Mr. Phil Hightower

Study Abroad.  Tikal, Guatemala. 2015.

For more information on Tropical Ecology and study abroad see

http://www.abac.edu/academics/schools/arts-sciences/outreach/belize-study-abroad

Study Abroad, Maya Mountains, Belize. 2018.       Service Project, St. Mathew’s School, Belize. 2018.

Panoramic Trail, Yosemite NP, CA. 2016.                                 Glacier Point, Yosemite NP, CA. 2016.

Tundra community on top of Sundance Mountain, Colorado at 12,400 ft. 2013.

Study Abroad. View of jungle canopy from Temple 4. Tikal, Guatemala. 2015.

Study Abroad. San Ignacio, Belize. 2015.

Study Abroad. Belize Barrier Reef. 2015.

Study Abroad. Belize Barrier Reef. 2015.

BIOL 3090 Invertebrate Zoology Fun Facts:

• Most, 95-97%, of animal species are invertebrates.
• Going into a human or animal health field? Well, many invertebrates are parasites and/or transmit diseases such as malaria, Chagas, dengue fever, lyme disease, plague, etc.
• Largest invertebrate: probably the colossal squid at 10m
• Fastest invertebrate:  dragonflies can reach about 30km/h
• Invertebrate defense mechanisms: some glow in the dark, some can change colors, some are transparent and almost invisible, some expel an ink cloud, some concentrate plant toxins in their body, some make their own toxins, some have shells, some swim fast, some fly, and some can strike at prey so hard they can break the glass of an ordinary aquarium.
• Invertebrates are an integral part of the ecosystem. They fill various trophic levels as detritivores, herbivores, and carnivores. They pollinate the crops we grow,  recycle nutrients, help get rid of wastes and provide study organisms for science research.
• Some invertebrates absorb food through their skin; some have hydraulic systems for opening bivalves; some ambush, run down, or catch prey on the wing; some scrape vegetation from rocks; some filter feed; and some are vampires.
• 
• Left-Banana Slug, Santa Cruz, CA. 2014
• Center-Overwintering Monarch Butterflys, Santa Cruz, CA. 2014
• Right-Conch Shells, Tobacco Caye, Belize. 2018
  

Summer Office Hours start May 29 and end July 23.

Summer 2018 Office Hours: Listed below and by appointment as needed. Office hours are for primarily for students. If you need anything, please see me and ask for help!

Office Hours: Listed below and by appointment as needed

Monday            9:00-11:00

Tuesday             9:00-11:00                        1:15-4:05pm

Wednesday            9:00-11:00

Thursday            9:00-11:00

Education

M.S. in Biology, 2008, Valdosta State University

B.S. in Biology, Minor in Chemistry, 1998, Valdosta State University

Biology Major, Core Curriculum, 1993-1995, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

2014 & 2015 Center for Teaching and Learning Engaged Faculty Certificate

Courses Taught

BIOL 4550-Tropical Ecology with Study Abroad in Belize

BIOL 3350-Ecology and Evolution with included lab

BIOL 3090-Invertebrate Zoology with included lab

BIOL 2080-General Zoology with included lab

BIOL 1107 & BIOL 1107L (previously BIOL 2107 & BIOL 2107L)-Principles of Biology I and lab

BIOL 1108H-Principles of Biology II Honors with included lab

BIOL 1108 & BIOL 1108L (previously BIOL 2108 & BIOL 2108L)-Principles of Biology II and lab

BIOL 1003 & BIOL 1003L-Introductory Biology I and lab (Designed for non-science majors, no longer in catalog)

BIOL 1004 & BIOL 1004L -Introductory Biology II and lab (Designed for non-science majors, no longer in catalog)

SCIE 1005H-Environmental Science Honors with included lab

SCIE 1005 & SCIE 1005L-Environmental Science and lab

Publications/Research

2014. D.L. Bechler, P.Hightower, M.Smith, and J.Rousey. The use of nest-traps to study behavior, population structure, and life history of Procambarus spiculifer. Freshwater Crayfish. 20(1):7-16.

2013.  P. Hightower & D.L. Bechler. The life history of the crayfish Procambarus (Pennides) spiculifer in the Alapahoochee River. Freshwater Crayfish. 19(1):77-89.

2011.  G.T. Johnson, J.F. Elder, S.M. Thompson, P. Hightower, & D. Bechler. Phylogeny of the freshwater crayfish subfamily Cambarinae based on 16s rDNA gene analysis. Current Trends in Ecology. 2:97-113.

2011.  P. Hightower. Environmental Science Laboratory Manual (for use in ABAC’s SCIE 1005H and SCIE 1005L). pp 58.

2009.  March 27-29. Poster presentation at the 6th annual Southeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference (SEEC) in Gainesville, Florida entitled “The life history of the crayfish Procambarus spiculifer in the Alapahoochee River.”

2009.  Rousey, J., P. Hightower, M.E. Smith and D.L. Bechler. Conspecific and heterospecific associations in nest-traps occupied by the crayfish, Procambarus spiculifer.  Georgia Journal of Science. 67:36 (Abstr.)

2008.  P. Hightower. “The Life History of the Crayfish Procambarus spiculifer in the Alapahoochee River” Masters Thesis. Valdosta State University.

2004.  R. Baird, W. Batson, C. Watson, & P. Hightower. Evaluation of transgenic cotton varieties and a glyphosate application on seedling disease incidence. Mycopathologia. 158: 363-368.

2004.  R.E. Baird, D.E. Carling, C.E. Watson, M.L. Scruggs, & P. Hightower. Effects of nematicides on cotton root mycobiota. Mycopathologia. 157: 191-199.

1999-Present. Contributor to ABAC’s biology laboratory manuals for various courses.

Left and Center – Grinell Glacier and Hike, Glacier National Park, Montana. 2014.

Right-Sunset, Maui. 2011.

Alakai Swamp, Kauai. 2012.                                                         Snow Flower.Yosemite NP. 2016.

For more information, see my other webpage at http://www.abac.edu/honors-faculty-staff/2013/mr-phillip-hightower-2

Course descriptions for courses I’ve taught are listed below. See the D2L page for the course you are enrolled in for more information.