Environmental Chambers for Insect Circadian Studies

环境光和温度的日常变化对大多数生物体的行为产生了深远的影响。它们直接影响基因表达、生化反应、生理、社会相互作用和生态系统的关键方面，如捕食者-猎物相互作用和食物供应。鉴于这些因素的广泛影响，在生物实验期间控制环境变量至关重要。PI，Levine博士，已经获得了NSERC的资助，用于研究一天中的时间、光线、温度和湿度对果蝇群体的影响。此外，整个UTM昆虫小组，来自Levine部门的另外6个合作PI，每个都有自己的实验室，将受益于一个专门的实验空间，控制昼夜光温变化。昆虫小组在给定的资金期限内包括200多名受训人员，这些人和PI一样，都是这项提议的受益者。这些精确控制的实验环境将允许每个实验室进行新颖的研究，同时促进实验室之间的合作。此外，拟议中的空间将增加UTM实验的严格性，因为目前的基础设施缺乏这些重要的控制。这个昆虫群由实验室组成，研究果蝇、蟋蟀、蝗虫、蜘蛛和长尾罗得尼克的行为、神经生理学、发育、生物钟的分子机制、摄食、神经内分泌功能和交配系统的进化。我们要求资金来安装两个单元。每个单元都有独立的不透光的房间，相差12小时，因此在不同的光周期和热周期条件下，一天24小时的采样可以在12小时内进行。如果得到资助，该大学已经承诺提供充足的资金来准备安装空间。

Daily changes in ambient light and temperature exert a profound influence on the behaviour of most organisms. They directly affect gene expression, biochemical reactions, physiology, social interactions and key aspects of the ecosystem such as predator-prey interactions and food availability. Given the sweeping effects of these factors, it is crucial to control environmental variables during biological experiments. The PI, Dr. Levine, has already obtained NSERC funding for studies that investigate effects of time of day, light, temperature, and humidity on groups of Drosophila. Moreover, the entire UTM insect group, 6 additional co-PIs from Levine's department, each with their own laboratory, would benefit from a dedicated experimental space that controls circadian changes in light and temperature. The insect group includes over 200 trainees within a given funding period and these, as much as the PIs, are the beneficiaries of this proposal. These precisely controlled experimental environments will allow novel studies for each lab while facilitating collaborations between labs. Moreover, the proposed space would add rigor to experiments at UTM because current infrastructure lacks these important controls. This insect group consists of labs that study behaviour, neurophysiology, development, molecular mechanisms of circadian clocks, feeding, neuroendocrine function, and the evolution of mating systems in fruitflies, crickets, locusts, spiders and Rhodnius prolixus. We are asking for funds to install two units. Each unit contains independent light-tight rooms that are 12 hours out of phase so that sampling throughout the 24 hour day can occur within 12 hours under a variety of photoperiodic and thermoperiodic regimes. If funded, the university has committed ample funds to prepare the space for installation.