PROJECT SUMMARY
This project aims to investigate the interplay between pigmentation, thermoregulation, and immune function in ectothermic organisms, specifically the multi-coloured Asian lady beetle. The objectives include i) synthesizing existing knowledge of the plasticity of melanisation in insects, ii) determining the drivers of melanisation using field populations, and iii) testing the thermal melanism and temperature-dependent immune hypotheses using controlled laboratory experiments. The impact of this research lies in its potential to enhance our understanding of adaptive mechanisms of insects to changing temperature, and showcase the need to integrate computer vision, field, and experimental approaches to reach this goal.
PROJECT LEADER
Susana Clusella-Trullas
AFFILIATION
Department of Botany and Zoology
LINKS
DURATION
2023 – 2026
