Zoology and Physiology

Collection Development Policy Statement

Library's Collection Development Objectives

Support faculty and student research and the curriculum through Doctor degree level in the disciplines of Zoology and Physiology; also to support research projects and programs conducted on behalf of the researchers in the College of Basic Sciences; and to assist those involved in chemical information research in Institute for Environmental Studies, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), Institute for Mutagenesis, LSU Museum of Natural Science, Louisiana Agricultural Center and the Center for Coastal, Energy, and Environmental Resources.

Curriculum Program Descriptions

The Department of Zoology and Physiology is part of the College of Basic Sciences. There are twenty-four faculty and all have Ph.D. degrees. There is one adjunct professors and three faculty serve as curators for the LSU Museum of Natural History. Listed below are the number of degrees awarded to students in Zoology and Physiology for the past five years:

E (Empty String)      - (Info unavailable)

* Joint Zoology & Physiology graduate degree beginning in 1995-96

The following degree programs are offered which the Library collection supports:

New and Expanding Areas of Interest

• Cell and molecular biology,
• Molecular biology,
• Cell biology,
• Electrophysiology,
• Microscopy and imaging,
• Organismal and population genetics, and development.
• Genetic regulation of developmental processes, gamete and cell-cell interactions, and expression of the genome.
• Ecological interactions in marine, wetland and freshwater systems
• Research programs are directed toward the wetland, estuarine, and marine habitats
• Tolerance of marine organisms to environmental stresses,
• Chemical ecology of corals,
• The genetic structure of invertebrates, and the influence of environmental factors on foraging behavior and life history.
• Effect of predation and competition on community structure of freshwater and marine microbes, meiofauna, and macrofauna to the foraging ecology of tropical birds.
• Effects of anthropogenic contaminants on marine benthos or model the effects of top piscivores on lake food webs.
• Circadian rhythms in neuroendocrine regulation of metabolism and behavior;
• Synthesis and biological actions of steroid hormones in fish;
• Biochemical investigations of insect hormones and neuromodulators;
• Adaptation of transmembrane signaling by G protein-coupled receptor systems;
• Neural processing of olfactory and taste information and resulting chemosensory behavior in fish;
• Ion regulation in freshwater bivalves;
• Metabolic adaptations of skeletal muscle and processes of calcium mobilization and deposition in bivalves;
• Genetic and non-genetic adaptations of marine invertebrates to environmental factors.

Areas of Specialization/Major Faculty Research Interests

• Ecology, evolution, zoogeography and conservation, of Neotropical birds.
• Coral reef ecology.
• Physiology, functional morphology and biochemical adaptations of freshwater mussels.
• Taxonomy and evolution of subtropical and tropical marine and freshwater fishes.
• Special Subtropical and tropical marine and freshwater fishes.
• Phylogenetic relationships of salamanders and lizards, biogeography, and character evolution.
• Vertebrate evolution, coevolution, and systematics with emphasis on mammals.
• Neotropical rodent systematics and taxonomy.
• Morphological adaptations of the feeding apparatus and integument of birds
• Biogeography and conservation of Bornean birds.
• Herpetology -- morphology, taxonomy, and evolution of various groups of snakes.
• Neuropeptides and biogenic amines function of messenger molecules in insect systems
• Biogenic amines in the brain in relation to different activity patterns (rhythms) and with specific behavior.
• Interdepartmental Program in Systematics and Evolutionary Biology.
• Interdepartmental Program in Genetics.
• The Museum of Natural Science provides access to internationally recognized research collections of birds, mammals, fishes, reptiles, amphibians, and a collection of frozen vertebrate tissues for molecular analyses.

Treatment of Subject Depth

The goal of collection development activities in Chemistry is to support the undergraduate and graduate curriculum, sustained independent research of students and faculty, to support research projects and programs conducted on behalf of the researchers in the College of Basic Sciences; and to assist those involved in research in Institute for Environmental Studies, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), Institute for Mutagenesis, LSU Museum of Natural Science, Louisiana Agricultural Center and the Center for Coastal, Energy, and Environmental Resources. The existing collection strength for Zoology and Physiology is at level 4 and current collecting intensity is at level 3 / 4. The existing collection strength for Anatomy is at level 3 and current collecting intensity is at level 2 / 3 (See Classed Analysis).

CD ROMs, Electronic Books, Remotely Accessed Texts

LSU Libraries will purchase CD ROM works on a case by case basis when requested by faculty members or graduate students in need of enhanced capabilities afforded by CD ROMs. The LSU Libraries recognizes that electronic information, e-books, electronic paper, etc. merit attention. The purchase of access to remote data and texts, such as J-STOR and others, will be pursued when the ownership of remote products will benefit the greatest number of students, staff, and faculty at the best possible price. Purchase of remotely accessed texts must follow the policy and procedures set forth in Procedures for Acquiring and Processing Electronic Resources.

Specific Delimitations

Type

Collected Extensively: Specialized reference tools, such s indexes, abstracts, encyclopedias, handbooks, dictionaries, major secondary works (monographs); monographic serials.

Collected selectively: Proceedings, popular treatments, biographies, catalogs, undergraduate and upper division textbooks, laboratory manuals, workbooks, curriculum guides.

Physical Format

Collected extensively: Traditional print formats, i.e. monographs, serials; microforms, microfilm.

Collected selectively: CD-ROM, Audio-cassette packets, phonodiscs, charts, pamphlets, loose leaf services.

Imprint Date.

Collected extensively: Materials published during the last ten years.

Collected selectively: Materials published more than ten years ago.

Place of Publication

Collected extensively: United States, Great Britain, Netherlands, Canada, West Germany.

Collected Selectively: All others.

Languages

Collected extensively: English, and translations of foreign language works.

Collected selectively: All others.

Chronological Periods

Collected extensively: The contemporary science as defined by developments of the past ten years.

Collected selectively: All other periods more than ten years ago.

Geographical Focus

Collected extensively: United States, Canada, Great Britain.

Collected selectively: All others.

Overlap with Other Subjects of Collections

Primary: Nine overlapping subject areas have been identified for which this statement assumes the primary collection development responsibility.

• Reproductive Physiology (Animal Science)
• Comparative Biochemistry (Biochemistry)
• Cell Biology (Biology)
• Parasites (Animal Sciences)
• Aquatic Ecology (CCEER and LUMCON)
• Biological Oceanography (CCEER and LUMCON)
• Benthic Ecology (CCEER and LUMCON)
• Coral Reef Ecology (CCEER and LUMCON)
• Molecular Systematics and Mammalogy (Biochemistry)

• Biochemistry (Biochemistry)
• Human anatomy
• Kinesiology as related to sport and human physiology. (Kinesiology)
• Human physiology (Kinesiology)

Shared:

• Immunology (Microbiology)
• Genetics (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
• Tropical Bird Ecology -- Museum of Natural History (collects at level 5)
• Icthyology -- Museum of Natural History for subtropical species (collects at level 5)
• Herpetology-- Museum of Natural History for subtropical species (collects at level 5)

Cooperative Programs

Louisiana State University relies on document delivery from Knight Ridder - UnCover to supply serial documents. LSU is part of the South Eastern Library Association (SELA) to foster inter-library lending and borrowing practices. Faculty and students also interact with the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. The Museum of Natural Science maintains extensive research collections of all vertebrate groups (over 350,000 total specimens). The museum program emphasizes vertebrate systematics, evolution, and zoogeography, with special emphasis on the neotropics. The Louisiana Universities' Marine Consortium (LUMCON) provides facilities for marine and estuarine research. Two large research vessels and smaller boats are available for field work. Louisiana Agricultural Center and the Center for Coastal, Energy, and Environmental Resources. LSU is also affiliated with the Delta Regional Primate Center, Gulf Universities Research Corporation, Organization for Tropical Studies, and the Oak Ridge Associated Universities, all of which provide additional research facilities.

Other Considerations

The Museum of Natural Science maintains extensive research collections of all vertebrate groups (over 350,000 total specimens). The museum program emphasizes vertebrate systematics, evolution, and zoogeography, with special emphasis on the neotropics and collects at level 5 (See Classed Analysis). Louisiana Agricultural Center and the Center for Coastal, Energy, and Environmental Resources. LSU is also affiliated with the Delta Regional Primate Center, Gulf Universities Research Corporation, Organization for Tropical Studies, and the Oak Ridge Associated Universities, all of which provide additional research facilities.

Classed Analysis

Prepared: January 15, 1998
Updated: March 25, 2003