Miss Caragh Heenan

Qualifications

Diploma of Applied Science (Animal Technology) at the Torrens Valley institute of TAFE, 2001-2002

Bachelor of Science at the University of Adelaide, 2003-2005

First class honours in Environmental Biology at the University of Adelaide, 2006

PhD in Environmental Biology at the University of Adelaide, 2005-present

Research Interests

I am currently doing my PhD in comparative physiology (supervised by Roger Seymour and David Paton) looking at the energetic cost of incubation for Australian birds. More specifically, some of my research involves measuring nest insulation and making comparisons on the insulative value of a nest between species, parent mass, nesting climate, etc. The influence of water content (rain effects) and wind speed on insulation will also be determined. A field component of my research involves measuring the metabolic rate of incubating and brooding Australian owlet-nightjars in the field to determine the energetic cost of reproduction. This is also done in captivity at the University of Adelaide using the Gouldian finch.

Publications

Heenan CB, Seymour RS (2011) Structural support, not insulation, is the primary driver for avian cup-shaped nest design. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 278, 2924-2929. (DOI 10.1098/rspb.2010.2798). Journal cover image by C. Heenan

Files

• Heenan & Seymour (2011), ESM - Proc.R.Soc.B-2011-Heenan-rspb.2010.2798-ESM.pdf [509.9K] (application/pdf)
• Heenan & Semour (2011) Paper - Proc.R.Soc.B-2011-Heenan-rspb.2010.2798.pdf [297.5K] (application/pdf)

Entry last updated: Wednesday, 21 Sep 2011