Organismal physiology as a lens into the fundamental niche

Eric Riddell is an Assistant Professor at Iowa State University in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology. His lab uses physiology to understand how animals function in their environment. Their research blends experimental biology with simulation-based computer models to identify the physiological processes driving species' distributions, extinction, and adaptation. The approach requires insight from behavior, physiology, and physics, providing a highly integrative perspective into organismal biology. Through the synthesis of these disciplines, they provide a comprehensive understanding of organisms, from genes to geographic ranges, while improving our capacity to predict the impact of climate change. For this lecture, he will focus on using the principles of organismal biology to understand the processes that shape the fundamental niche in amphibians, birds, and small mammals.