Obiettivo This project is stimulated by the ever-increasing interest to Penguins, which are an important part of Antarctic ecosystem. At present their biology is one of the hottest problems of Antarctic investigations of international community.The main aim of the proposed study is to reach better understanding of evolutionary history and biology of Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua), which belong to one of the four penguin species breeding in Antarctica. The problem of regulation of population sizes is one of the key questions in penguins' studies. The 90% of avian species were, until recently, categorised as monogamous, but applying molecular genetic methods revealed that in many species social monogamy does not result in genetic monogamy. Genetic markers will allow deep insight into gene flow in a population and reconstruction of relationship between parental and offspring generations.The present proposal forms a part of investigations, that each participating country carries out on its traditional territories in Antarctica. The key scientific questions in evolutionary biology of Gentoo penguins will be addressed through an interdisciplinary approach by the development and refinement of hypotheses, field sampling and data collection, application of new molecular methods, data analysis and hypothesis testing.Thus, the key problems to be solved are the problems of analysis of genetic variability and genetic structure of populations, the level of genetic diversity, problems of adaptation to Antarctic environment, the problem of changing of genetic structure of populations under ecological impact. Due to the variety of problems and scientific approaches to their solving while the project is rather interdisciplinary; the total synergistic effect of simultaneous study of different indicators and parameters of variability of populations together is expected to have greater total effect than the sum of the individual studies.The main objectives of this project are:1. To evaluate the level of phenotypic and genotypic variability of penguins within and between colonies. Phenotypic variability will be described by selected morphological traits, while genetic variability (average polymorphism, heterozygosity and average number of alleles per locus, deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium) - with protein and DNA markers;2. To measure possible genotype-phenotype correlation and physiological and morphological differences between individuals with different genotypes;3. To characterise breeding biology (egg-laying dates, clutch success, size of breeding colonies, extra-pair paternity level) and its phenotypic and genotypic covariance;4. To investigate the genotype-dependent level of environmental impact on instability of genome and instability of individual development, with the rate of micronuclei and deviates of morphological traits (incl. fluctuating asymmetry) used as indicators.Seven teams of experts from Ukraine (National University of Kiev - V. Bezrukov ; Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, UAS - G. Telegeev and Ukrainian Antarctic Center - G. Milinevski), and from INTAS Bulgaria (Bulgarian Antarctic Institute - R.Metcheva Institute of Molecular Biology BAS - L. Karagyozov and Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy BAS - J. Stamenov) and Switzerland(Institute of Molecular Biology, Z. U. - O. Georgiev) will carry this research at the best possible professional level. Programma(i) IC-INTAS - International Association for the promotion of cooperation with scientists from the independent states of the former Soviet Union (INTAS), 1993- Argomento(i) 4 - Life Sciences OPEN - OPEN Call Invito a presentare proposte Data not available Meccanismo di finanziamento Data not available Coordinatore University of Zurich Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo Winterthurer Str. 190 8057 Zürich Svizzera Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato Partecipanti (6) Classifica in ordine alfabetico Classifica per Contributo UE Espandi tutto Riduci tutto Bulgarian Antarctic Institute Bulgaria Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo Tzar Osvoboditel 15 1000 Sofia Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy Bulgaria Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo Tzarigradsko chaussee Blvd., 72 1784 Sofia Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato Institute of Molecular Biology Bulgaria Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo Acad. G. Bontchev, bl.25 1113 Sofia Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Ucraina Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo 150 Zabolotny str. 03143 Kiev Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato Taras Shevchenko National University of Kiev Ucraina Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo Volodymyrska St, 64 01033 Kiev Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato Ukrainian Antarctic Center Ucraina Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo T Shevchenko Blvd., 16 01601 Kiev Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato
