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They looked at gene construction in pigeons that were and were not producing crop milk, and compared them to chickens ‘ DNA. ( Chickens, thank good, do not lactate or we ‘d all be drinking “ milken ” already. ) They found that the wet pigeons had over-expression of genes involved with immune response and antioxidant production – no surprise there. They besides found genes involved in the production of triglycerides. These fats are stored energy, from any excess calories consumed during a meal, and mobilize in small levels in the blood pour. They are produced by the liver, which suggests that the pigeon ‘s liver helps the lactation serve. Knowing the genes involved may make scientists able to control the product of crop milk in birds. What they do with that can merely be the stuff of nightmares. And, possibly, school lunches.
Read more : A Baltimore Oriole Who Didn’t Migrate
trope : Arnstein Ronning Via BioMed Central .
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.