Rick Boyd黑料论坛Wehr Physics Building, 204
MilwaukeeWI53201United States of America(414) 288-2164rick.boyd@marquette.eduI am a Wisconsin native, from Wauwatosa WI, a suburb of Milwaukee. I received my BA degree from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, majoring in zoology. I received my Master of Education degree from National Louis University- Chicago. Always fascinated by science and nature, I had a collection of assorted animals as pets throughout my childhood, including breeding several types to sell to pet stores as my first business ventures as a teenager. My life has been an example of 鈥渓ifelong learning.鈥� From my first career choice as a high school chemistry/advanced placement chemistry teacher for 13 years, to running my own business as a financial planner for the next 25 years, I am fortunate to have experienced these diverse occupational realms. Both contain many abstract concepts that can be difficult to understand and relate to. My teaching skills have played a very important role in both occupations.
I now enjoy using my teaching expertise through the Physics Department at 黑料论坛.
PHYS 1009 - Earth and Environmental Physics
ARSC 1020 鈥� Major Concepts in Modern Science 1 (fall semester)
ARSC 1021 鈥� Major Concepts in Modern Science 2 (spring semester)
Frog Research
I research and breed several varieties of tropical frogs in my personal 鈥渇rog room鈥� lab. Wild populations of many of these frog species in Central and South America are threatened in their native habitats, due to extreme amounts of deforestation, as well as being collected and sold into the pet trade, both legally and illegally.
For example, regarding Costa Rica and Nicaragua, 鈥淟owland areas have been cleared for cattle, while mountain slopes, regardless of their steepness, have been cleared to grow beans, corn, coffee, as well as to support dairy cattle; most of Costa Rica's [human] population and a significant portion of Nicaragua's lives within this ecoregion. During the past 100 years, virtually the entire ecoregion has been stripped of its native vegetation, with only small forest fragments remaining, totaling less than 11% of the ecoregion's original forest cover.鈥� ()
In addition, there is a Chytrid fungus pandemic that is decimating many amphibian species worldwide. 鈥淎round the world, 90 species are thought to have gone extinct because of the fungus. And at least another 491 species have declined because of it. (https://www.science.org/content/article/fungus-has-wiped-out-more-species-any-other-disease)
Some of the tropical frogs I breed are categorized as 鈥渃ritically endangered,鈥� one step away from going 鈥渆xtinct鈥� in the wild. Others I breed are listed as 鈥渆ndangered.鈥� We are in a race against time to 鈥渃rack the codes鈥� regarding successful captive breeding of these species before they go extinct in the wild.
I have been recognized as the 2nd individual to to successfully breed Granulosa glass frogs in the US. I did so by experimenting with artificial rain chamber cycles for weeks at a time to simulate the rainy season cycles found in their native habitat. This protracted pattern of rain cycles appears necessary to stimulate ovulation in this species. I have been able to successfully breed 2nd generation Granulosas, helping to confirm that my techniques are indeed duplicatable!
In addition, through experimenting with the unique water conditions needed for raising this species and another species of glass frog tadpole, I have been able to improve the survival rate of the tadpoles from 4% to 88% to produce froglets. I have also experimented with nutritional supplements for the parent frogs to better emulate that found in their natural diets. As a result, the fertile egg clutch size has nearly doubled.
I focus on the concept of 鈥淐onservation through Commercialization鈥� whereby my breeding of these species in captivity can 鈥渢ake the pressure off鈥� the wild populations being harvested for the pet trade and/or educational exhibits. My slogan is 鈥淒on't Take It, Make It!鈥�
I incorporate multiple real-life examples about these frogs in these topics within the courses I teach.
PHYS 1009 鈥淓arth and Environmental Physics鈥�: In 鈥淏iomes of the World,鈥� tropical rainforest and tropical seasonal forest biomes, frogs are featured as noteworthy inhabitants, and the threats these biomes face. The legal and illegal exotic pet trade industry and the negative impacts on populations of species in the wild. Aposematic 鈥渨arning鈥� coloration vs. edge diffusion camouflage, biogeochemical nitrogen cycle of ammonia-nitrate-nitrite in soil and in water for the tadpoles. Properties of water, including specific heat and evapotranspiration. The physics of light in nature, including ultraviolet, fluorescing frogs recently discovered, infrared, and range of vision capabilities of animals. Frogs (and fluorescing axolotls) are brought in as demonstration specimens for students to view first-hand.
ARSC 1021 鈥淢ajor Concepts in Modern Science II鈥�: Frog embryology unit with lab, using our Physics Department鈥檚 new digital microscopes. Gosner Stages of amphibian embryology, biology of apoptosis (planned cell death = absorption of tadpole tail cell nutrients) and its link to universal cancer cell growth due a failure of apoptosis function.
Physics of light in nature, Darwin鈥檚 Theory of Evolution - driving forces triggering diversity of tropical frog species following the dinosaur-extinction-linked asteroid impact zone in the Yucatan Peninsula area of Mexico.
My efforts are helping to contribute to a collective 鈥淣oah鈥檚 Ark鈥� population of several of these frog species, should they ultimately become extinct in the wild.
Elsewhere, I give science talks regarding these concepts to schools, clubs, and retirement communities.
Rainforest Rick Educational Blog -
60 Second 黑料论坛:
CBS 58 Sunday Morning News - Wondrous Frogs
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