A5049394067- High Altitude and Hypoxia
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Neuroscience of respiration and sleep
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Travel-related health issues
- Ion channel regulation and function
- Ion Channels and Receptors
- Gender Diversity and Inequality
- Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
- Career Development and Diversity
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Aerospace Engineering and Energy Systems
- Diversity and Career in Medicine
- Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications
- Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology
- World Trade Organization Law
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Magnetic and Electromagnetic Effects
- Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Higher Education Research Studies
University of British Columbia
2014-2025
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
2023-2025
The University of Texas at Austin
2018-2024
University of Alaska Fairbanks
2024
University of Miami
2024
Louisiana State University
2024
Casper College
2024
McMaster University
2024
Houston Museum of Natural Science
2024
Max Planck Institute for Ornithology
2019
ABSTRACT The metabolic cost of breathing at rest has never been successfully measured in birds, but hypothesized to be higher than mammals a similar size because the rocking motion avian sternum being encumbered by pectoral flight muscles. To measure and work breathing, investigate whether species resident high altitude exhibit morphological or mechanical changes that alter we studied 11 waterfowl: five from altitudes (>3000 m) Perú, six low Oregon, USA. Birds were anesthetized...
High altitude flight in rarefied, extremely cold and hypoxic air is a very challenging activity. Only few species of birds can achieve it. Hitherto, the structure lungs such has not been studied. This because rarity challenges preparing well-fixed lung tissue. Here, it was posited that addition to now proven physiological adaptations, high flying will also have acquired pulmonary structural adaptations enable them obtain large amounts oxygen (O2) needed for at elevation, an environment where...
The cardiovascular system is critical for delivering O2 to tissues. Here we examine the responses progressive hypoxia in four high-altitude Andean duck species compared related low-altitude populations North America, tested at their native altitude. Ducks were exposed stepwise decreases inspired partial pressure of while monitored heart rate, consumption blood saturation, haematocrit (Hct), and haemoglobin concentration [Hb]. We calculated pulse (the product stroke volume arterial-venous...
Torrent ducks inhabit fast-flowing rivers in the Andes from sea level to altitudes up 4,500 m. We examined mitochondrial physiology that facilitates performance over this altitudinal cline by comparing respiratory capacities of permeabilized fibers, activities 16 key metabolic enzymes, and myoglobin content muscles between high- low-altitude populations species. Mitochondrial (assessed using substrates complexes I, II, and/or IV) were higher highland gastrocnemius muscle – primary used...
The bar-headed goose is famed for migratory flight at extreme altitude. To better understand the physiology underlying this remarkable behavior, we imprinted and trained geese, collecting first cardiorespiratory measurements of geese flying simulated altitude in a wind tunnel. Metabolic rate during increased 16-fold from rest, supported by an increase estimated amount O2 transported per heartbeat modest heart rate. appear to have ample cardiac reserves, as hypoxic flights was not higher than...
Abstract Animals rely on their sensory systems to inform them of ecologically relevant environmental variation. In the Southern Ocean, thermal environment has remained between −1.9 and 5 °C for 15 Myr, yet we have no knowledge how an Antarctic marine organism might sense habitat as discover a thermosensitive ion channel that gates (opens/closes) below 10 °C. Here, investigate evolutionary dynamics transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, which are primary thermosensors in animals, within...
TRPV1, a member of the transient receptor potential (TRP) family, is non-selective cation channel primarily known for its role in pain perception, inflammation, and thermosensation. In mammals, it responds to noxious heat (>43C) chemical stimuli such as capsaicin protons. It widely expressed sensory neurons, notably dorsal root trigeminal ganglia. However, also found some non-neuronal tissues, like skin bladder. The human canonical variant TRPV1 renders protein with 839 residues....
We examined the control of breathing and respiratory gas exchange in six species high-altitude ducks that independently colonized high Andes. compared from populations Peru (Lake Titicaca at ∼3800 m above sea level; Chancay River ∼3000-4100 m) to closely related or low altitude. Hypoxic ventilatory responses were measured shortly after capture native In general, responded acute hypoxia with robust increases total ventilation pulmonary O2 extraction. consumption rates maintained increased...
Hypoxia and cold temperatures create unique physiological challenges for high-altitude organisms that can vary depending on lifestyle. While nearly all studies of air-breathing animals at high altitude are from terrestrial species, species breath-hold dive underwater encounter a very different set selective pressures influencing their phenotype. The goal this publication is to highlight the changes in O2 transport utilization diving birds relative divers sea level, extent which these...
While academia is moving forward in terms of diversifying recruitment undergraduate and graduate students, diverse representation still not found across the academic hierarchy. At level, new discussions are emerging around efforts to improve experiences women underrepresented minorities through inclusive programming. Inclusive programs that which actively center prioritize support for experiences, identities, career goals, perspectives, from graduation. Establishing regular rigorous...
High-altitude bar-headed geese (Anser indicus) and Andean (Chloephaga melanoptera) have been shown to preferentially increase tidal volume over breathing frequency when increasing ventilation during exposure hypoxia. Increasing is a more effective strategy but also thought be mechanically metabolically expensive. We asked whether there might differences in the mechanics or morphology of respiratory systems high-altitude transient resident that could minimize cost deeply. compared these two...
Antarctic notothenioid fishes (cryonotothenioids) live in waters that range between -1.86°C and an extreme maximum +4°C. Evidence suggests these fish sense temperature peripherally, but the molecular mechanism of sensation unknown. Previous work identified transient receptor potential (TRP) channels TRPA1b, TRPM4 TRPV1a as top candidates for sensors. Here, cryonotothenioid TRPA1b are characterized using Xenopus oocyte electrophysiology. showed heat-evoked currents with Q10s 11.1 ± 2.2 20.5...
Hypoxia at high altitudes constrains O2 supply to support metabolism, thermoregulation in the cold, and exercise. High-altitude natives that somehow overcome this challenge—who live, reproduce, sometimes perform impressive feats of exercise altitudes—are a powerful group which study evolution physiological systems underlying hypoxia resistance. Here, we sought determine whether common pulse oximetry system for rodents (MouseOx Plus) can be used reliably studies high-altitude birds by...
Abstract We examined the morphology of lungs five species high‐altitude resident ducks from Lake Titicaca in Peruvian Andes (yellow‐billed pintail [ Anas georgica ], cinnamon teal cyanoptera orinomus puna speckled flavirostris oxyptera and ruddy duck Oxyura jamaicensis ferruginea ]) compared them with those migratory bar‐headed goose ( Anser indicus ) low‐altitude barnacle Branta leucopsis ). then determined relationship between mass‐specific lung volume, volume densities component parts...
Abstract Background Some dendrobatid poison frogs sequester the toxin epibatidine as a defense against predators. We previously identified an amino acid substitution (S108C) at highly conserved site in nicotinic acetylcholine receptor β2 subunit of that decreases sensitivity to brain-expressing α4β2 receptor. Introduction S108C orthologous high-sensitivity human similarly decreased but also acetylcholine, potential cost if this were occur dendrobatids. This decrease manifested biphasic...
Abstract Leaf cutting ants of the genus Atta cultivate fungal gardens, carefully modifying environmental conditions to maintain optimal temperature for growth. Antennal nerves from are highly sensitive, but underlying molecular sensor is unknown. Here, we utilize texana (Texas leaf cutter ant) investigate basis ant sensation and how it might have evolved as range expanded northeast across Texas ancestral populations in Mexico. We focus on transient receptor potential (TRP) channel genes,...
The bar‐headed goose ( Anser indicus ) undergoes a biannual migration over the Himalayas, sustaining aerobic flight above 6,000 meters. goal of our study was to collect cardiorespiratory and metabolic data during from geese flying in wind tunnel normoxia two levels hypoxia simulating altitude. In birds at rest, rate fell 26.6 ± 1.3 mL min ‐1 kg 10.0 0.9 10.7 4.8 normoxia, 10.5% O 2 7% respectively. It rose 209.8 5.2 but decreased 181.7 5.0 131.7 7.1 . We found no change heart across oxygen...
Previous work in this lab found that while both low and high‐altitude adapted species increase ventilation response to hypoxia, primarily tidal volume whereas low‐altitude breathing frequency. Thus, we hypothesized should have higher respiratory compliance when compared reduce the cost of deeper. We measured dynamic static total system five Andean ducks resident at Lake Titicaca, Peru them migratory barnacle goose (n蠅6 for all groups). Static was significantly than geese (1.8 ± 0.18 1.3...