Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Mechanisms of K stable isotope fractionation in vertebrates and significance to their energy metabolism

Objective

The reconstruction of physiological and ecological traits of extinct organisms is crucial for apprehending the dynamics of the evolution of species and ecosystems as well as the origins of modern biodiversity. The recent advent of the use of natural stable isotopes of bioessential metals is principally related to the democratization of multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers (MC-ICP-MS). These isotope systems (Mg, Ca, Cu, Fe or Zn) opened up unprecedented perspectives for the study of their cycling in past and present vertebrate organisms and turned out to be precious assets for the unraveling of otherwise inaccessible biological features of fossil organisms, being ecological, behavioral or physiological characteristics.
Potassium (K) is a bioessential metal in all vertebrates, where its cycling intensity is notably dependent on their metabolic rates, the later varying itself with thermophysiology from a phylogenetic class to another or with body mass within a given class. Due to its crucial biological functions as well as the observed significant effects of biological processes on its isotope ratios, K isotopes constitute a highly promising novel isotope system for the study of vertebrate metabolism. However, the K stable isotope compositions of vertebrate tissues are currently fairly unexplored, notably due to major technical hindrances, inherent to the existing mass spectrometry technologies. This project aims first to develop a reliable method of K stable isotope analysis using the state-of-the-art “Proteus” prototype MC-ICP-MS implemented with the collision-reaction cell technology and developed by Tim Elliott group and Thermo Fisher®. This method will then be used for analysis of tissues from vertebrates of various classes reared in controlled conditions. This will allow identifying the main mechanisms driving the isotope compositions of vertebrate tissues and assess their potential for the study of vertebrates energy metabolism.

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.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Programme(s)

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.

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.

MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2017

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL
Net EU contribution

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.

€ 183 454,80
Address
BEACON HOUSE QUEENS ROAD
BS8 1QU BRISTOL
United Kingdom

See on map

Region
South West (England) Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area Bristol, City of
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

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.

€ 183 454,80
My booklet 0 0