Thermoregulation in animals can be achieved physiologically and behaviourally. Alpine birds can obtain significant radiation benefits from the sun and to help conserve heat they adjust their behaviours such as perching. The aim of this study was to explore the preferences of alpine birds for temperature and illumination of perching sites. We measured the temperature and light intensity of both potential sites and actual sites where birds perched, and compared the distributions of temperature and illumination of these on cold and warm days among species. Results showed a non-random selection of temperatures on cold days and a slightly higher light preference on warm days. Among species, only the little raven (Corvus mellori) showed a preference for warmer and lighter perching sites, while other species either showed no predilection or perched in warmer places due to other factors of habitat selection. When perching, behaviours like sitting (hiding feet) and puffing were more frequent on cold days and no birds chose a shady site when the temperature was low. The influence of predation may explain the random selection of perch site in most birds. Finally, the results indicate that alpine birds may be more favoured by the warming of the alpine region.

Measuring metabolic rate is important to understand energy acquisition, transfer and expenditure within an organism. Mass specific metabolic rate is also known as metabolic intensity. The metabolic intensities of Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii and Eulamprus quoyii were measured within a closed system through the amount of oxygen depleted when at rest. There was found to be a negative correlation between the mass of the skink and the metabolic intensity, or the oxygen consumption per hour. The average mass of P. entrecasteauxii was found to be lower than E. quoyii, and P. entrecasteauxii was found to have a lower metabolic intensity than E. quoyii, which follows Kleiber's law. The difference in metabolic intensity may be influenced by the climate of the microhabitats that the skinks live in.

The processes of photosynthesis and respiration in plants are largely responsible for levels of atmospheric CO 2 globally. Predicting future output and uptake of carbon by plants is therefore crucial for developing accurate climate change models. The effect of temperature acclimation on photosynthesis and respiration rates in plants is currently not considered in global carbon models. Therefore, current terrestrial carbon models may be overestimating carbon release from plants as acclimation to higher growth temperatures in many species leads to a fall in respiration and an increase in the temperature at which photosynthesis is optimised. In this study, the ability of photosynthesis and respiration in snow gums (Eucalyptus pauciflora) to acclimate was tested. Leaf samples were taken from trees at four different elevations, and rates of photosynthesis and respiration were measured at 25°C using a licor 6400 Gas Exchange System. Temperatures of each collection site (growth temperatures) were measured hourly over three days using temperature and humidity data loggers (ibuttons). Results were analysed by comparing growth temperature of the samples to the rate of respiration and photosynthesis at 25°C. Lower temperatures correlated to low rates of photosynthesis and higher rates of respiration, when measured at the common temperature of 25°C. These results indicate that respiration and photosynthesis in snow gums does acclimate to ambient temperature, and this allows for the development of more accurate climate change models. RESEARCHING FuNCTIoNAL ECoLoGY IN KoSCIuSZKo NATIoNAL PARK 58