The role of biological clocks in regulating migratory conditions

Erica Stuber, Penn State

April 1, 2010 @ 01:20 pm to 02:10 pm

10 Tyson Building

Many bird species undergo high-stress semiannual migrations to and from their breeding grounds to survive winter food scarcity and return to compete for access to mates. Biological clocks play an important role in initiating and regulating pre-migratory physiological changes, migratory behaviors, duration, and direction of migratory events. The mechanisms and pathways of biological clocks are relatively unknown although their effects on physiology and behavior are readily observable. Certain "clock genes", hormones, neurotransmitters, and anatomical structures have been identified as being important to the timekeeping system, but how environmental information is collected and translated to synchronize the system is not yet fully understood. I will be investigating the existence and function of separate clocks that regulate pre-migratory events such as fat-deposition and migratory behaviors including the inversion of locomotor activity from typically day-active to nocturnally active during migratory periods.

Contact

Kristen Granger
klg297@psu.edu