Project description
Testing the hearing of elasmobranch fish
Sharks, skates and sawfish are all cartilaginous fish among the more than 1 000 species in the elasmobranch subclass. And like most fish, they possess highly developed sense organs. The EU-funded FISHEARS project will focus on their hearing: through novel bioimaging and computational tools, the project will investigate the elasmobranch fish ears. High-resolution 3D models of the inner ears will be developed using diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced computed tomography (diceCT). To understand the biomechanics of the fish ear’s structure, the project will create a digital replica. FISHEARS will also develop a statistical framework to incorporate factors that may shape the hearing system. The project will apply a machine learning algorithm to infer patterns and relationships between factors.
Objective
One of the predominant riddles of sensory biology is the diversity in fish auditory systems. It is widely
accepted that fishes are well adapted to utilising underwater sounds as sensory cues in key life-history
events. However, the functional significance and the driving force leading to the differences in fish
inner ear sizes and structures are unknown. A complex interplay of physical, evolutionary, functional
and ecological factors may shape the different elements: a multiscale environment too complicated
for human conceptualisation. I propose to address this question by applying novel bioimaging and
computational tools to investigate elasmobranch fish ears. Firstly, diffusible iodine-based contrast enhanced
computed tomography (diceCT) will be used, co-registered with MRI data, to build 3D high
resolution models of the inner ears. Secondly, a Finite Element (FE) model will be created to digitally
replicate a fish ear and understand the biomechanics of its structure. Finally, a statistical framework
will be developed to incorporate the factors that may shape the hearing system of elasmobranch
fishes, including the collected data, together with the available physiological, ecological and
biogeographical information on each species, as well as species’ acoustic environmental parameters. A
Machine Learning algorithm will be applied to infer patterns and relationships between the factors, to
perform both cluster and prediction analyses. Thus, a reliable model will be developed, which can
predict the hearing capability of any elasmobranch species based on the ear morphology and the first
evidence of the function of fish ear diversity.
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: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
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.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
BS8 1QU BRISTOL
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.