

A schedule for the above requirements will be determined during the first class session.  Each student will be required to write a detailed paper on an aspect of rhythmic phenomena of his/her choice and give a seminar on the chosen topic.   The paper will be due on the date of the seminar presentation.  Each student will also be required to lead an in-class discussion on an assigned topic on a rhythmic phenomenon.  He/she will be responsible for researching the topic and providing the class with an outline and a brief summary of the assigned topic one week in advance of the discussion.  For this part of the course requirement students will be graded on the basis of (1) interest generated among classmates, (2) quality and content of the outline, (3) apparent understanding of the material, and (4) apparent effort expended in preparation for the discussion.  The final paper and the seminar presentation will be evaluated as follows:

    Interest
    Originality
    Content
    Organization
    Illustrations
    Command of subject matter [presentation only]
    Apparent effort
    Literature citations

Fall, 2005 Schedule

Take Home Exercise

Note: Lateness of assignments will be assessed at the rate of 10 percent of the total value for each day of lateness.

Reference text: Day, Robert A. 1994.  How to write and publish a scientific paper, 5th edit., The Oryx Press, 210 pp.

A general reference list is available on reserve in the library.

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