This manual was produced in the fall semester of 2021 at Utah Tech University. I appreciate the efforts of my students in that course in creating this manual, along with Dr. Jennifer Ciaccio at Utah Tech University, who provided the general ideas behind student-centered development of upper-division biology laboratory courses.

The manual provides specific examples of how we conducted a series of hypothesis-driven laboratory and field experiments in Comparative Vertebrate Physiology (CVP). The experiments follow the organization of our course, using the 4th edition of Animal Physiology by Hill, Wyse, and Anderson, published by Oxford University Press.

A unique attribute of the manual is that it is highly adaptable, suitable for nearly any CVP lab course, using any textbook or no text. Also, the experiments themselves can be adapted to suit nearly any environment in which the course is taught. The materials and equipment needed are inexpensive for the most part, and commonly available in university departments of biology. The students themselves often acted as test subjects. Many of the exercises can be completed with very little expenditure of departmental funds, some are practically cost-free.

Finally, the fact that the students themselves created the laboratory experiences, with guiding input from the professor, makes the impact of the exercises especially great, and all of the students said it was likely the best laboratory experience of their lives. Many students that have graduated and gone on to medical, dental, veterinary, or graduate schools, have reported that they realize the invaluable experience that they gained from taking charge of their own learning. The ultimate goal of university education is of course becoming a lifelong learner, fascinated with the living world upon which we depend. I hope that this collection of exercises helps others to achieve this worthy goal.

Curt Walker, PhD
Utah Tech University