Diego Bernal

faculty

Diego Bernal, PhD

Professor

Biology

508-999-8307

508-999-8196

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Violette Research 116

Education

2002Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San DiegoPhD Marine Biology
2000Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San DiegoMS Marine Biology
1995Universidad Autonoma de Baja CaliforniaBS Biological Oceanography

Teaching

  • Animal Diversity
  • Animal Physiology
  • Biology of Sharks
  • Environmental Physiology of Marine Organisms

Teaching

Programs

Teaching

Courses

A study of the general principles of animal physiology integrating molecular, cellular, organ system, and whole organism approaches. The accompanying laboratory will provide skill in the techniques used in animal physiological investigations.

A study of the general principles of animal physiology integrating molecular, cellular, organ system, and whole organism approaches. The accompanying laboratory will provide skill in the techniques used in animal physiological investigations.

Students with senior standing (or others with consent of the instructor) report on and discuss current biological problems as presented in principle journals, abstracts and reviews. The work of each seminar is usually built upon a single unifying content area.

The morphology, physiology, behavior and evolutionary history of the most ancient group of living jawed fishes. The most unusual aspects of these fish, such as modes of reproduction, osmotic regulation, feeding mechanisms, and sensory physiology, will be stressed throughout.

One to four hours in varied formats Selected topics in Biology. In recent years these have included physiology and biochemistry of marine animals, evolutionary ecology, biology of marine mammals, morphometrics and phylogenetic systematics, and extremophiles.

One to four hours in varied formats Selected topics in Biology. In recent years these have included physiology and biochemistry of marine animals, evolutionary ecology, biology of marine mammals, morphometrics and phylogenetic systematics, and extremophiles.

Each student will present a seminar related to the current semester's theme and based on several contemporary publications. Students are responsible for preparing a comprehensive bibliography, an abstract, and evaluations of peers' seminars. (One semester required; maximum two credits towards MS degree.)

The morphology, physiology, behavior and evolutionary history of the most ancient group of living jawed fishes. The most unusual aspects of these fish, such as modes of reproduction, osmotic regulation, feeding mechanisms, and sensory physiology, will be stressed throughout.

Terms and hours to be arranged. Graded A-F.

Terms and hours to be arranged. Graded A-F.

Research

Research activities

  • Muscle performance studies in fish
  • Stress response in captured fish
  • Pelagic fish cardiac performance
  • Thermal ecology of fish
  • Movement patterns of fish

Research

Research awards

  • $ 199,995 awarded by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for Post-Release Mortality in Recreationally-Caught Shortfin Mako Sharks: Understanding the Effects of Capture, Handling Techniques, and Retained Gear

Research

Research interests

  • Fish biology
  • Comparative physiology of fishes
  • Comparison of the morphological, physiological, and biochemical specializations of high-performance fishes
  • Fish response to angling-induced stress
  • Disruption to homeostasis in fish

Select publications

  • Eddy, C., Pitt, J., Oliveira, K., Morris, J.A., Potts, J. and Bernal, D. (2019).
    The Life History Characteristics of Invasive Lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles) in Bermuda
    Environmental Biology of Fishes
  • Queiroz, N., et al (2019).
    Global spatial risk assessment of sharks under the footprint of fisheries
    Nature
  • Shadwick, R.E., Bernal, D., Bushnell, P.G. and Steffensen, J.F. (2018).
    Blood pressure in the Greenland Shark as estimated from ventral aortic elasticity
    J. Exp. Biol., 221, 186957.