Courses

BIOL 122 Introductory Biology

BIOL 377 Animal Form and Function

BIOL 477 Marine Biology

Research

Functional Morphology, Skeletal Design and Performance, Predator/Prey Interactions, and Animal Behavior

My research examines the link between functional design and ecological utility in vertebrates. I use examinations of dissected carcasses, fully articulated skeletons, and animal behavior to better understand how evolution has shaped organismal design and performance. In my laboratory, we employ EMG's, high-speed video cameras, and pressure transducers to better understand the feeding mechanisms of fishes. In the field, we use SCUBA, rebreathers, portable high-speed video systems, and still-cameras to tease out the intricacies of specialized feeding performance by everything from pelagic species to reef species. My students and I have also worked on the biomechanics of mammal locomotion, tooth development and phenotypic plasticity in fishes, and communication in lizards. We use biomechanics, gross dissection, dermestid beetles, and behavioral observations to draw conclusions about what makes predators successful at doing what they do best -- catching and killing their prey.

Biography

B.S. 1996 - Western Michigan University

Ph.D. 2003 - Florida Tech

Post-doctorate, 2003 - UC Davis

Recent Publications

2017. The Skeleton Revealed: An Illustrated Tour of the Vertebrates, January, 2017.  https://jhupbooks.press.jhu.edu/content/skeleton-revealed and http://blog.nature.org/science/2017/03/20/skeleton-revealed-vertebrates-never-seen-before/

2014.  Why Sharks Attack (research featured), NOVA. Boston, MA.

2013. Rose, J.,M. Sandefur, S. Huskey, J. Demler, M. Butcher. ­Muscle architecture and out-force potential of the thoracic limb in the Eastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus). J. Morph. 274: 1277-1287.

2012. Grubich, J., S. Huskey, S. Crofts, G. Orti, J. Porto. Mega-Bites: Extreme jaw forces of living and extinct piranhas (Serrasalmidae). Nature Sci. Rep. 2, 1009; DOI:10.1038/srep01009.

2011. NG Explorer: Megapiranha, National Geographic Channel. Washington, D.C.

2011. Naked Science: Sea Strikers, National Geographic Channel. Washington, D.C.

2010. WOW! episode 103, National Geographic Channel. Washington, D.C.

2010. WOW! episode 102, National Geographic Channel. Washington, D.C.

2006. Wainwright, P.C., Huskey, S.H., Turingan, R.G., and Carroll, A.M. Ontogeny of suction feeding capacity in snook. J. Exp. Zool. 305A:246-252.

2004. Carroll, A., Wainwright, P.C., Huskey, S.H., Collar, D., and Turingan, R.G. Morphology predicts suction feeding performance in centrarchid fishes. J. Exp. Biol. 207:3873-3881.

2001. Huskey, S.H. and R.G. Turingan. Variation in prey-resource utilization and oral jaw gape between two populations of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides. Env. Biol. Fish. 61(2):185-194.