Project description
How ants survive the cold
In temperate and boreal climates, cold tolerance is vital for the survival of ectotherms like ants, which are key contributors to ecosystem services. Despite their ability to endure extreme cold, such as temperatures down to -40° C, the molecular mechanisms behind this adaptation remain poorly understood. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programme, the ChillAnts project sets out to fill this knowledge gap by investigating how evolutionary pressures have shaped cold-tolerance in ants. The project will examine boreal, temperate, and Mediterranean ant species to understand their cold-hardiness, genetic responses, and metabolomic reorganisation. This research promises to uncover novel cold-tolerance mechanisms, enhancing our understanding of how insects thrive in cold environments.
Objective
The acquisition of cold-tolerance is one of the most ecologically relevant processes for ectotherms inhabiting temperate and boreal climates. Given the fundamental importance of cold-adaptation in shaping ectothermic species’ distribution, much effort has been put into deciphering the physiological mechanisms constraining the plasticity of their cold-tolerance. However, we still know little about how evolutionary pressures have shaped cold-tolerance acquisition in some key and ecologically relevant models for colder-ecosystems such as ants. Ants are among the most represented and abundant insects in temperate and boreal climates, providing unprecedented amounts of ecosystem services by their sheer biomass. Some higher-latitude species further display the striking ability to survive prolonged exposure to temperatures of -40°C, yet, to this day we still lack a clear and comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms supporting this impressive feat. Considering this central gap in our knowledge, we propose here to explore the molecular-level mechanisms associated with the temporal acquisition of cold-tolerance in ants inside a consistent study system made of groups of boreal, temperate, and Mediterranean closely related species. Using this phylogenetic framework, we will (i) compare species’ potential for cold-hardiness and link cold-tolerance acquisition with the (ii) genetic response and (iii) metabolomic reorganization in models. Overall, this project proposes to explore important yet unanswered aspects of insect cryobiology that are located at the frontier of our current understanding of ecophysiology. It will explore the comparative physiology of cold-acclimation in boreal ants, allow for the potential discovery of novel cold-tolerance mechanisms in insects, and ultimately, feed data into our integrated understanding of how from gene to organisms, the acquisition of cold-tolerance has shaped the success of insect life in colder environments.
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.
This project has not yet been classified with EuroSciVoc.
Be the first one to suggest relevant scientific fields and help us improve our classification service
You need to log in or register to use this function
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.
-
HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
5000 Namur
Belgium
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.