The Heat Dissipation Limit (HDL) hypothesis posits that animals are limited by their ability to dissipate heat when they are active. Even moderately warmer temperatures may restrain the possibility for animals to perform work. When animals reach a certain body temperature, they will stop or limit activity to cool down and to prevent overheating. This means that global climate change could have large implications for bird fitness, since strenuous activity is often required for raising offspring, foraging, and predator avoidance. You will test the Heat Dissipation Limit hypothesis experimentally in captive zebra finches at the ecology building at Lund University.
To do this, you will investigate how varying ambient temperatures affect maximum exercise-induced metabolic rate (MMR) of zebra finches in the lab using respirometry. The body temperature of zebra finches can be monitored continuously with an implanted temperature logger. Additional experiments or treatments can be added according to your interests.
This project is suitable for a masters project (30 – 60 credit) or the 15 credit course “Applied work in biology”
You will gain experience in:
- Handling birds
- Caring for captive birds
- Respirometry methods
- Biometric data loggers
- Developing and managing an experiment
- Hypothesis testing in ecophysiology
- Statistics
Start: Preferably Summer 2024 (May or June) but could also start in the autumn semester (August or September).
Contact:
- Rae Engert, PhD student elana.engert@biol.lu.se
- Jan-Åke Nilsson, professor jan-ake.nilsson@biol.lu.se