Diverse aging rates in ectothermic tetrapods provide insights for the evolution of aging and longevity

Comparative studies of mortality in the wild are necessary to understand the evolution of aging; yet, ectothermic tetrapods are underrepresented in this comparative landscape, despite their suitability for testing evolutionary hypotheses. We present a study of aging rates and longevity across wild tetrapod ectotherms, using data from 107 populations (77 species) of nonavian reptiles and amphibians. We test hypotheses of how thermoregulatory mode, environmental temperature, protective phenotypes, and pace of life history contribute to demographic aging. Controlling for phylogeny and body size, ectotherms display a higher diversity of aging rates compared with endotherms and include phylogenetically widespread evidence of negligible aging. Protective phenotypes and life-history strategies further explain macroevolutionary patterns of aging. Analyzing ectothermic tetrapods in a comparative context enhances our understanding of the evolution of aging.Animal science

An Improved Undergraduate Human Factors Course: Three Results

The undergraduate human factors course was improved at the Stevens Institute of Technology. The objectives of the course improvement were twofold: 1) to increase the quality of the course, and 2) to increase enrollment. Computer-based modules were developed and implemented to achieve these objectives. Three primary findings emerged from their use. First, students finished the course with a firm grounding in the empirical and experimental methods of human factors. Second, students generated more design solution alternatives by using the modules. Third, course enrollment increased by seventy-five percent. </jats:p