Project description DEENESFRITPL A new way to assess physiological state in wild animals Fitness – the ability of an organism to survive and reproduce – is central to evolutionary biology and conservation ecology. Thermal imaging of body surface temperature has been proposed as a non-invasive means to examine how physiological processes in wild animals are dynamically adjusted to maximise fitness in response to environmental variation. The aim of the EU-funded THERMALIMAGING STATE project is to develop thermal imaging as a powerful new tool to advance our understanding of the links between individual state and fitness in natural environments. This novel technique will be validated in the US and then field-trialled in the EU, guided by the expertise of internationally recognised ecophysiologists at the University of Groningen and the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Understanding variation in ability to survive and pass on genes (fitness) is central to evolutionary biology and conservation ecology. Fitness differences are largely explained by physiological state, as physiological processes are dynamically adjusted to maximise fitness in response to environmental variation. However, assessing physiological state in wild animals is usually invasive, requiring trapping and handling. As well as raising ethical concerns, such techniques interrupt natural behaviour, can cause bias toward trappable individuals, and may alter subsequent performance. Welfare limits on repeated invasive sampling also restrict tracking of responses over time. Previously, I provided proof of concept for an innovative alternative approach to overcome these issues – non-invasive thermal imaging of body surface temperature. I showed body surface temperature reflects two physiological processes highly relevant to fitness – acute stress and maintenance of energy reserves. But, the mechanisms underlying these relationships remain unclear, calling for rigorous experimental exploration to build the foundations needed for this method to be applied in research and conservation. Hence, the aim of this proposal is to develop thermal imaging as a powerful new tool to advance understanding of the links between individual state and fitness in natural environments. An initial visit to the world leading wild-vertebrate stress lab (Tufts University, US) will be used to perform detailed physiological validations in captivity. Methods established in the US will then be field-trialled in the EU, guided by the expertise of internationally recognised ecophysiologists at the University of Groningen and Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, ensuring in-depth synthesis of results. Combined, this work will place me at the forefront of the exciting, transformative use of thermal imaging as a novel tool for studying how wild animals cope with changing environments. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological scienceszoologyornithologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesevolutionary biology Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2019 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2019 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-GF - Global Fellowships Coordinator RIJKSUNIVERSITEIT GRONINGEN Net EU contribution € 253 052,16 Address Broerstraat 5 9712CP Groningen Netherlands See on map Region Noord-Nederland Groningen Overig Groningen Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 Partners (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all Partner Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement. TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE NON PROFIT CORPORATION United States Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address Professors row 20 169 02155 Medford ma See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 165 265,92
