Arctic Animal Biology: Exploring Physiological Control Mechanisms

The course is mandatory for MSc students in biology on the Arctic Animal Biology specialization.

Maximum number of students: 15 (limitation related to the capacity for lab/field work).

Acceptance in the UiT MSc in Biology programme with specialisation in Arctic Animal Biology gives automatic acceptance.

Other students are acceptance based on the following priorities:

• Acceptance in the UiT MSc in Biology programme - other specialisations than Arctic Animal Biology.
• Other UiT-students at MSc level and with relevant background in biology.

This course will train master’s level biology students in research methodologies necessary for modern research programs in animal physiology. Following an integrative physiology framework, which emphasises the importance of different levels of enquiry, from ecosystem to molecule, students will work on a series of practical case studies highlighting specific research methodologies. This will include biologging of behaviour and whole organism physiological parameters (e.g., studies of hibernation or avian reproduction, to highlight analyses of body temperature, fat deposition or endocrine function); analyses of organ and cell physiological processes (e.g. defence against hypoxia, thermogenesis, skin pigmentation), and the use of genome-enabled approaches to profile molecular mechanisms underlying physiological responses (e.g. seasonal neurobiology).

Practical exercises will embed experimental design (hypothesis testing, power analysis) and data analytical skills, and will include introduction to statistical methods and use of software packages widely used in animal physiology research.

The course will also give students an awareness of research ethics in relation to research animal welfare, and of the basic regulation of animal research under European/Norwegian law.

Finally, the course will embed the principles of physiological control mechanisms (i.e. feedback control) necessary to understand adaptations to extreme environments, including the Arctic. A field course to Svalbard will have the theme ‘integration’ - through the lens of birth in the Arctic.

Knowledge

The candidate….

• has advanced knowledge on how physiological insight derives from integrative research approaches

• has specialized insight into the anatomical and physiological mechanisms pertaining to examples of physiological regulation

• understands the importance of ethics in relation to research animal welfare, and of the basic regulation of animal research under Norwegian and EU law

Skills

The candidate…

• can discuss and explain the importance of whole organism biologging approaches to physiology, as well as the constraints and limitations of such approaches

• can discuss and explain the importance of organ or cell culture approaches to physiology, as well as the constraints and limitations of such approaches

• can discuss and explain how genome biology enables physiological analysis in model and non-model species

• can design physiological experiments employing principles of hypothesis testing and appropriate consideration of statistical power.

• can identify types of physiology experiments that are likely to entail permissions under research animal welfare legislation, and can employ a precautionary approach to ethical considerations

• can analyse animal physiology experimental data employing appropriate statistical methods, and present the results of analysis using appropriate graphics and statistical reporting   

General competence

The candidate…

• can apply gained knowledge and available information to plan research in animal physiology (e.g., own MSc project)

• can analyse and critically evaluate data obtained through own data collection or as reported by others in relevant scientific literature

• can review and extract relevant information from scientific literature and use this to inform experimental design

• can present written scientific content clearly and in logical order while using language appropriate for the audience and occasion

• can work and cooperate in a group addressing a specific problem and writing up results and conclusions in a report

Recommended prerequisites

BIO-3035 Arctic Animal Biology: Physiological and Behavioral Adaptations to the Environment

If you pass the examination in this course, you will get an reduction in credits (as stated below), if you previously have passed the following courses:

• BIO-3030 Extreme animal physiology 10 ects
• BIO-3008 Animal Physiology 10 ects

Teaching include lectures, labs and field course.

Specific local lab/field safety training will be offered as part of the course.

Language of instruction and examination

Schedule

More info about the coursework requirements

More info about the assignment

The assignment consist of 3 written reports: Students will all take part in 3 activity-led 2-week blocks of laboratory practicals, data analysis and interpretation - e.g. 1) biologging, 2) organ/tissue/cell culture, 3) gene expression analysis.

Each block will include tutoring in experimental design and quantitative methods. The student should produce a written report within each of the 3 block periods.

More info about the oral exam

The oral exam is a poster-based oral assessment. Students select a physiology research question and prepare a poster describing the design of an experiment to address this question. Students will receive tutorial feedback to get them started. Eventually, students should produce a poster with background framing the question, design of the study (including methods and numerical / statistical aspects), predicted results, etc.

The poster is assessed in a poster session where the students orally present their posters.

Re-sit examination

Students who do not pass the previous ordinary examination can gain access to a re-sit examination.

Only partial examinations that have not been passed must be retaken during the resit examination.