Lab

Software

NicheMapR biophysical modeling software

The biophysical modelling R package NicheMapR is a suite of programs for computing the heat, water and nutritional budgets of organisms. These include the microclimate, ectotherm and models originally developed by Warren Porter and colleagues at the University of Madison, Wisconsin, as well as a range of related programs including algorithms for Dynamic Energy Budget model simulations.

Hardware

Respirometry

We have a comprehensive set of respirometry tools, including:

Sable Systems:

  • FC-2 Differential Oxygen Analyzer (Oxzilla)
  • CA-10 Carbon Dioxide Analyzer
  • RH-300 Water Vapor Analyzer

Licor:

  • LI-610 Portable Dew Point Generator
  • LI-7000 CO2/H2O Analyser

 

Environmental control

We have a range of incubators, including one large Steridium cycling temperature & humidity-controlled chamber and 4 smaller temperature/light-controlled chambers.

We have large (3.8 x 5.5m area), custom built ‘weather room’ that can range in temperature from 5-40 °C and 20-80% relative humidity (as well as UV and fluorescent lighting and high wattage radiant heating) under any daily sequence.