KIRK ZIGLER

Animal Evolution and Development

As a member of the Biology department at Sewanee, I teach and study animal evolution and development.

 

Teaching

I teach a variety of courses, including:

-  Biology 130  Field Investigations in Biology
-  Biology 132  Cellular, Molecular and Physiological Biology

-  Biology 200  Entomology
-  Biology 202  Invertebrate Zoology
-  Biology 211  Biodiversity: Pattern and Process
-  Biology 213   Evolutionary Biology
-  Biology 333  Developmental Biology

And, as one of four faculty:
-  Environmental Studies 140  Readings in Island Ecology
-  Environmental Studies 240  Island Ecology

 

Research Interests

EVOLUTION AND DEVELOPMENT in ECHINOIDS

For the past decade, I have studied echinoids (sea urchins and sand dollars) to address two major questions: (1) how do new species arise? and (2) how does development evolve?

The availability of information on phylogeography, temporal and gametic isolation, taxonomy, fertilization, and embryology makes echinoids ideal subjects for the study of both of these questions.

CAVe InvertEbrate EVOLUTION

Tennessee has more caves than any other state in the U.S.. There are more than 70 caves on Sewanee's Domain, and our immediate surroundings (Jackson and Madison Counties in Alabama, Franklin and Grundy Counties in Tennessee) have the greatest diversity of obligately cave dwelling animals (troglobites) in all of the United States.

Troglobites exhibit high levels of endemism. Due largely to their restricted ranges, 95% of all troglobitic species are considered vulnerable or imperiled, and troglobites make up 50% of all the imperiled species tracked by the U.S. National Heritage Program.

These highly diverse and potentially imperiled communities are poorly studied. New species are discovered regularly, and little is known about the species that have already been described. They present an exciting opportunity for ecological and evolutionary research.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENT RESEARCH

I work with students on projects relating to animal evolution and development both during the academic year and over the summer. If you are interested in developing a research project that I could assist with, or would like advice about getting started doing research in Biology, drop by to talk any time.