Rick Boyd

Rick BoydMarquette University

Wehr Physics Building, 204

MilwaukeeWI53201United States of America(414) 288-2164rick.boyd@marquette.eduRainforest Rick Education

Teaching Instructor

Physics

I am a Wisconsin native, from Wauwatosa WI, a suburb of Milwaukee. I received my BA degree from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, majoring in zoology. I received my Master of Education degree from National Louis University- Chicago. Always fascinated by science and nature, I had a collection of assorted animals as pets throughout my childhood, including breeding several types to sell to pet stores as my first business ventures as a teenager. My life has been an example of “lifelong learning.” From my first career choice as a high school chemistry/advanced placement chemistry teacher for 13 years, to running my own business as a financial planner for the next 25 years, I am fortunate to have experienced these diverse occupational realms. Both contain many abstract concepts that can be difficult to understand and relate to. My teaching skills have played a very important role in both occupations.

I now enjoy using my teaching expertise through the Physics Department at Marquette University.

Courses Taught

PHYS 1009 - Earth and Environmental Physics

ARSC 1020 – Major Concepts in Modern Science 1 (fall semester)

ARSC 1021 – Major Concepts in Modern Science 2 (spring semester)

Research Interests

Frog Research

I research and breed several varieties of tropical frogs in my personal “frog room” lab. Wild populations of many of these frog species in Central and South America are threatened in their native habitats, due to extreme amounts of deforestation, as well as being collected and sold into the pet trade, both legally and illegally.

For example, regarding Costa Rica and Nicaragua, “Lowland areas have been cleared for cattle, while mountain slopes, regardless of their steepness, have been cleared to grow beans, corn,

coffee, as well as to support dairy cattle; most of Costa Rica's [human] population and a significant portion of Nicaragua's lives within this ecoregion. During the past 100 years, virtually the entire ecoregion has been stripped of its native vegetation, with only small forest fragments remaining, totaling less than 11% of the ecoregion's original forest cover.” (https://www.oneearth.org/ecoregions/costa-rican-seasonal-moist-forests/)

In addition, there is a Chytrid fungus pandemic that is decimating many amphibian species worldwide. “Around the world, 90 species are thought to have gone extinct because of the fungus. And at least another 491 species have declined because of it. (https://www.science.org/content/article/fungus-has-wiped-out-more-species-any-other-disease)

Some of the tropical frogs I breed are categorized as “critically endangered,” one step away from going “extinct” in the wild. Others I breed are listed as “endangered.” We are in a race against time to “crack the codes” regarding successful captive breeding of these species before they go extinct in the wild.

In 2022 I became recognized as only the 2nd individual to successfully breed the Granulosa Glass Frog in captivity in the US. I did so by experimenting with artificial rain chamber cycles for weeks at a time to simulate the rainy season cycles found in their native habitat. This protracted pattern of rain cycles appears necessary to stimulate ovulation in this species. There have been 3 fertile clutches laid by my single female in 2022! In addition, through experimenting with the unique water conditions needed for raising this species and another species of glass frog tadpole, I have been able to improve the survival rate of the tadpoles from 4% to 88% to produce froglets. I have also experimented with nutritional supplements for the parent frogs to better emulate that found in their natural diets. As a result, the fertile egg clutch size has nearly doubled.

I focus on the concept of “Conservation through Commercialization” whereby my breeding of these species in captivity can “take the pressure off” the wild populations being harvested for the pet trade and/or educational exhibits. My slogan is “Don't Take It, Make It!”

Professional Interests

I incorporate multiple real-life examples about these frogs in these topics within the courses I teach.

PHYS 1009 “Earth and Environmental Physics”: In “Biomes of the World,” tropical rainforest and tropical seasonal forest biomes, frogs are featured as noteworthy inhabitants, and the threats these biomes face. The legal and illegal exotic pet trade industry and the negative impacts on populations of species in the wild. Aposematic “warning” coloration vs. edge diffusion camouflage, biogeochemical nitrogen cycle of ammonia-nitrate-nitrite in soil and in water for the tadpoles. Properties of water, including specific heat and evapotranspiration. The physics of light in nature, including ultraviolet, fluorescing frogs recently discovered, infrared, and range of vision capabilities of animals. Frogs (and fluorescing axolotls) are brought in as demonstration specimens for students to view first-hand.

ARSC 1021 “Major Concepts in Modern Science II”: Frog embryology unit with lab, using our Physics Department’s new digital microscopes. Gosner Stages of amphibian embryology, biology of apoptosis (planned cell death = absorption of tadpole tail cell nutrients) and its link to universal cancer cell growth due a failure of apoptosis function.

Physics of light in nature, Darwin’s Theory of Evolution - driving forces triggering diversity of tropical frog species following the dinosaur-extinction-linked asteroid impact zone in the Yucatan Peninsula area of Mexico.

My efforts are helping to contribute to a collective “Noah’s Ark” population of several of these frog species, should they ultimately become extinct in the wild.

Elsewhere, I give science talks regarding these concepts to schools, clubs, and retirement communities.

Honors and Awards

Rainforest Rick Educational Blog - https://rainforestrick.com/

60 Second Marquette: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqKgwnj682A&t=2s

CBS 58 Sunday Morning News - Wondrous Frogs https://youtu.be/0mK-YS0PyWU

Marquette Today: https://today.marquette.edu/2022/06/shattering-the-glass-frog-ceiling/

Marquette Wire: https://marquettewire.org/4079721/news/its-called-a-frog-ject/