Environmental temperature is a key parameter that can affects both the external and internal morphology of birds’ bodies. However, there are few data that describe how this morphological flexibility contributes to how birds combat global warming and extreme weather events. In this project, you will investigate how cold and heat acclimation changes the appearance of birds’ bodies during different life stages – from embryos to adults – using Japanese quail. These data can then be compared against available information on physiological adaptations across levels of organisation, from mitochondria at the subcellular level to energy consumption and cold/heat tolerance at the organismal level.
This project will contribute essential information about how birds cope with short- and long-term temperature changes, asking whether variation in environmental temperature causes birds to build their bodies differently (e.g., a longer gut to process more food, a larger liver to handle more digestive products, larger muscles to produce more heat, etc.). The work would involve handling and processing samples collected in several different projects in recent years, placing you right at the centre of ongoing research in our team.
Project duration: 15 or 30 ECTS
Level: Internship, BSc, or MSc
Contact persons:
Dr. Elisa Thoral, Ecology building 3rd floor B362, elisa.thoral@biol.lu.se
Dr. Andreas Nord, Ecology building 2nd floor B250, andreas.nord@biol.lu.se