Department of Earth and Biological Sciences
Faculty: William K. Hayes
Laboratory of behavioral ecology and conservation
Zia Nisani (PhD, in progress)
"Behavioral ecology of scorpion venom expenditure."
Contact
Department of Earth and Biological Sciences
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, CA 92350 USA
Phone: (909) 558-4300, extension 48909 or 558-4530
Fax: (909) 558-0259
Email: znisani07g@llu.edu
Death in the balance. Zia weighs one of his deadly research subjects. The mass must be determined for metabolic measurements, but it can also indicate how much venom is expended during an extraction. Photograph: William K. Hayes.
Before coming to Loma Linda, Zia completed his master's work on parasitic wasps at San Jose State University. With his quick sense of humor and devotion to his studies, he's been a welcome addition to the lab. He is studying the defensive and predatory behaviors of scorpions, including measurements of venom expenditure and metabolic costs associated with venom regeneration. His work involves biochemistry, physiology, and behavior--a nice interdisciplinary combination. The scorpions he has chosen to work with are among the deadliest in the world.
If you wish to learn more about his work, go to How Scorpions Use Their Venom. He has obtained some great data already and more are forthcoming.