research studies » current studies
In 2008, Morris Animal Foundation will fund nearly 200 new and continuing studies for dogs, cats, horses, llamas/alpacas, and wildlife as well as more than 40 veterinary student projects.
We also have numerous studies nearing completion. You can search our current study database by species and/or disease to learn more about the studies we are funding in the areas you care most about. The results will also show you whether a study is available for sponsorship.
Category
D07ZO-629: Seasonal Variation of Fecal Corticosterone Concentrations in Wisconsin Sandhill Cranes (Grus Canadensis)
principal investigator: Julia N. Letoutchaia, Veterinary Student Scholar, Michigan State University
needs sponsorship
Year: 1 of 1. $3,000
When a person or animal is stressed, the adrenal gland releases a hormone called corticosterone. This hormone is useful as an indicator of stress levels in birds. In this study, the student will collect fecal samples from wild sandhill cranes and measure their levels of corticosterone. A population of non-migratory, non-breeding birds will be tested in the summer and a population of migratory birds will be tested in the fall. The goal is to collect reference data that can be used in the future to track changes in stress levels of wild cranes. Many crane species are endangered so knowing when a population is stressed is useful in identifying threats to the species, such as predation or habitat change.
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