Department of Biology
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Oshkosh, WI 54901-8640
Phone: (920)424-7091
Fax:(920)424-1101
Email: cooper@uwosh.edu

Education

• Ph.D. Utah State University
• M.A. University of South Dakota
• B.S. Northern State University

Teaching

• BIOLOGY 212: HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY
  Download course syllabus as a pdf
• BIOLOGY 319/519: GENERAL ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY
  Download course syllabus as a pdf
• BIOLOGY 766: ADVANCED TOPICS – Animal Ecological Physiology
• BIOLOGY 766: ADVANCED TOPICS – Comparative Developmental Physiology
• BIOLOGY 766: ADVANCED TOPICS – Phenotypic Flexibility

Research Interests

I am an animal ecological physiologist with research interests in animal thermoregulation and energetics. I am most interested in thermoregulation in songbirds. Most of my research deals with how small, nonmigratory songbirds can survive in winter in cold temperate regions. Winter birds undergo a possible suite of changes including physiological, morphological or physical, and behavioral adjustments that allow them to survive the short days and long nights of winter. My lab uses a combination of both field and lab techniques to address questions on this process of seasonal acclimatization in songbirds.

Selected Publications

• Latimer, C.E., S.J. Cooper, W.H. Karasov, and B. Zuckerberg. 2018. Does habitat fragmentation promote climate-resilient phenotypes? Oikos 127:1069-1080.Oikos 127 1069-1080 2018
• Paruk, J.D., S.J. Cooper, A.O. Mangan, R.S. Brady, and L. Tucker.  2015.  Resting metabolic rates of adult Northern Shrikes (Lanius excubitor) wintering in northern Wisconsin. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 127:510-514
• Swanson, D.L., N.E. Thomas, E.T. Liknes, and S.J. Cooper. 2012. Intraspecific correlations of basal and maximal metabolic rates in birds and the aerobic capacity model for the evolution of endothermy. PLoS ONE 7(3): e34271. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0034271
• Olson, J. R., S. J. Cooper, D. L. Swanson, M. J. Braun, and J. B. Williams. 2010. The relationship of metabolic performance and distribution in black-capped and Carolina chickadees. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology. 83:263-275.
• Cooper, S. J. 2007. Daily and seasonal variation in body mass and visible fat in mountain chickadees and juniper titmice. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 119: 720-724.
• Cooper, S. J. and S. Sonsthagen. 2007. Heat production from foraging activity contributes to thermoregulation in Black-capped Chickadees. Condor 109:446-451.
• Arens, J. R., and S. J. Cooper. 2005. Metabolic and ventilatory acclimatization to cold stress in house sparrows. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 78:579-589.
• Arens, J. R., and S. J. Cooper. 2005. Seasonal and diurnal variation in metabolism and ventilation in House Sparrows (Passer domesticus). Condor 107:433-444.
• Cooper, S. J., and J. A. Gessaman. 2005. Nocturnal hypothermia in seasonally-acclimatized Mountain Chickadees and Juniper Titmice. Condor 107:151-155.
• Wilson, G. R., S. J. Cooper, and J. A. Gessaman. 2004. The effects of temperature and artificial rainfall on the metabolism of American Kestrels (Falco sparverius). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A 139:389-394.
• Cooper, S. J., and J. A. Gessaman. 2004. Thermoregulation and habitat preference in Mountain Chickadees and Juniper Titmice. Condor 106:852-861.