Dr Bruce Firth

Teaching Interests

Teaches in the areas of Histology, Gross Anatomy, Neuroanatomy and Comparative Anatomy to students of Science, Health Sciences, Physiotherapy, and Podiatry. He heads the Pineal Research Group within the Neurobiology group. He is also the current postgraduate co-ordinator in the discipline.

Research Interests

Broad areas of research include physiological ecology, endocrinology, herpetology, and comparative morphology. Especially interested in the sensory, neural and hormonal mechanisms linking the animal to its environment. Main research has centred on the role of the pineal complex in the regulation of circadian rhythms and thermoregulation. Other areas of research include fever in reptiles and the structure and function of chemosensory systems in reptiles.

Research Collaborations with Dr Mike Teo, (Anatomical Sciences), Associate Professor David Kennaway, (Obstetrics and Gynaecology), Dr Ingrid Belan, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Flinders University, Adelaide, and Dr Mark Hutchinson, South Australian Museum.

Course coordination:

Anatomy for MBBS (Medicine III), Integrative and Comparative Neuroanatomy III (Science III and Health Sciences III).

Honours and Postgraduates:

Currently supervises a PhD student, David Ellis on seasonal aspects of circadian activity and thermoregulatory rhythms in sleepy lizards (Tiliqua rugosa) Discipline postgraduate coordinator.

 

Recent Publications

Firth, B.T., Christian,K.A., Belan,I. And Kennaway,D.J. (2010). Melatonin rhythms in the Australian freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus johnstoni): a reptile lacking a pineal complex? Journal of Comparative Physiology B180:67-72. 

Ellis, D.J., Firth, B.T. and Belan, I. (2009). Thermocyclic and photocyclic entrainment of circadian locomotor activity rhythms in sleepy lizards, Tiliqua rugosa. Chronobiology International 26:1369-1388.

Rehorek S.J., Hutchinson,M.N., and Firth, B.T. (2009). Testing the orbital lubrication hypothesis: the Harderian glands in burrowing skinks (Reptilia:Squamata). Canadian Journal of Zoology 87:356-365

Ellis, DJ, Firth, BT and Belan, I (2008). Interseasonal variation in the circadian rhythm of locomotor activity and temperature selections in sleepy lizards, Tiliqua rugosa. Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 194, 701-712.

Jastroch, M, Withers, KW, Taudien, S, Frapell, PB, Helwig, M Fromme, T, Hirschberg, V, Heldmaier, G, McAllan, BM, Firth BT, Burmester, T, Platzer, M and Klingenspor, M (2008). Marsupial uncoupling protein 1 sheds light on the evolution of mammalian nonshivering thermogenesis, Physiological Genomics, 32, 161-169.

Ellis, DJ, Firth, BT and Belan, I (2007). Circadian rhythms of locomotor activity and temperature selection in sleepy lizards, Tiliqua rugosa. Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 193,695-701.

Ellis, DJ, Firth, BT and Belan, I (2006). Circadian rhythm of behavioral thermoregulation in the sleepy lizard (Tiliqua rugosa). Herpetologica, 62, 259-265.

Firth, B.T., Belan I. and Kennaway, DJ. (2006). Persistence of plasma melatonin rhythm in constant darkness and its inhibition by constant light in the sleepy lizard. Tiliqua rugosa. Journal of Pineal Research, 41, 15-20.

Rehorek, SJ, Baker, JJ, Hutchinson, MN and Firth, BT (2006). The Harderian gland of two species of skinks: Tiliqua rugosa and Hemiergis decresiensis. A discussion of the significance of lymphatic tissue in the squamate Harderian gland. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 84, 706-714.

Rehorek, S.J., Halpern, M., Firth, B.T., and Hutchinson, M.N. (2003). The Harderian gland of two species of snakes: Pseudonaja textilis (Elapidae) and Thamnophis sirtalis (Colubridae). Canadian Journal of Zoology, 81, 357-363.

 

 

 

 

Entry last updated: Thursday, 1 Apr 2010