Objective
Sensory ecology, bird olfaction and emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are unexplored fields of research. However, recent studies provided evidence that olfaction plays a fundamental role in the avian ecology, especially in hypogean petrels. Petrels are known to return to the same nest with the same partner in the same colony each year. Latest investigations strongly suggest that the birds use at least olfactory cues in nest and partner recognition with emission of specific and complex chemical signatures, reliably genetically controlled. Research on avian chemical communication has mainly focused on uropygial gland secretions and feather lipids. While, the ultimate carrier of these secretions is the plumage and the characteristic musky scent of petrels emanates only from it. Surprisingly, no study to date has focused on this scent. The proposed project aims to characterize composition and identity of VOCs emanating from plumage and nests both chemically and behaviourally and to assess presence and extent of genetic control of such scent signatures. Thus, samples of plumage and nests and VOCs will be collected from breeding birds in the Kerguelen Islands, Southern Indian Ocean. VOCs will be analysed using gas chromatography - mass spectrometry and resulting profiles evaluated using multivariate statistical and modeling methods. Subsequent behavioural assays using artificially reconstructed scents based on the evaluation will gain further insight into active molecules and their function. Cross-fostering experiments will allow discrimination of environmental and genetic compounds of individual scents. This project will provide novel findings and methodological framework with a much-needed template for future investigations into the chemical communication system and chemical ecology of petrels, birds and vertebrates in general and help to establish the role of olfaction in birds and its implications in conservation e.g. future effects of global change.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology ornithology
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry volatile organic compounds
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules lipids
- natural sciences chemical sciences analytical chemistry mass spectrometry
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
CF10 3AT CARDIFF
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.