Dr. Carolyn Bauer , Assistant Professor in Biology at Swarthmore College, will present "Prioritizing the model system over the research question: physiological and behavioral lessons from a Chilean rodent."

Abstract: The degu (Octodon degus) is a charismatic rodent species native to central Chile. Degus possess several characteristics that make them highly interesting for studies in behavioral ecology and physiology. For example, degus practice plural breeding with communal care; my past field work has demonstrated this breeding tactic may help buffer offspring from early life stress, while my recent laboratory work has examined how degus may be an effective model for studying effects of parent-child separation. Degus are also a highly interesting model species because they live in dry habitats that are becoming more arid with climate change; currently, my students and I are examining how drought cues during early life may adaptively program offspring physiological development. Finally, degus are also fascinating from a biomedical perspective, as degus are susceptible to diabetes, naturally develop Alzheimer’s-like disease brain pathologies, and show cognitive declines with age.

Environmental Studies and Sustainability Program, together with Drexel Climate and Sustainability, Consortium for Climate Risk in the Urban Northeast, and EcoReps, are holding a campus-wide Climate and Sustainability networking event, featuring environmentally focused student organizations.