Physiological effects of extreme hot weather on animals’ metabolism, development, body size and cell lifespan

本项目旨在确定极端炎热天气对动物代谢、发育、体型和细胞寿命的生理影响。动物的体型与纬度呈负相关；在炎热的气候中，个体相对较小。该项目将测试在发育过程中热量的不利影响会限制体型的想法。该项目将利用生理学、内分泌学、行为学和细胞生物学，并在一个温度控制的实验室里研究澳大利亚气候下的鸟类。该项目的成果将深入了解物种对气候变化脆弱性的区域差异，并为生物多样性管理提供信息。

This project aims to determine the physiological effects of extreme hot weather on animals’ metabolism, development, body size and cell lifespan. Body size in animals is negatively related to latitude; individuals are relatively small in hot climates. The project will test the idea that the adverse effects of heat during development constrain body size. The project will draw on physiology, endocrinology, behaviour and cell biology and study birds across Australian climates and in a temperature-controlled laboratory. The outcomes of the project will provide insight into regional variation in species vulnerabilities to climate variation and inform biodiversity management.