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Richard
L. Marsh
Professor
of Biology
Ph.D., The University of Michigan
Research
Areas:
Biology of the Muscles and Locomotion
Email: r.marsh@neu.edu
Phone:
617.373.3495
Fax: 617.373.3724
Location:
461 Richards Hall
Mail: NU/Biology
134 Mugar Life Sciences
360 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
USA
Research Description
Broadly defined, my current interests are in the study of physiology in the context of organismal biology. Many of my current interests revolve around the study of the roles of skeletal muscle in organismal function. Past studies have focused on the functions of skeletal muscle in producing movement in diverse types of animals in producing heat for thermoregulation in birds. Although comparative studies have contributed greatly to our knowledge of the general function of skeletal muscle, many fewer studies have taken an integrative approach in studying the in vivo use of skeletal muscle. One consequence of this past neglect is that many predictions of how muscle "should be" matched to in vivo use are probably in error because they are based on unrealistically simple in vitro measurements. My approach to research problems considers multiple levels of biological organization. Although physiological functions are central to my interests, I have pursued the biochemical and structural features which underlie these physiological processes to provide mechanistic explanations for the physiological adaptations observed. Additionally, I have attempted to synthesize this information and relate the mechanisms described to the functioning of the intact organism.
Selected
Publications
Marsh, R.L., D. J. Ellerby, H.T. Henry, J.A. Carr, and C.I.
Buchanan. 2004. Partitioning the energetics of walking and running:
swinging the limbs is expensive. Science 303: 80-83.
Ellerby, D.J., M.E. Cleary, R.L. Marsh, and C.A. Buchanan.
2003. Measurement of maximum oxygen consumption in guinea fowl Numida
meleagris indicates that birds and mammals display a similar diversity
of aerobic scopes during running. Physiol. Biochem. Zool. 76: 695-703.
Roberts, T.J. and R.L. Marsh. 2003. The mechanics of jumping
bullfrogs: optimizing muscle function for acceleration. J. Exp. Biol.
206: 2567-2580.
Girgenrath, M. and R.L. Marsh. 2003. Season and testosterone
affect contractile properties of fast calling muscles in the gray tree
frog Hyla chrysoscelis. Am. J. Physiol. 284: R1513-R1520.
Buchanan, C.I. and R.L. Marsh. 2002. Effects of exercise on
the biomechanical, biochemical, and structural properties of tendons.
Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A Mol. Integr. Physiol. 133:1101-1107.
Askew, G.N. and R.L. Marsh. 2002. Muscle designed for maximum
short-term power output: quail flight muscle. J. Exp. Biol. 205: 2153-2160.
Askew, G.N., R. L. Marsh, and C.P. Ellington. 2001. The mechanical
power output of the flight muscles of blue-breasted quail (Coturnix
chinensis) during take-off. J. Exp. Biol. 204: 3601-3619.
Askew, G.N. and R. L. Marsh. 2001. The mechanical power output
of the pectoralis muscle of blue-breasted quail (Coturnix chinensis):
the in vivo length cycle and its implications for muscle performance.
J. Exp. Biol. 204: 3587-3600.
Buchanan, C.I. and R. L. Marsh. 2001. Effects of long-term
exercise on the biomechanical properties of the Achilles tendon of guinea
fowl. J. Appl. Physiol. 90:164-171.
Marsh,
R.L. 1999. How muscles deal with real world loads: the influence of length
trajectory on muscle performance. J. Exp. Biol. 202: 3377-3385.
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