The ecology of metabolic phenotypes: from cells to populations

Researcher(s):   Prof. Neil B. Metcalfe

Department:  Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, MVLS

Institution:  University of Glasgow

Brief Description:

Metabolic rate is a fundamental life history trait, but one that shows remarkable intra-specific variation: some individuals consistently have 2-3 times the maintenance costs of conspecifics the same size, age and sex. The predicted consequences of this variation are central to our understanding of optimal life history strategies and resource allocation trade-offs, yet attempts to link variation in metabolic rate to fitness have yielded very inconsistent results. This project aims to explain this variation by relating mitochondrial function to resting and maximal metabolic rates, and with rates of protein turnover and oxidative damage accumulation. The work at SCENE will explore whether different microhabitats favour specific combinations of metabolic traits, leading to spatial and temporal structuring of metabolic phenotypes within and across populations. It will use both stream tanks and new experimental ponds to test the performance of fish of differing metabolic rate in a range of environmental conditions. The work will reveal how metabolic physiology is a key determinant of the ability of organisms to cope with variable environments, so explaining the persistence of variation in physiological traits and increasing our understanding of the likely consequences for organisms of environmental change.

Funding Source(s):  European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant

Project Status:  Starts May 2013

Start Date: 1 May 2013

End Date:  30 April 2018

Prof Neil Metcalfe's Research Profile Page