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Tyler Sanders
Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Materials Science
Missouri State University
Advisor: Dr. Day Ligon
Abstract
Global warming is expected to increase stochasticity and geographical distributions of climate patterns. The extent to which a particular species will be affected by climate change is, in part, dependent upon individuals' ability to physiologically or behaviorally compensate for environmental change. Species which hibernate during the winter months may be particularly susceptible to reductions in range due to the fact that they do not migrate to warmer areas, which would allow for greater behavioral flexibility to cope with changes in climate. For ectothermic hibernating species that rely on low temperatures to regulate a low metabolic rate during winter, climate change can potentially have dramatic detrimental effects. Therefore, physiological plasticity in ectotherms such as reptiles becomes vitally important to their survival in winter months in the face of increasing temperatures. The degree to which hibernating yellow mud turtles (Kinosternon flavescens) may be affected by warming winter temperatures are assessed in this study. To determine the physiological capacity to tolerate variable winter conditions blood chemistry profiles among treatments and populations were compared throughout a six-month simulated hibernation, as well as metabolic rates at varying temperatures.
Ty Sanders is currently pursuing a master's degree in biology from Missouri State University in Springfield. Ty graduated from Clinton High School in 2005 and received his bachelor's degree in Wildlife Biology from MSU in 2009. This is his third semester as a NASA intern through the MOSGC and he plans to graduate May 2011
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