In situ and ex situ analysis of altitude and diving responses in three different populations of Nannopterum brasilianus

• Grant number: 24/20271-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Compared Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Luciane Helena Gargaglioni Batalhão
• Grantee: Luciane Helena Gargaglioni Batalhão
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Graham Robert Scott

Abstract

High-altitude environments pose significant physiological challenges for bird species, marked by hypobaric hypoxia, cold temperatures, and elevated ultraviolet radiation. The main adaptations include modifications in the oxygen transport cascade, thermoregulation, and metabolic rates. This study aims to explore the physiological and behavioral adaptations of three different populations of the Neotropic Cormorant, Nannopterum brasilianus, at different altitudes. Also, the effect of hypoxia on diving capacity will be evaluated. To achieve this, this study will employ biologgers for in situ observations across the populations, gathering data on migratory patterns, behavior, metabolic rates, and thermoregulatory responses. Ex situ protocols will further investigate the impacts of hypoxic conditions on diving physiology, measuring arterial blood pressure, heart rate, blood gases, and cellular respiration. This research will enhance the understanding of N. brasilianus' ecophysiology, contributing to raise valuable insights for conservation strategies and assisting the prediction of evolutionary traits that thrive at high altitude environments. (AU)