The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $716,280 Project Grant under the Biological Sciences (CFDA 47.074) program to the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana. The grant funds a collaborative research project to investigate the potential impacts of climate change on the interactions between parasitic botfly larvae and high-elevation deer mice populations. The research aims to develop predictive models for how novel host-parasite dynamics may evolve under shifting environmental conditions, and to create educational resources on climate change impacts for middle school students. Key project activities include field physiology studies, demographic modeling, experimental manipulations, and genome sequencing across an elevational gradient. The grant period runs from September 15, 2023 to August 31, 2027. The findings from this research are expected to yield insights into how high-elevation species may respond to climate-driven changes in biotic interactions, and the project will produce curricular materials and informational videos to enhance public understanding of biodiversity impacts.
Generated 6/18/24, 5:06 AM