Malcolm Gordon

Professor Emeritus
Department: Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
msgordon@ucla.edu
Website
Keywords: Ecuador

Professor Gordon's research has focused on two major areas. First, the functional morphology, biomechanics, kinematics, and hydrodynamics of swimming in fishes using different methods of locomotion, with an emphasis is on rigid-bodied, median and paired fin (MPF) swimming fishes in the Order Tetraodontiformes. Species used are marine (e.g., puffers, spiny puffers, boxfishes, cowfishes, trunkfishes). Much of this work involves direct visualization and analysis of patterns of fluid flow around swimming fishes using 2- and 3-dimensional laser-based digital particle imaging velocimetry. This work is collaborative, primarily with colleagues at the Graduate Aeronautical Laboratory, California Institute of Technology (GALCIT), Pasadena, CA. Second, he has also worked with an international group of co-authors to write a new, advanced level textbook on animal biophysics and biomechanics. The book is directed primarily toward students having strong physical science and engineering backgrounds.