Page 125 - AWSAR 2.0

increase in body mass. This repository of fat tissue provides the necessary energy to all the birds during the long and exhaustive journey. Naturally, we were interested in looking into how the body mass gain could
be affected by a global rise
in temperature by exposing
them to either low- or high-
temperature regime. In this
case, we found that the birds
gained more body mass at a
low temperature than at a high
temperature. Initially, this was
surprising as we predicted that
the phenologies associated with
migration (such as body mass
gain and fat accumulation)
would be exaggerated at a high
temperature as was the case in testis size, but the molecular pathway controlling reproduction and metabolism is very different. Hence, we performed gene expression assays of multiple metabolic genes, and it revealed that at a high temperature the birds started using their stored fat and thus fat accumulation reduced, ultimately resulting in a significantly lower body
Mr. Sayantan Sur || 101
weight gain. The gene foxo1, which is involved in gluconeogenesis, was upregulated in the liver at a high temperature; it may play a major role in regulating the overall metabolism.
These two studies, for the first time, have provided a piece of conclusive evidence at the gene expression level of how temperature affected avian metabolism and reproduction. It is of utmost importance to understand the molecular details of how climate change affects the plant and animal kingdoms so that we can use that information for the conservation of flora and fauna. A century of denial
has led us to this day where we are witnessing the disastrous effects of global warming throughout the planet on a daily basis; let us amend that by using proper scientific knowledge and compassion toward our home. Let us understand how much a degree change in the global temperature accounts for.
The study aimed at looking into whether temperature affected the basic physiology of the birds and, if so, how they sensed the changes in the ambient temperature.