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Sara Hiebert Burch

Edward Hicks Magill Professor Emerita of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Emeritus Biology

Contact

  1. Email:shieber1@swarthmore.edu

Research | Publications

Education

1982-89  University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. Ph.D. Zoology. 

1977-80  University of St. Andrews, Scotland. B.Sc. Zoology, 

1975-77  Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania

Courses

Biology 020 - Animal Physiology
Biology 124 - Hormones and Behavior seminar
 

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Research

Environmental regulation of preferences for particular lipids in the diet, and their effect on lipid composition and behavior; endocrine regulation of hibernation-like states; stress response; noninvasive methods for studying physiology.


Publications

Calder, W.A. III and S. Hiebert. 1982. Some energetic aspects of behavior in a montane hummingbird nesting habitat. Natl. Geographic Soc. Res. Reports 14:89-94.

Hiebert, S.M. and W.A. Calder III. 1983. Sodium, potassium and chloride in floral nectars: energy-free contributions to refractive index and salt balance. Ecology 64: 399-402.

Calder, W.A. III and S.M. Hiebert. 1983. Nectar-feeding, diuresis, and electrolyte homeostasis in hummingbirds. Physiological Zoology 56:325-334.

Calder, W.A. III, N.M. Waser, S.M. Hiebert, D.W. Inouye and S. Miller. 1983. Site-fidelity, longevity, and population dynamics of broad-tailed hummingbirds: a ten year study. Oecologia 56:359-364.

Hiebert, S.M. and W.A. Calder III. 1986. The osmoregulatory consequences of nectarivory and frugivory in hummingbirds and other species. Proc. XIX Internat. Ornith. Cong ., Ottawa, Canada. Pp.

Arcese, P., P.K. Stoddard and S.M. Hiebert. 1988. The form and function of song in female song sparrows. Condor 90:44-50.

Hiebert, S.M. 1988. Sliding thresholds of energy reserves for torpor initiation in the rufous hummingbird. American Zoologist 28(4):127A.

Hiebert, S.M., P.K. Stoddard and P. Arcese. 1989. Repertoire size, territory acquisition and reproductive success in the song sparrow. Animal Behaviour 37:266-273.

Geiser, F., S.M. Hiebert and G.J. Kenagy. 1990. Torpor bout duration during the hibernation season of two sciurid rodents: interrelations with temperature and metabolism. Physiological Zoology 63:489-503.

Hiebert, S.M. 1990. Energy costs and temporal organization of torpor in the rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus). Physiological Zoology . 63:1082-1097.

Hiebert, S.M. 1991. Seasonal differences in the response of rufous hummingbirds to food restriction: body mass and the use of torpor. Condor 93:526-537.

Hiebert, S.M. 1992. Time-dependent thresholds for torpor initiation in the rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus). Journal of Comparative Physiology B 162:249-255.

Hiebert, S.M. 1993. Seasonality of daily torpor in a migratory hummingbird. Pp. 25-32 In: Life in the Cold: Ecological, Physiological, and Molecular Mechanisms , eds. C. Carey, G.L. Florant, B.A. Wunder and B. Horowitz. Boulder: Westview Press.

Hiebert, S.M. 1993. Seasonal changes in body mass and the use of torpor in a migratory hummingbird. Auk 110:787-797.

Hiebert, S.M., T.M. Lee, P. Licht, and I. Zucker. 1998. Estradiol phase shifts circannual body mass rhythms of male ground squirrels. Am. J. Physiol . 274:R754-R759.

Hiebert, S.M., K. Salvante and M. Ramenofsky. 1998. Corticosterone and daily torpor: noninvasive determination of a hummingbird's response to energy restriction. Am. Zool . 38:25A.

Hiebert, S.M., E.M. Thomas, T.M. Lee, K.M. Pelz, S.M. Yellon and I. Zucker. 2000. Photic entrainment of circannual rhythms in golden-mantled ground squirrels: role of the pineal gland. J. Biol. Rhythms 15:126-134.

Hiebert, S.M. 2000. Information age testing: making rigorous exams fun to write and easy to grade. Advances in Physiology Education. 278-S96-S100.

Hiebert, S.M., M. Ramenofsky, K. Salvante, J.C. Wingfield and C. L. Gass. 2000. Noninvasive methods for measuring and manipulating corticosterone in hummingbirds. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 120:235-247.

Hiebert, S.M., K. Salvante, M. Ramenofsky, and J.C. Wingfield. 2000. Corticosterone and nocturnal torpor in the rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus).  Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 120:220-234. 

Hiebert, S.M., E. Fulkerson, K. Lindermayer and S. McClure. 2000. Effect of temperature on preference for dietary unsaturated fatty acids in the Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus). Can. J. Zool. 78-1361-1368.

Hiebert, S.M., E. Burch. 2003. Simulated human diving and heart rate: making the most of the diving response as a laboratory exercise. Advances in Physiology Education. 27: 130-145.

Hiebert, S.M., K. Hauser and A.J. Ebrahim. 2003. Djungarian hamsters exhibit temperature-dependent dietary fat choice in long days. Phys. Biochem. Zool. 76:850-857. 

Hiebert, S.M., J.C. Wingfield, M. Ramenofsky, L.Deni and A. Gräfin zu Elz.  2004. Sex differences in the response of torpor to exogenous corticosterone during the onset of the migratory season in rufous hummingbirds. Pp. 221-230 In: Life in the Cold: evolution, mechanisms, adaptation and application.  Twelfth International Hibernation Symbiosium. 

Reid, J.M., P. Arcese, A.L.E.V. Cassidy, S.M. Hiebert, J.N.M. Smith, P.K. Stoddard, A.B. Marr and L.F. Keller. 2004. Song repertoire size predicts initial mating success in male song sparrows, Melospiza melodia.  Anim. Beh. 68:1055-1063.

J.M. Reid, P. Arcese, A.L.E.V. Cassidy, S.M. Hiebert, J.N.M. Smith, P.K. Stoddard, A.B. Marr and L.F. Keller. 2005.  Fitness Correlates of Song Repertoire Size in Free-Living Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia). Amer. Nat. 165:299-310.

Hiebert, S.M., S.A. Green and S.M. Yellon.  2006. Daily timed melatonin feedings mimic eVects of short days on testis regression and cortisol in circulation in Siberian hamsters.  Gen. Comp. Endocrin. 146:211-216. 

Hiebert, S.M. 2007. The strong inference protocol: not just for grant proposals.  Advances in Physiology Education 31:93-96.

Hiebert, S.M. 2007. Teaching simple experimental design to undergraduates: do your students understand the basics?  Advances in Physiology Education 31:82-92.

Hiebert, S.M and J. Noveral. 2007. Are chicken embryos endotherms or ectotherms? A laboratory exercise integrating concepts in thermoregulation and metabolism. Advances in Physiology Education 31:97-109.

Geiser, F., B.M. McAllan, G.J. Kenagy and S.M. Hiebert. 2007. Photoperiod affects daily torpor and tissue fatty acid composition in deer mice.  Naturwissenschaften 94:319-325.

Liu, T., H. Hougen, A.C. Vollmer and S.M. Hiebert.  2012.  Gut bacteria profiles of Mus musculus at the phylum and family levels are influenced by saturation of dietary fatty acids.  Anaerobe 18:331-337.

Pannorfi, R., B.M. Zee, I. Vatnick, N. Berner and S.M. Hiebert.  2012.  Dietary lipid saturation influences environmental temperature preference but not resting metabolic rate in the Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus).  Physiol. Biochem. Zool. 85:405-414.

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