Descripción del proyecto
Una nueva forma de evaluar la condición fisiológica en animales silvestres
El estudio de la eficacia biológica —la capacidad de un organismo para sobrevivir y reproducirse— es fundamental para la biología evolutiva y la ecología de la conservación. La realización de mediciones termográficas de la superficie corporal ha sido propuesta como un medio no invasivo para examinar cómo se ajustan dinámicamente los procesos fisiológicos en animales silvestres para maximizar su eficacia biológica en respuesta a la variación ambiental. El objetivo del proyecto financiado con fondos europeos THERMALIMAGING STATE es desarrollar la termografía como una herramienta nueva y potente para mejorar la comprensión de los vínculos entre la condición individual y la eficacia biológica en entornos naturales. Esta nueva técnica será validada en los Estados Unidos y, a continuación, se probará sobre el terreno en la Unión Europea gracias a la experiencia de ecofisiólogos de prestigio internacional de la Universidad de Groninga y el Instituto Max Planck de Ornitología.
Objetivo
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.
Ámbito científico
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinador
9712CP Groningen
Países Bajos