Dale Denardo
- Organismal, Integrative, & Systems Biology |
- DeNardo Lab Website |
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Physiology and Ecology, Reproductive Endrocrinology and Behavior
Dr. DeNardo is interested in how animals use their environment to meet physiological needs. Of particular interests are the trade-offs associated with balancing multiple physiological traits such as thermoregulation, water balance, energy balance, and reproduction. That is, how do behavioral and physiological adjustments made to satisfy one physiological trait influence the regulation of other physiological traits. Dr. DeNardo integrates laboratory studies with field studies to provide a balance of controlled experimentation and ecological relevance. By doing such, critical components of the environment can be identified and regulatory mechanisms can be unveiled. The majority of studies involve squamate reptiles (lizards and snakes) of the Sonoran Desert.
Selected Publications
DeNardo, D. F., Zubal T. E., and Hoffman, T. C. M. (2004) Cloacal evaporative cooling: a previously undescribed means of increasing evaporative water loss at higher temperatures in a desert ectotherm, the Gila Monster Heloderma suspectum. Journal of Experimental Biology, in press.
DeNardo, D. F., Luna, J. V., and Hwang, M. (2002) Ambient temperature and activity of horned adders, Bitis caudalis: how cold is too cold? Journal of Herpetology 36(4):688-691.
Lourdais, O., Bonnet, X., Shine, R., DeNardo, D., Naulleau, G., and Guillon, M. (2002) Capital breeding and reproductive effort in a variable environment: a long-term study of the aspic viper. Journal of Animal Ecology 71:470-479.
DeNardo, D. F., and Autumn, K. (2001) The effect of male presence on reproductive activity in captive female blood pythons, Python curtus. Copeia 2000(4):1138-1141.
Sinervo, B., Miles, D. B., Frankino, A., Klukowski, M., and DeNardo, D. F. (2000) Testosterone, endurance, and Darwinian fitness: natural and sexual selection on the physiological bases of alternative male behaviors in side-blotched lizards. Hormones and Behavior 38:222-233.
Sinervo, B. and DeNardo, D.F. (1996) Cost of reproduction in the wild: path analysis of natural selection and experimental tests of causation. Evolution 50(3):1299-1313.
Autumn, K. and DeNardo, D.F. (1995) Behavioral thermoregulation increases growth rate in a nocturnal lizard. J. Harpetol. 29(2):157-162.
DeNardo, D.F. and Sinervo, B. (1994) Effects of steroid hormone interaction on activity and home-range size of male lizards. Horm. Behav.28:273-287.
DeNardo, D.F. and Sinervo, B. (1994) Effects of corticosterone on activity and home-range size of free-ranging male lizards. Horm Behav.28:53-65.
DeNardo, D.F. and Licht, P. (1993) Effects of corticosterone on social behavior of male lizards. Horm Behav. 27:184-199.