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Lab's Projects
![DNA Barcoding has taken center-stage recently in helping to facilitate species identification; flag specimens that may represent new species; and provide insight into the evolutionary history of life on earth. The approach enables identifications where traditional methods are unrevealing; at the same time, encourage new technologies for DNA analysis which are faster, better, cheaper, and usable in field biology. Based on the little variation within species, and large distance between species in a 'marker', species can be identified. This has recieved wide spectrum of application in forensic science, and environmental monitoring. Limited capacities and facilities within tropical Africa lags the progress of work in this field especially in barcode libraries preparation and availability for species in the region. As part of the International Barcode of Life (iBOL) project, and collaboration with NHM Oslo, the aim is to generate barcode libraries for birds and their parasite in tropical Africa, and at the same time build capacity in this area.
[Principal Coordinator: Dr. Taiwo Crossby, EU & APLORI]
[Collaborators: Prof Jan Lifjeld, Norway]
[Funder: Fund seeking phase]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a49dff_2970563ae8fc4711b999d0bec3823b76~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_360,h_288,al_c,lg_1,q_85,enc_avif,quality_auto/Image-empty-state.png)
DNA Barcoding west African birds
DNA Barcoding has taken center-stage recently in helping to facilitate species identification; flag specimens that may represent new species; and provide insight into the evolutionary history of life on earth.
![Extreme variation exists in sperm morphology (sperm length and components) across the animal kingdom. In birds, most studies of sperm diversity originated from Northern Temperate regions, leaving us with doubt about the extent of sperm variation in Afrotropical avian species. Knowledge of avian sperm morphology and sperm competition is limited in tropical birds, thus needing paramount attention. This project focused on investigating the evolution of sperm morphology and sperm competition in birds from the African Continent using comparative analysis. The specific objectives are to determine variation within and between male variation in sperm morphology at the intra- and inter-specific level across birds; and determine levels of variation in sperm competition across the avian species and associated effects socio-ecological traits. This also extends to analysis of evolutionary rates in sperm morphology using evolutionary models.
[Principal Investigator: Dr. Taiwo Crossby, EU & APLORI]
[Collaborators: Prof. Jan T. Lifjeld, Norway; Prof. Ulf Ottosson, APLORI; Prof. Tomas Abrecht, Czechia]
[Funder: RCN, IFS, CSF]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a49dff_2225ec5aa7ab4940836457aca2a4e5f1~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_542,h_433,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Image-empty-state.png)
Evolution of sperm morphology and sperm competition in Afrotropical songbirds
Extreme variation exists in sperm morphology (sperm length and components) across the animal kingdom.
![Food resources are unevenly distributed in time and space, and at the same time season-bound (Oscillational-model). This compels most species to adjust food preference accordingly. Species migration and migration-driven food requirement may lead to food replacement and supplementation. As a consequent, diet composition may vary between seasons year-in and year-out, especially across the avian feeding guilds. We aim to investigate using metabarcoding pipeline, diet switches, supplementation and preference in the avian feeding guilds within the Afrotropical landscape.
[Principal Investigator: Dr. Taiwo Crossby, EU & APLORI]
[Collaborators: ]
[Funder: IFS]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a49dff_d3889131d9f94552971716fcda0e4976~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_542,h_433,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Image-empty-state.jpg)
Spatio-temporal preference and variation in diet of tropical birds
Food resources are unevenly distributed in time and space, and at the same time season-bound (Oscillational-model). This compels most species to adjust food preference accordingly.
![Few studies have shown the impact of pathogens on sperm ultra-structure. In birds, this understanding is limited including that of sexually transmitted diseases. It is not uncommon to observe physiological or anatomical deformity in sperm cells within an ejaculate but whether disease causing pathogens can jeopardize ability to produce normal and viable sperm cells and thus reduce individual fitness, is unclear. Specifically, avian malaria -vector-transmitted disease- is caused by protozoa (Genera: Plasmodium and Haemoproteus); host are infected vectors (mosquitoes-Culicidae, biting midges-Ceratopogonidae, and louse flies obtain blood meals from host. Through an interdisciplinary collaborative approach, we investigate the relationship between haemosporidian infection, host immunity and gross sperm morphology. The objectives are to assess factors influencing exposure of bird species to malaria infection, and evaluate the immuno-responses of birds to avian malaria infection, and determine the sperm quality of avian malaria infected in comparison to non-infected.
[Principal Investigator: Taiwo Crossby, EU & APLORI]
[Collaborators: Tsomafo Constance, Ghana; Leonce Kouakanou, Benin; and Dr. Jesca Nakayima, Uganda]
[Funder: IFS, NHM]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a49dff_b5be8d0138434cc6bad4006f59b3d57c~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_542,h_433,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Image-empty-state.png)
The interaction between avian malaria, immunity and gross sperm morphology
Few studies have shown the impact of pathogens on sperm ultra-structure. In birds, this understanding is limited including that of sexually transmitted diseases especially in the Afrotropical regions
![There are concern for the well-being and survival of many species due to human-induced environmental changes which have negatively affected most biological systems. These effects cut-across local adaptation of populations, genotoxicity, and decreased reproductive parameters and other impairments that directly reduce survival and fitness of species. Adaptations and differential responses of local populations of species to various environmental challenges (factors or stressors) can reflect population genetic structure. Also, among environmental stressors, environmental pollutants derived from disposal of hazardous wastes or persistent use of pesticides in agricultural activities are of deleterious consequences, due to the inadvertent introduction of persistent organic pollutants (POPs)(organochlorine, pyrethroid), heavy metals, antibiotic or antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) into the ecosystem. The bioaccumulation of these compounds in living organisms are implicated in high mortality and reproductive failure. Also, sperm is a good trait to study in order to document the effect of environmental changes on fertility and health status of animals. This research project adopts the Village weaver Ploceus cucullatus as model for environmental assessment and monitoring as well as address questions in ecology, population genetic structure, pollutants distribution, microbial diversity and sperm attributes
[Principal Investigator: Dr. Taiwo Crossby, EU & APLORI]
[Collaborating organisation: SERG-NHM, IVB-CAS, AfricaBP]
[Funder: Fund seeking]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a49dff_2746589f21414c1888b161f15f435995~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_542,h_433,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Image-empty-state.jpg)
Village weaver: a surrogate for understanding population genetics, pollutants distribution, microbial diversity and sperm behaviour in Afrotropical environment
Human-induced environmental changes have negatively affected most biological systems. These effects cut-across local adaptation of populations, genotoxicity, and decreased reproductive parameters and other impairments that directly reduce survival and fitness of species.
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