Birds maintain a constant body temperature, sometimes more than 50°C above air temperature, which is energetically expensive. During migration, large distances are covered, and energetic needs are elevated even more. We know that birds may reduce body temperature during cold winter nights – which can allow for significant energy savings. Do birds employ a similar strategy when migrating? We know very little about this, but recent research has shown that bats use reductions in body temperature to save energy during migration. In theory, such a strategy could lead to reduced migration time and/or to maintain a higher body condition (in terms of fat reserves, immune function etc.) throughout the journey.
Our aim is to measure body temperature variation and metabolic rate in migrating passerines as they pass the Falsterbo peninsula on their way south during fall migration. You will conduct the fieldwork in the period August-October, in collaboration with the personnel at Falsterbo ringing station. You will get hands-on experience of capturing, handling, and ringing birds and the possibility to work with multiple techniques involved in temperature measurements and possibly also measurements of metabolic rate. To get the most out of the project, it would be advantageous to have some prior experience of handling birds and you would be required to stay at the ringing station for the field-work period.
Supervisors: Fredrik Andreasson and Andreas Nord.
If you think this sounds like an exciting and interesting project, please contact:
Fredrik Andreasson via e-mail fredrik.andreasson@biol.lu.se or come visit me on the second floor of the Ecology building.