Recent Courses

EE BIOL 111 - Biology of Vertebrates
EE BIOL 19 - Fiat Lux Freshman Seminars
EE BIOL 98T - Sharks, Skates, and Rays, Oh My! Myths and Truths of Elasmobranch Biology

Research Areas

Research Interests

My personal research and research-related interests presently (2010) focus in two major areas. Both are themes I have pursued with varying levels of activity for many years. Students reading this statement should know that I am no longer accepting new graduate students into my laboratory. My present collaborations are with undergraduate students, postdoctoral associates, and colleagues.
(i) The functional morphology, biomechanics, kinematics, and hydrodynamics of swimming in fishes using different methods of locomotion. This is the major, usually extramurally funded, activity in the laboratory. Emphasis is on rigid-bodied, median and paired fin (MPF) swimming fishes in the Order Tetraodontiformes. Species used are marine (e.g., puffers, spiny puffers, boxfishes, cowfishes, trunkfishes). Much of this work involves direct visualization and analysis of patterns of fluid flow around swimming fishes using 2- and 3-dimensional laser-based digital particle imaging velocimetry. This work is collaborative, primarily with colleagues at the Graduate Aeronautical Laboratory, California Institute of Technology (GALCIT), Pasadena, CA.
(ii) I am working with an international group of co-authors to write a new, advanced level textbook on animal biophysics and biomechanics. The book will be directed primarily toward students having strong physical science and engineering backgrounds.

Selected Publications

Kot, B.W., R. Sears, D. Zbinden, E. Borda, and M.S. Gordon, "Rorqual whale (Balaenopteridae) surface lunge-feeding behaviors: standardized classification, repertoire diversity, and evolutionary analyses", Marine Mammal Science, - (2014) [link].

Kim, Y.T. and M.S. Gordon, "Swimming and posture
control of common carp when penetrating mesh nets in a water tunnel", Fisheries Res, 102 : 166-172 (2010) .

Barnes, B., M. Gordon, K. Sato, and H. Hoppeler, "Survival in a changing world", J. Exp. Biol, 213 : 853- (2010) .

Jordan, L.K., S.M. Kajiura, and M.S. Gordon, "Functional consequences of structural differences in
stingray sensory systems. Part II: electrosensory system", J. Exp.
Biol, 212 : 3044-3050 (2009) .

Jordan, L.K., S.M. Kajiura, and M.S. Gordon, "Functional consequences of structural differences in
stingray sensory systems. Part I: mechanosensory lateral line canals", J. Exp. Biol, 212 : 3037-3043 (2009) .

Gordon, M.S., "Review of "Fish Osmoregulation," B.
Baldisserotto, J.M. Mancera, and B.G. Kapoor (eds.), published 2007", Quart. Rev. Biol, 84 : 114- (2009) .

Gordon, M.S., "Comparative physiology in IUPS and at IUPS 2009", J. Physiol Soc, Japan 71 : 49-51 (2009) .

Bartol, I.K., M.S. Gordon, M. Gharib, P.W. Webb,
and D. Weihs, "Evidence of self-correcting spiral flows in swimming
boxfishes", Bioinspir Biomim, 71 : 1-7 (2008) [link].

Gordon, M.S., "How some fishes swim: biomechanics and kinematics", Heredity (Japan), 61 : 57-61 (2007) .

Gordon, M.S., D.V. Lauritzen, and A.M. Wiktorowicz, "Passive and active mechanisms for trim control in swimming fishes", Heredity (Japan), Okinawa, Japan Proc. 3rd Intl. Symp. Aero Aqua Biomechanisms 61 : 1-6 (2006) .