Comparative Animal Physiology

The Comparative Animal Physiology group at the University of Guelph is one of the largest in Canada and offers a wide range of research interests, from genes to whole animal studies. The enthusiasm, strength and breadth of the group provide an excellent learning environment for graduate students and undergraduate researchers. The group has a strong aquatic theme with interests in both marine and freshwater organisms. These include invertebrates, such as molluscs and echinoderms, primitive fishes (lampreys, hagfish, sharks, skates and rays, lungfish), teleosts, reptiles, amphibians, and whales. A particular strength of the group is in environmental adaptation to stressors, such as temperature, salinity, hypoxia and desiccation.

State-of-the-art aquatic facilities are available in the Hagen Aqualab, allowing research on tropical, temperate and polar aquatic organisms. The experimental approaches include fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy, functional characterization of recombinant proteins, HPLC, GC, micromechanical testing, muscle mechanics, proteomics and mass spectrometry, genomics, and respirometry. The group is located in the Science Complex, with advanced facilities for research on metabolism (CFI-funded Fish Metabolism Laboratory), proteomics, protein expression and purification, and confocal and electron microscopy.