معرفی
Donald A. McFarlane is the Kenneth S. Pitzer Professor of Biology & Environmental Science at Pitzer College, affiliated with the Keck Science Department. He has been a faculty member since the 1980s, teaching courses in introductory biology, ecology, evolution, and tropical ecology.
- BSc (Zoology, Hons), University of Liverpool (UK), 1978
- MSc (Zoology), Queen’s University of Belfast (UK), 1982
- PhD (Ecology), University of Southern California, 1987
McFarlane's research focuses on the ecology of bats and caves, with a specialization in paleo-environmental records preserved in cave sediments. His work also extends to Quaternary paleoecology and vertebrate paleontology, particularly examining insular mammalian extinctions in the West Indies. Secondary interests include active volcanic lakes and the properties of high explosives for rescue applications.
Recent publications highlight his interdisciplinary work, including studies on nitrogen dynamics in bat caves, cosmogenic isotope dating of guano deposits, and explosives engineering for emergency scenarios. His research bridges ecological, geological, and engineering disciplines to address both historical and applied scientific questions.
McFarlane has received the Kenneth S. Pitzer Professorship in recognition of his academic contributions. He advises senior thesis projects in areas such as heavy metal analysis in food crops and molecular systematics of scorpions, though specific student names are not listed in the provided text.
His affiliations include the National Speleological Society and the National Cave and Karst Research Institute, reflecting his expertise in cave ecosystems. McFarlane is currently on sabbatical during Spring 2024 but remains active in supervising Fall 2023 theses and collaborative projects in geology and environmental analysis.
