Biology Weekly Seminar - Emily M. Standen

Pinning down plasticity using novel environments: Behaviour, bones and biochemistry

Dr. Standen’s lab uses comparative biomechanics to understand the flexibility of animal systems to changes in their environment. She is interested in how animals use their existing form to perform novel behaviours in new environments. For example, among amphibious fishes, she is interested in how relatively unspecialized fins are used to move overland. Most importantly, she is interested in the plasticity of musculo-skeletal systems and how these novel behaviours influence the ultimate function and anatomy of the individual in an adaptive context.