For my Ph.D. thesis, I studied the differences between fur and blubber as insulation in mammals, with a focus on the otariids (fur seals and sea lions). The otariids represent the only mammalian family to include both types of insulation: fur seals have dense, waterproof fur and a moderate blubber layer, while sea lions rely solely on their blubber for thermoregulation in water.
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Currently, I am working in the Laboratory of Integrative and Comparative Herpetology at CSU Northridge. We are compariing thermal tolerances and evaporative water loss in Mediterranean House Geckos from different populations.
Fur seals rely on their fur to keep warm in the ocean. To study fur seal movements and behavior at sea, scientists glue electronic tags to the fur. When it's time to retrieve the data, scientists cut the fur to remove the tag. This study will determine how these tagging methods affect the fur seals' ability to keep warm in the water, and will recommend the best method for attaching and removing tags.
