SOMA

Shearwaters' Olfaction: a comparative study of sensory ecology in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean

Coordinatore	CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE    more  Organization address address: Rue Michel -Ange 3 city: PARIS postcode: 75794 contact info Titolo: Mr. Nome: Jocelyn Cognome: Mere Email: send email Telefono: +33 4 67613535 Fax: +33 4 67043236
Nazionalità Coordinatore	France [FR]
Totale costo	185˙748 €
EC contributo	185˙748 €
Programma	FP7-PEOPLE Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)
Code Call	FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF
Funding Scheme	MC-IEF
Anno di inizio	2011
Periodo (anno-mese-giorno)	2011-11-01   -   2013-10-31

 Partecipanti

#	participant	country	role	EC contrib. [€]
1	CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE  Organization address address: Rue Michel -Ange 3 city: PARIS postcode: 75794 contact info Titolo: Mr. Nome: Jocelyn Cognome: Mere Email: send email Telefono: +33 4 67613535 Fax: +33 4 67043236	FR (PARIS)	coordinator	185˙748.00

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Petrels (order Procellariiformes) are seabirds found in worldwide oceans with a high diversity of species and characterized by pelagic and wide-ranging lifestyle. Some recent study showed that their well-developed sense of smell plays a key role in locating patchily distributed food resources in the ocean, in nest finding at night, and for mate recognition. However, different species of petrels tested responded differently to olfactory stimuli according to their ecology. This suggests that odours responsiveness may be linked to specific adaptations, but sensory ecology of petrels is understudied and comparative studies are virtually missing. We hypothesize that different environmental constraints in close seas and open oceans, may have led to rely differently on olfactory cues. Here, we propose a comprehensive comparative study aimed to investigate how olfaction contributes to behaviours such as homing, foraging, individual and predators’ odour recognition and migration routes, using Cory’s shearwaters as model species. We will try to identify the evolutionary adaptations to different environments, comparing sensory ecology of different populations of this species breeding in the Mediterranean Sea and in the Atlantic Ocean. We will also integrate ecological and behavioural data with chemical and phylogenetical analyses. The results of this study will be fundamental for the knowledge and conservation of this species. The Host institution is so far the only one in Europe dealing with olfaction and sensory ecology of seabirds. The proposed research, characterized by the promotion of international collaboration among different European Members, will bring the European Research Area in the forefront of olfactory and sensory ecology research, and to be a reference for the world research in this rising domain.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Researchers have found evidence to show that seabirds such as petrels use their sense of smell to find food patches, mates and their way home. However, little is known about how exactly this olfactory navigation works.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The EU-funded SOMA project set out to study the Cory's shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) to better understand how it responds to olfactory clues. The Cory's shearwater was chosen because of its widespread presence.

Researchers first tested the birds' ability to find food using a substance called dimethylsulphide (DMS), which is an airborne chemical associated with food-rich areas of the ocean. They found that in both laboratory and natural conditions, the birds were attracted to the smell of DMS.

In another experiment, researchers blocked the birds' sense of smell and tested whether they could return home at night. They found that the birds waited until daytime if their sense of smell was blocked, but could find their way home at night otherwise.

These two experiments have highlighted the important role of smell in the daily activities of petrels and other seabirds.