Springtail SEM
[photo: B. Sinclair & M. Downes]
For further information about Dr. Sinclair and his research, please visit his website
Dr. Brent Sinclair
Insects at Low Temperatures
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Position: Assistant Professor Office: BGS 2078 Phone: 519-661-2111 ext. 83138 Email: bsincla7@uwo.ca |
Education:
- PhD 2001, University of Otago, New Zealand
- Postdoc, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Postdoc, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Research Interests:
The theme of my research is the biology of arthropods in cold environments, and my research programme actively addresses questions within this theme at scales from molecular biology to macroecology. Because of this broad focus, my laboratory does not specialise in any one or set of techniques, but rather we choose questions, apply techniques where we can, and seek collaborations where required.
The research in my lab falls under five main themes:
Functional Genomics of Cold tolerance
We examine gene expression in relation to cold tolerance in model and non-model organisms to identify candidate genes associated with cold tolerance in insects. Current projects include microarray analysis of responses to cold in Drosophila melanogaster and genes associated with cold tolerance in New Zealand alpine stick insects.
Mechanisms of cold tolerance in insects
We are fascinated with insects that can survive internal ice formation, and investigate this with a range of techniques, including synchrotron x-rays. We are also interested in the mechanisms underlying chill coma in insects, focussing currently on ion-motive ATPases.
Metabolism and gas exchange in insects
Flow-through respirometry is one of the tools we use in the lab, and we like to use this tool to understand insect metabolic responses to low temperatures. We can also use this technique to measure water loss, and we consequently have a side interest in desiccation tolerance of insects.
Ecological consequences of overwintering physiology
We are interested in how energy use and cold exposure over winter affect insect performance. Current projects include building a model of Emerald Ash Borer potential distribution based on cold tolerance; measuring energy consumption overwinter in response to variable climates and the impact of repeated cold exposure on survival and fitness of a range of species.
Evolution of cold tolerance strategies in insects
Little is known about the factors that lead to freezing survival in insects. We have been using multiple Drosophila species as a way to examine cold tolerance in an evolutionary context.
Selected recent publications
Williams, C.M., Pelini, S.L., Hellmann, J.J. & Sinclair, B.J. (in press) Intra-individual variation allows an explicit test of the hygric hypothesis for discontinuous gas exchange in insects. Biology Letters.
Sinclair, B.J. & Renault, D. (in press) Intracellular ice formation in insects: Unresolved after 50 years? Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A.
Pelini, S.L., Dzurisin, J.D.K., Prior, K.M., Williams, C.M., Marsico, T.D., Sinclair, B.J. & Hellmann, J.J. (2009) Translocation experiments with butterflies reveal limits to enhancement of poleward populations under climate change. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences106: 11160-11165.
MacMillan, H.A., Guglielmo, G.G. & Sinclair, B.J. (2009) Membrane remodeling and glucose in Drosophila melanogaster: A test of rapid cold-hardening and chilling tolerance hypotheses. Journal of Insect Physiology 55: 243-249.
Rajamohan, A. & Sinclair, B.J. (2008) Short term hardening effects on survival of acute and chronic cold exposure by Drosophila melanogaster larvae. Journal of Insect Physiology54: 708-718.
Sinclair, B.J., Gibbs, A.G. & Roberts, S.P. (2007) Gene transcription during exposure to, and recovery from, cold and desiccation stress in Drosophila melanogaster . Insect Molecular Biology 16 : 435-443.
