Seminar

9:30-10:30am | Slatyer Seminar Room (second floor)

Energy metabolism controls the amount of energy uptake from the environment and the relative allocation of this energy to life-history traits. The efficacy with which mitochondria execute this energy transfer can be a major determinant of organismal performance. Variation in the rates of oxygen use and ATP production, and the amount of ATP generated per unit of oxygen consumed by the mitochondrion, among others, contribute to variation in mitochondrial performance, and in turn, animal performance. Studies across a wide range of taxa have shown that mitochondrial oxidative and phosphorylative abilities explain intraspecific variation in performance such feeding capacity, physical performance, developmental rate, growth efficiency, and reproductive investment.

Workshop

Intro to workshop talk | 10:45-11:30am | Slatyer Seminar Room (second floor)

Lab 'how to' | 1:00-3:00pm | Genetics Lab (second floor)

Karine’s research talk will be followed an introductory talk and, after lunch, a hands-on workshop to demonstrate how measurements of mitochondrial function are done.

Detailing aspects of machine calibration, tissue preparation, along with various experimental approaches for probing the inner workings of mitochondria, the workshop will be organized into two parts:

1. Mitochondrial consequences for animal performance; and
2. Mitochondrial responses to environmental variation.

If you would like to attend the afternoon training session, please get in touch with Daniel Noble (daniel.noble@anu.edu.au).

About Karine 

I am research scientist at IFREMER (“Institut Français de Recherche pour l’Exploitation de la Mer” – French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea), France. As ecophysiologist my research interests span on integrative approaches from molecules to the whole-organism to investigate how physiological mechanisms underlie life-history trajectories in animals. Specifically, I am examining whether energy metabolism and oxidative stress are proximate causes of life history variation and underlie trade-offs. I also focus on the importance of mitochondrial plasticity in responses to environmental change. My research is pushing the boundary of ecophysiological research by combining multidisciplinary cutting-edge approaches and technological breakthroughs.