Daniel E. Crocker
Professor of Biology
Ph.D. University of California (Santa Cruz), 1995
Voicemail: (707) 664-2995
Email: crocker@sonoma.edu
Office: Darwin 242
Webpage
Postdoctoral Experience:
University of California (Santa Cruz).
Research Interests:
Comparative Physiology of Vertebrates; Physiological Ecology; Bioenergetics; Behavioral Ecology; Biology of Marine Mammals.
Research Program:
My research is focused on the physiological and behavioral ecology of pinnipeds, seals and sea lions. My approach is to integrate physiology and behavior with the aim of addressing ecological theory. I am investigating physiological factors that impact the reproductive and foraging strategies used by marine predators. Much of my current research is focused on the physiology and behavior of northern elephant seals. These investigations include both field and laboratory studies. I am currently investigating the metabolic physiology and biochemistry of extended fasting in seals in research funded by NSF. I am investigating the foraging ecology of Southern Ocean seals in the Antarctic in collaboration with Dan Costa of UCSC. I am also working with Costa and Barbara Block of Stanford University as an investigator on the Tagging of Pacific Pelagics Project (TOPP). I am investigating oxidative stress mechanisms in seals in NIH funded research in collaboration with Rudy Ortiz from UC Merced. I am investigating endocrine stress responses in marine mammals in work funded by the Office of Naval Research. My graduate students are exploring a wide variety of research areas including fasting physiology, diving physiology, development, stress responses, foraging behavior and life history strategies.
Recent Publications:
McDonald, B.I., M.E. Goebel, D.E. Crocker, and D.P. Costa. 2012. Dynamic influence of maternal and pup traits on maternal care during lactation in an income breeder, the Antarctic fur seal. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology. 85: 243-254.
Soñanez-Organis J.G., J.P. Vázquez-Medina, T. Zenteno-Tavin, A. Aguilar A, D.E. Crocker, and R.M. Ortiz. 2012. Prolonged fasting increases purine recycling in postweaned northern elephant seals. Journal of Experimental Biology. 215:1448-1455.
McDonald, B.I., M.E. Goebel, D.E. Crocker, and D.P. Costa. 2012. Biological and environmental drivers of energy allocation in a dependent mammal, the Antarctic fur seal pup. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology. 85:134-147.
Crocker, D.E., R.M. Ortiz, D.S. Houser, P.M. Webb and D.P. Costa. 2012. Hormone and metabolite changes associated with extended breeding fasts in male northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris). Journal of Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A. 161:388-394.
Crocker, D.E., D.S. Houser, and P.M. Webb. 2012. Impact of body reserves on energy expenditure, water flux, and mating success in breeding male northern elephant seals. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology. 85:11-20.
Boaz, S.M., C.D. Champagne, M.A Fowler, D.S. Houser, and D.E. Crocker. 2012. Water-soluble vitamin homeostasis in fasting northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) measured by metabolomics analysis and standard methods. Journal of Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A. 161:114-121.
Houser, D.S., L.C. Yeates, and D.E. Crocker. 2011. Cold stress induces an adrenocortical response in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. 42(4): 565-571.
Vázquez-Medina, J.P., T. Zenteno-Savín, M.S. Tift, H.J. Forman, D.E. Crocker, and R.M. Ortiz. 2011. Apnea stimulates the adaptive response to oxidative stress in elephant seal pups. Journal of Experimental Biology. 214: 4193-4200.
Habran, S., C. Debier, D.E. Crocker, D.S. Houser, and K. Das. 2011. Blood dynamics of mercury and selenium in northern elephant seals during the lactation period. Environmental Pollution. 159:2523-2529.
Aoki, K.Y., Y. Watanabe, D.E. Crocker, P.W. Robinson, M. Biuw, D.P. Costa, N. Miyazaki, M.A. Fedak, and P.J.O. Miller. 2011. Northern elephant seals adjust gliding and stroking patterns with changes in buoyancy: validation of at-sea metrics of body density. Journal of Experimental Biology. 214:2973-2987.
Tift, M.S., D.S. Houser, D.E. Crocker. 2011. High-density lipoprotein remains elevated despite reductions in total cholesterol in fasting adult male elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris). Journal of Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology B. 159:214-219.
Viscarra, J., C.D. Champagne, D.E. Crocker, and R.M. Ortiz. 2011. 5-AMP-activated protein kinase activity is increased in adipose tissue of northern elephant seal pups during prolonged fasting-induced insulin resistance. Journal of Endocrinology. 209:317-325.
Vázquez-Medina, J.P., T. Zenteno-Savin, H.J. Forman, D.E. Crocker and R.M. Ortiz. 2011. Prolonged fasting increases glutathione synthesis in post-weaned elephant seals. Journal of Experimental Biology. 214:1294-1299.
Viscarra, J., J.P. Vazquez-Medina, D.E. Crocker, and R.M. Ortiz. 2011. Glut4 is upregulated despite decreased insulin signaling during prolonged fasting in northern elephant seal pups. American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology. 300:R1501-R154.
Course Offerings:
Animal Physiology, Environmental Physiology; Bioenergetics; Biometry; Animal Behavior.