One of CAnMoves strategies to reach a high
set research level has been to run a postdoc-programme and recruit well
educated, creative and independent young researchers. This strategy has been
very successful, and since the start in 2008 CAnMove has employed six excellent
postdocs - currently Sylvie Tesson and Emily O’Connor.
For 2012
the CAnMove PIs has decided on a complementary strategy by setting aside some
of the financial support for new research initiatives to boost research and
after summer, four new research projects will start! During spring, CAnMove PIs
and collaborators were encouraged to come up with new research projects and it
was possible to apply for funding up to 700 000 SEK. All applications were then
evaluated and ranked by the PI group and the science advisory board, based on
scientific quality, relevance to CAnMove, synergy and novelty. In total we
received 18 applications, of which the four top ranked projects will share 2.1
millions in research funding and which will be initiated during 2012. The projects
are:
Measuring cost and
conversion efficiency of animal flight
Animal flight is powered by the cyclic contraction of flight muscles, which are supplied by metabolism of fuel substrates (mainly fat and protein). During flight only a fraction of the metabolic energy is directed into useful mechanical work on the surrounding air, the difference is lost as excessive heat. A fundamental question is how efficient animals are at converting metabolic power into mechanical power, i.e. what is the conversion efficiency of the flight engine? Now, with the expertise we have developed over the years in the Lund flight group to study and measure the aerodynamic power output from flying animals and the extensive experience of estimating metabolic rates, we believe we are prepared to take this next necessary step, and simultaneously obtain power output and power input from a flying animal. This will require the set-up of a new fast-response respirometry system for use in the wind tunnel (for insect and bats), and the use of short-duration labelled isotope methods. Project group: Anders Hedenström. Jan-Åke Nilsson, Christoffer Johansson
Animal flight is powered by the cyclic contraction of flight muscles, which are supplied by metabolism of fuel substrates (mainly fat and protein). During flight only a fraction of the metabolic energy is directed into useful mechanical work on the surrounding air, the difference is lost as excessive heat. A fundamental question is how efficient animals are at converting metabolic power into mechanical power, i.e. what is the conversion efficiency of the flight engine? Now, with the expertise we have developed over the years in the Lund flight group to study and measure the aerodynamic power output from flying animals and the extensive experience of estimating metabolic rates, we believe we are prepared to take this next necessary step, and simultaneously obtain power output and power input from a flying animal. This will require the set-up of a new fast-response respirometry system for use in the wind tunnel (for insect and bats), and the use of short-duration labelled isotope methods. Project group: Anders Hedenström. Jan-Åke Nilsson, Christoffer Johansson
Tracking
small organisms using nanotechnology
The aim of our project is to advance our newly developed method of tracking small animals with nanoparticles from laboratory to (semi)natural scale. This will also allow us to simultaneously address how different species of zooplankton handle the everyday threats from predation and ultraviolet radiation. Hence, we have now the potential to quantify, understand and explain one of the largest biomass movements on Earth – the diel vertical migrations of zooplankton! Research group: Lars- Anders Hansson, Mikael Ekvall and Giuseppe Bianco. Collaborations with the nanometer structure consortium and Inst. of Biochemistry
The aim of our project is to advance our newly developed method of tracking small animals with nanoparticles from laboratory to (semi)natural scale. This will also allow us to simultaneously address how different species of zooplankton handle the everyday threats from predation and ultraviolet radiation. Hence, we have now the potential to quantify, understand and explain one of the largest biomass movements on Earth – the diel vertical migrations of zooplankton! Research group: Lars- Anders Hansson, Mikael Ekvall and Giuseppe Bianco. Collaborations with the nanometer structure consortium and Inst. of Biochemistry
Genetics
of Migratory Traits in a Long-Distance Migrant
The project aim is to deepen our understanding of the genetics of migration using morphology, fitness and pedigree information from our 29-year long study of great reed warblers (a long-distance migrant wintering in tropical Africa), and combine these data with a new much more marker-dense genome map to conduct QTL analyses with the aim to fine-map wing morphology and thus dissect the genetic architecture of an important migratory trait. Research group: Dennis Hasselquist, Maja Tarka and Bengt Hansson.
The project aim is to deepen our understanding of the genetics of migration using morphology, fitness and pedigree information from our 29-year long study of great reed warblers (a long-distance migrant wintering in tropical Africa), and combine these data with a new much more marker-dense genome map to conduct QTL analyses with the aim to fine-map wing morphology and thus dissect the genetic architecture of an important migratory trait. Research group: Dennis Hasselquist, Maja Tarka and Bengt Hansson.
Remote optical detection and identification of
nocturnal bird migrants – a mobile observatory
A mobile lab will be equipped with automated observatory based on the application of electro-optical detection of free-flying animals: based on the infrared iridescence phenomenon and detection of the microscopic geometrical arrangement of some of the smallest constituents of feathers represented by the barbules. Further fast sampling provide detailed wing beat waveforms and accurate time occurrences for animal interaction. The platform will initially be designed for long term automated passive monitoring of nocturnal bird migration. The methods include spectrally resolved infrared tracking and digital lunar obscuration, where the detailed waveforms are the basis for classification. The platform can in time be expanded to include other functions like LIDAR, fluorescence marking, and dark field spectroscopy. Research group: Susanne Åkesson, Mikkel Brydegaard and co-workers.
A mobile lab will be equipped with automated observatory based on the application of electro-optical detection of free-flying animals: based on the infrared iridescence phenomenon and detection of the microscopic geometrical arrangement of some of the smallest constituents of feathers represented by the barbules. Further fast sampling provide detailed wing beat waveforms and accurate time occurrences for animal interaction. The platform will initially be designed for long term automated passive monitoring of nocturnal bird migration. The methods include spectrally resolved infrared tracking and digital lunar obscuration, where the detailed waveforms are the basis for classification. The platform can in time be expanded to include other functions like LIDAR, fluorescence marking, and dark field spectroscopy. Research group: Susanne Åkesson, Mikkel Brydegaard and co-workers.
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