Write a full research proposal including a lay summary suitable for public release. Trying to develop a novel idea into a scientific study and communicate the relevance of your research to the general public.

12-point font. Times New Roman. Double spaced. 7-8 pages.

Research proposal idea/topics (doesn’t have to be based off any of these)
i. The relationship between body fat accumulation and migration in whitethroat (Sylvia communis)
ii. Elevated concentrations of oestrogen hormone in females has a mechanistic role in animal migration: Case study of the red colombus monkey (Procolobus rufomitratus)
iii. Preparing animals for early arrivals: The role of Glucocorticoids on the arrival of American redstarts (Setophaga ruticilla)
iv. The relationship between gonadal size and migration timing in semipalmated sandpipers (Calidris pusilla, L.)

1. Lay summary
- Summary in simple words
- Summarize the project
- General idea on what you’re proposing to do
2. Background
3. Objectives
- Statement of expectations
- Hypothesis as well
- Don’t worry about hypothesis testing language
4. Methods
5. Justification
6. Budget
- Are you going to hire people, Rent vehicles, etc
- Do it in chart form
- Have item, units, cost, and source (where are you buying this from)
- Come up with a semi realistic total
- Mention if hiring – it’s minimum wage

Example: Lesser long-nosed bat, Leptonycteris curasoae, fuel acquisition in migration

Objectives:
Although the presence of migratory activity in many species of bats has been recorded, the underlying physiology and biochemistry involved in bat migration is not well understood. However, the physiology of bird migration has been extensively studied (McGuire et al., 2009). As a result, comparing bird and bat physiology can help increase understanding of bat migration. Previous research on fuel acquisition in bat migration has found insectivorous bats to have a very high lipid diet (McGuire et al., 2013). Interestingly, lipid biosynthesis, which is observed in many bird species during migration, is not observed in insectivorous bat species (McGuire et al., 2013). This suggests that unlike birds, bats do not require upregulated lipid biosynthesis to survive migration. Migratory insectivorous bat species also use short stretches of torpor during the day to minimize energy use during migration (McGuire et al., 2013).
On the other hand nectar-eating bat species do not have the ability to use torpor (Popa-lisseanu et al., 2009). A nectar based diet also provides a much less fat-enriched energy source. Therefore, it is possible that nectar-eating bats use more bird like mechanisms, such as lipid biosynthesis, to maximize energy during migration. In particular observing whether fatty acid transporter proteins, which are involved in lipid biosynthesis, are being upregulated could provide a new insight into the mechanisms involved in migratory nectar-eating bats. Finally, female migratory bats are often already pregnant when they migrate from winter to summer range (Dechmann et al., 2014). Therefore they might show a need for higher energy efficiency to support both the developing fetus as well as migration.

Methods:
I hypothesize that the nectar consuming bat, Leptonycteris curasoae, will show alternate methods of fuel acquisition. More specifically, I hypothesize that L. curasoae will show upregulated fatty acid transporter protein during migration to allow for increased fuel efficiency and availability. Finally, I hypothesize that pregnant females will have higher rates of upregulation than males due to the extra energy needed to support the fetus during migration.
Male and female lesser long-nosed bats will be collected from their summer, winter and migratory range (Wilkinson et al., 1996). Lactating females and sub-adult bats will not be used. However, pregnant females will be collected during migration. All of the bats collected will be euthanized under anaesthesia. Pectoralis muscles will be dissected and enzyme assays will be conducted on the tissue to identify differences between the wintering, summering and migrating bats. Additionally, fatty acid transporter mRNA expression and upregulation will be measured using total RNA isolated from the muscle tissue in real time PCR. Data gathered will be analyzed to look for evidence of upregulation of fatty acid transporter proteins as well as increased biosynthesis of fats providing easily accessible energy for migration.

Justification:
Overall, the literature on bat migration is limited (McGuire et al., 2009). In particular, fatty acid composition in nectar-eating migratory bats has never been observed prior to this proposal. If this is found to influence nectar-eating bat migration as well as pregnant female migration, this could provide insight into migratory differences between sexes and bat species. Additionally, understanding how bats survive migration without torpor and with lower fat diets can help explain how migratory pathways developed to begin with. Finally, with bat species experiencing increased mortality rates due to wind turbines, understanding how migratory pathways function could help limit bat interaction with wind turbines in the future (McGuire et al., 2013).

Citations:
Dechmann et al. 2014. J. Pone. 9: e114810.
McGuire et al. 2009. J. Mam. 90:1290-1297.
McGuire et al. 2013. J Exp. Bio. 216:800-808.
Popa-Lisseanu et al. 2009. J. Mam. 90: 1283-1289
Wilkinson et al. 1996. Mol. Eco. 5:329-339.

Write a full research proposal including a lay summary suitable for...