The Powers lab has purchased a FLIR SC6700 infrared (IR) camera. The camera is the first piece of equipment purchased with NASA-grant funding. The SC6700 is a high-speed
high-resolution camera built using the best technology available. For the NASA project the SC6700 will be used to track nighttime changes in body-surface temperature to monitor frequency and duration of torpor use. The lab also plans to use the SC6700 this spring to study body-temperature effects on female attractiveness in red-sided garter snakes.
The lab was first introduced to IR cameras two years ago during our work with Dr. Bret Tobalske at the University of Montana. Over the past two years the lab has conducted a study in which we examined heat dissipation during hovering and forward flight in hummingbirds (see image below). The bulk of these data were gathered as part of Kyle Maki’s project.
