Ahhhh that all too familiar question. Every time you meet someone new. What is your PhD on? It becomes very automated. You develop a comfortable spiel. Something that gives just enough detail that the listener can ascertain their own level of interest and ask more... or not.
Here is mine:
"I study how ambient temperature effects the way marsupials deal with the toxic plants they eat."
which is usually followed by this question:
"Oh wow! So do you work on Koalas?"
To which I respond:
"Nah, I work on possums."
Which invariably leads to:
"I have one of those in my roof you can come and catch" - or some variation thereof.
The somewhat longer version of the project is as follows:
My research will investigate how increases in ambient temperature interact with diet to alter feeding ecology in marsupial folivores (animals that eat leaves). Previous studies have linked high body temperature with herbivory in both endotherms and in ectotherms, however in endotherms body temperature is extremely carefully guarded. The ability to dissipate excess heat can limit the rate of exothermic metabolic processes. For my thesis I will investigate three mechanisms by which the diet can drive energy taken in, towards heat production, and therefore may impact the dietary choices. Specifically, my thesis will investigate,
(1) Does diet induced thermogenesis (either obligatory or facultative) effect feeding choices made by possums at high ambient temperature, including changing macronutrient selection
(2) Is there evidence of temperature-dependent toxicity in possums ingesting plant secondary compounds from Eucalyptus leaves
(3) Do Eucalyptus leaves contain mitochondrial uncoupling agents that cause increased body heat production in possums.
Understanding mechanisms by which the diet of marsupials will drive body heat production will be especially relevant as ambient temperature increases with climate change, and dissipation of heat becomes more difficult. Therefore my thesis will be useful in making predictions of how a change in temperature regime will affect feeding ecology in marsupials, and inform management strategies going forward.
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