Richard Zimmer (biologist)
 | The topic of this article may not meet Wikitia's general notability guideline. |
Richard K. Zimmer | |
|---|---|
| Alma mater | University of California, Santa Barbara (BSc)(PhD) |
| Spouse(s) | Cheryl A. Zimmer 3 children |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | University of California, Los Angeles University of Queensland |
Richard Zimmer is a multidisciplinary scientist recognized for his contributions to ecology and sensory biology. By applying principles of physics and chemistry to biological problems, Zimmer examines how organisms communicate with each other and their environments through chemical cues. His research has led to formative discoveries on evolutionary relationships , ecological interactions , and physiological mechanisms across a broad spectrum of taxa, ranging from single cells such as gametes and microbes to complex multicellular species, including humans .
Early life and education
Zimmer grew up near the sandy beaches of Southern California, spending much of his time bodysurfing with his brother, Chip. Drawn to the ocean, he became an avid waterman and surfer – a passion he continues to this date. As a youth, Zimmer set several national age-group swimming records and went on to achieve All-America honors in high school. He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara on an athletic scholarship for swimming, completing a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences in 1976. While an undergraduate, Zimmer spent summers working as a beach lifeguard for the City and County of Santa Barbara. He continued his academic pursuits at UC Santa Barbara, earning a PhD in Neurosciences in 1982.
Career
Zimmer was awarded a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship from the University of Queensland (1982-1984), fostering a life-long connection to Australia and its marine life. Since 2012, he has served as an Honorary Professor at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, and has worked extensively at the UQ Moreton Bay Research Station. He spent most of his academic career as a tenured faculty member in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he is now an Emeritus Distinguished Professor. From 2009 – 2011, while on loan from UCLA, Zimmer was a Program Director in the Division of Integrative Organismal Systems at the U.S. National Science Foundation. A leading figure in the field of chemical communication,Zimmer’s research integrates physical, chemical, and biological approaches into cohesive studies. His laboratory has developed instrumentation and analytical techniques to identify the structures and concentrations of bioactive molecules, while measuring their distributions over time and space scales relevant to chemosensory information processing. Through field and laboratory studies, Zimmer, along with his students and collaborators, have formulated new theories on chemical communication systems and their roles in physiological mechanisms and ecological interactions at individual, population, and community levels. His investigations are driven by a need to understand the sensory basis for behavioral performance. Armed with this knowledge, Zimmer has sought to determine how, when, and where in nature such behavior makes a difference. In addition to his research on chemical communication, Zimmer and his wife, Cheryl Ann, have spent many years studying the tropical sandy beaches of Australia as extreme environments. They also have identified the physiological and behavioral mechanisms that enable sand-eating crabs not only to survive but to thrive in these pristine yet challenging environments.
Peer and Popular Recognition
Zimmer’s research has been showcased by experts not directly involved in the projects. These positive commentaries have appeared in prominent journals, such as Science, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A., Journal of the American Medical Association, and Journal of Experimental Biology, as well as in popular publications such as National Geographic, Scientific American, and Quanta magazine. His findings have been reported by major news outlets, including the British Broadcasting Corporation, The Times, London, United Press International, among others. Additionally, news releases highlighting his studies have been issued by organizations, such as the American Institute of Biological Sciences, Ecological Society of America, The Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Zimmer has served as a long time topics editor and editorial board member for several peer-reviewed journals, including Ecology and Ecological Monographs (2006 – 2021), Ecosphere (2010 – 2011), and The Biological Bulletin (1995 – 2020). In 2012, he was recognized by the UCLA Associated Students Yearbook (BruinLife) as one of six “inspiring and interesting professors who has significantly contributed to higher education and influenced their students to learn more about themselves and their fields of interest”.
Selected Publications
1. Zimmer, R.K., G.A. Ferrier, S.J. Kim, R.R. Ogorzalek-Loo, C.A. Zimmer, and J.A. Loo. 2017. Keystone predation and molecules of keystone significance. Ecology 98: 1710 – 1721.
2. Crimaldi, J.P., and R.K. Zimmer. 2014. The physics of broadcast spawning in benthic invertebrates. Annual Review of Marine Science 6: 141-165.
3. Zimmer, R.K., and J.A. Riffell. 2011. Sperm chemotaxis, fluid shear, and the evolution of sexual reproduction. Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A. 108: 13,200 – 13,205.
4. Zimmer, R.K., and R.P. Ferrer. 2007. Neuroecology, chemical defense, and the keystone species concept. Biological Bulletin 213: 208 – 225.
5. Weissburg, M.J., and R.K. Zimmer. 2004. Odor plumes and how blue crabs use them in finding prey. Journal of Experimental Biology 197: 349-375.
6. Zimmer, R.K., and C.A. Butman. 2000. Chemical signaling processes in the marine environment. Biological Bulletin 198: 168 – 187.
7. Zimmer-Faust, R.K., and M.N. Tamburri. 1994. Chemical identity and ecological implications of a waterborne, larval settlement cue. Limnology and Oceanography 39: 1075 – 1087.
References
External links
This article "Richard Zimmer (biologist)" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles taken from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be accessed on Wikipedia's Draft Namespace.