Vance A. Tucker | Scholars@Duke

Vance A. Tucker
Professor Emeritus of Zoology

Vance Tucker is interested in comparative physiology, particularly the energetics of locomotion, and the interactions between an organism's natural environment and its respiratory and circulatory systems. Much of his research has dealt with the aerodynamics and energetics of avian flight, and has also included work on mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects. He is particularly interested in those aspects of physiology that can be described in physical or physical-chemical terms, usually involving math ematical models. Examples of such subjects are: energy storage by stretched elastic structures in running animals, wave making by insects swimming on water surfaces and heat exchange in animals entering into and arousing from hibernation.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Professor Emeritus of Zoology, Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2004

Contact Information

0032 Bio Sci Bldg, Durham, NC 27708
Box 90338, Durham, NC 27708-0338
vtucker@duke.edu (919) 684-3484

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., University of California at Los Angeles 1963
- M.S., University of Wisconsin at Madison 1960
- B.A., University of California at Los Angeles 1958
Duke Appointment History
- Research Professor of Biology, Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2001 - 2004
- Professor of Biology, Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2000 - 2001
- Professor with Tenure, Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1973 - 2000
- Associate Professor with Tenure, Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1966 - 1973
- Assistant Professor, Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1964 - 1966
Research
Selected Grants
- (93-0983) The Effects of Wing Tip and Body Shape on Aerodynamics of Flying Birds awarded by National Science Foundation 1991 - 1997
- (91-0322) Aerodynamics of Parasite and Profile Drag in Avian Models awarded by National Science Foundation 1991 - 1993
- (91-0029) Measuring the Aerodynamic Drag of Satellite-compatible Transmitters and Conventional (VHF) Transmitter Forms awarded by Fish and Wildlife 1990 - 1993
- (88-0166) Wind Tunnel Experiments to Study the Effects of Radio-Marking on Bird Flight awarded by Fish and Wildlife 1987 - 1988
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Academic Articles
  - Tucker, VA, Tucker, AE, Akers, K, and Enderson, JH. "Curved flight paths and sideways vision in peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus)." J Exp Biol 203, no. Pt 24 (December 2000): 3755-3763. Link to Item
  - Tucker, VA, Tucker, AE, Akers, K, and Enderson, JH. "Curved flight paths and sideways vision in peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus)." Journal of Experimental Biology 203, no. 24 (December 1, 2000): 3755-3763.
  - Tucker, VA. "The deep fovea, sideways vision and spiral flight paths in raptors." J Exp Biol 203, no. Pt 24 (December 2000): 3745-3754. Link to Item
  - Tucker, VA. "Gliding flight: drag and torque of a hawk and a falcon with straight and turned heads, and a lower value for the parasite drag coefficient." J Exp Biol 203, no. Pt 24 (December 2000): 3733-3744. Link to Item
  - Tucker, VA. "Gliding flight: Drag and torque of a hawk and a falcon with straight and turned heads, and a lower value for the parasite drag coefficient." Journal of Experimental Biology 203, no. 24 (December 1, 2000): 3733-3744.
  - Tucker, VA. "The deep fovea, sideways vision and spiral flight paths in raptors." The Journal of Experimental Biology 203, no. Pt 24 (December 2000): 3745-3754.
  - Tucker, VA. "A 4 g, battery-powered, data logger accelerometer for free-flying birds." Review of Scientific Instruments 70, no. 11 (January 1, 1999): 4394-4397. Full Text
  - Tucker, VA, Cade, TJ, and Tucker, AE. "Diving speeds and angles of a gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus)." J Exp Biol 201 (Pt 13) (July 1998): 2061-2070. Link to Item
  - Tucker, VA. "Using a collision model to design safer wind turbine rotors for birds." Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Transactions of the Asme 118, no. 4 (January 1, 1996): 263-269. Full Text
  - Tucker, VA. "A mathematical model of bird collisions with wind turbine rotors." Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Transactions of the Asme 118, no. 4 (January 1, 1996): 253-262. Full Text
  - Tucker, VA. "An optical tracking device for recording the three-dimensional paths of flying birds." Review of Scientific Instruments 66, no. 4 (December 1, 1995): 3042-3047. Full Text
  - Tucker, V. "Ambiguities in stereopsis [4]." Nature 337, no. 6208 (January 1, 1989): 605-null. (Letter) Full Text
  - Tucker, VA. "The energetic cost of moving about." American Scientist 63, no. 4 (July 1975): 413-419.
  - Tucker, VA. "Bird metabolism during flight: evaluation of a theory." Journal of Experimental Biology 58, no. 3 (January 1, 1973): 689-709.
  - Tucker, VA. "Metabolism during flight in the laughing gull, Larus atricilla." The American Journal of Physiology 222, no. 2 (February 1972): 237-245. Full Text
  - Tucker, VA. "Respiration during flight in birds." Respiration Physiology 14, no. 1-2 (January 1, 1972): 75-82. Full Text
  - Tucker, VA. "Flight energetics in birds." Integrative and Comparative Biology 11, no. 1 (February 1, 1971): 115-124. Full Text
  - Tucker, VA. "Energetic cost of locomotion in animals." Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 34, no. 4 (June 1970): 841-846. Full Text
  - Tucker, VA. "The energetics of bird flight." Scientific American 220, no. 5 (May 1969): 70-78.
  - Tucker, VA. "Wave-making by whirligig beetles (gyrinidae)." Science 166, no. 3907 (January 1, 1969): 897-899. Full Text
  - Tucker, VA. "Respiratory physiology of house sparrows in relation to high-altitude flight." The Journal of experimental biology 48, no. 1 (February 1968): 55-66.
  - Tucker, VA. "Oxygen dissociation curve of echidna blood." Comparative Biochemistry And Physiology 24, no. 1 (January 1, 1968): 307-310. Full Text
  - Tucker, VA. "Method for oxygen content and dissociation curves on microliter blood samples." Journal of Applied Physiology 23, no. 3 (September 1967): 410-414. Full Text
  - Tucker, VA. "Oxygen transport by the circulatory system of the green iguana (Iguana iguana) at different body temperatures." The Journal of experimental biology 44, no. 1 (February 1966): 77-92.
  - Tucker, VA. "Oxygen consumption of a flying bird." Science 154, no. 3745 (January 1, 1966): 150-151. Full Text
  - Tucker, VA. "The relation between the torpor cycle and heat exchange in the California pocket mouse Perognathus californicus." Journal of cellular physiology 65, no. 3 (June 1965): 405-414. Full Text
  - Tucker, VA. "Oxygen consumption, thermal conductance, and torpor in the California pocket mouse Perognathus californicus." Journal of cellular physiology 65, no. 3 (June 1965): 393-403. Full Text
  - Tucker, VA. "Diurnal Torpidity in the California Pocket Mouse." Science 136, no. 3514 (May 4, 1962): 380-381. Full Text
  - Tucker, VA, and Heine, C. "Aerodynamics of gliding flight in a harris' hawk, Parabuteo unicinctus." Journal of Experimental Biology 149 (May 16, 1990): 469-489.
  - Tucker, VA. "Body drag, feather drag and interference drag of the mounting strut in a peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus." Journal of Experimental Biology 149 (May 16, 1990): 449-468.
  - Tucker, VA. "Measuring aerodynamic interference drag between a bird body and the mounting strut of a drag balance." Journal of Experimental Biology 154 (December 13, 1990): 439-461.

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Education, Training, & Certifications

Duke Appointment History

Selected Grants

Selected Publications

Academic Articles