Image of Dr Julia Nowack

Dr Julia Nowack

School of Biological and Environmental Sciences

Faculty of Science

I am generally interested in various research questions related to eco-physiology of mammals (and other animals), in particular thermoregulation and energy expenditure. This includes (but is not limited to) energy saving adaptations such as torpor use, heat production mechanisms such as nonshivering thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue or muscle, as well as individual differences in physiological and behavioural traits that influence animal survival.

Please visit my personal website for a much clearer overview of my research and publications: julianowack.com

Languages

German
English

Degrees

2013, University of Hamburg, Germany, PhD

Academic appointments

Reader in Animal Physiology, School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, 2021 - present
Lecturer in Mammalian Physiology, School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, 2018 - 2021

Postgraduate training

Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship, Austria, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 2016 - 2018
Endeavour Research Fellow, Australia, University of Western Sydney, 2016 - 2016
Postdoctoral Fellow, Australia, University of New England, 2014 - 2016

Highlighted publications

Nowack J, Vetter SG, Stalder G, Painer J, Kral M, Smith S, Minh HL, Jurcevic P, Bieber C, Arnold W, Ruf T. 2019. Muscle nonshivering thermogenesis in a feral mammal Scientific Reports, 9 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Nowack J, Stawski C, Geiser F. 2017. More functions of torpor and their roles in a changing world Journal of Comparative Physiology B, 187 :889-897 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Nowack J, Delesalle M, Stawski C, Geiser F. 2016. Can hibernators sense and evade fires? Olfactory acuity and locomotor performance during deep torpor Naturwissenschaften (The Science of Nature), 103 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Nowack J, Cooper CE, Geiser F. 2016. Cool echidnas survive the fire Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 283 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Nowack J, Rojas AD, Körtner G, Geiser F. 2015. Snoozing through the storm: torpor use during a natural disaster Scientific Reports, 5 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Journal article

Shankar A, Welch KC, Eberts ER, Geiser F, Halter S, Keicher L, Levesque DL, Nowack J, Wolf BO, Wolfe SW. 2023. Daily Torpor in Birds and Mammals: Past, Present, and Future of the Field Integrative & Comparative Biology, 63 :1017-1027 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Levesque DL, Breit AM, Brown E, Nowack J, Welman S. 2023. Non-Torpid Heterothermy in Mammals: Another Category along the Homeothermy–Hibernation Continuum Integrative and Comparative Biology, 63 :1039-1048 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Scheun J, Nowack J. 2023. Looking Ahead: Predicting the Possible Ecological and Physiological Response of Galago Moholi to Environmental Change International Journal of Primatology, DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Giroud S, Ragger MT, Baille A, Hoelzl F, Smith S, Nowack J, Ruf T. 2023. Food availability positively affects the survival and somatic maintenance of hibernating garden dormice (Eliomys quercinus) Frontiers in Zoology, 20 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Nowack J, Mzilikazi N, Dausmann KH. 2023. Saving energy via short and shallow torpor bouts Journal of Thermal Biology, 114 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Reher S, Rabarison H, Nowack J, Dausmann KH. 2022. Limited Physiological Compensation in Response to an Acute Microclimate Change in a Malagasy Bat Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 10 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Grigg G, Nowack J, Bicudo JEPW, Bal NC, Woodward HN, Seymour RS. 2021. Whole-body endothermy: ancient, homologous and widespread among the ancestors of mammals, birds and crocodylians Biological Reviews, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Spießberger M, Hoelzl F, Smith S, Vetter S, Ruf T, Nowack J. 2021. The tarnished silver spoon? Trade-off between prenatal growth and telomere length in wild boar. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Nowack J, Turbill C. 2021. Survivable hypothermia or torpor in a wild-living rat: rare insights broaden our understanding of endothermic physiology Journal of Comparative Physiology B: biochemical, systemic, and environmental physiology, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Levesque DL, Nowack J, Boyles JG. 2021. Body Temperature Frequency Distributions: A Tool for Assessing Thermal Performance in Endotherms? Frontiers in Physiology, 12 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Einwaller J, Meyer LCR, Auer U, Raekallio M, Nowack J, Haw A, Vetter S, Painer J, Stalder G. 2021. Cardiovascular effects of intravenous vatinoxan in wild boars (Sus scrofa) anaesthetised with intramuscular medetomidine-tiletamine-zolazepam Veterinary Record (VetRecord), DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Giroud S, Nord A, Storey KB, Nowack J. 2020. Editorial: Coping With Environmental Fluctuations: Ecological and Evolutionary Perspectives Frontiers in Physiology, 11 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Nowack J, Dill V, Dausmann KH. 2020. Open-flow respirometry under field conditions: How does the airflow through the nest influence our results? Journal of Thermal Biology, 92 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Dausmann KH, Levesque DL, Wein J, Nowack J. 2020. Ambient temperature cycles affect daily torpor and hibernation patterns in Malagasy tenrecs Frontiers in Physiology, 11 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Nowack J, Levesque DL, Reher S, Dausmann KH. 2020. Variable climates lead to varying phenotypes: ‘weird’ mammalian torpor and lessons from non-Holarctic species Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 8 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Arnold LC, Habe M, Troxler J, Nowack J, Vetter SG. 2019. Rapid establishment of teat order and allonursing in wild boar (Sus scrofa) Ethology, 125 :940-948 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Boyles JG, Levesque DL, Nowack J, Wojciechowski MS, Stawski C, Fuller A, Smit B, Tattersall GJ. 2019. An oversimplification of physiological principles leads to flawed macroecological analyses Ecology and Evolution, 9 :12020-12025 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Nowack J, Tarmann I, Hoelzl F, Smith S, Giroud S, Ruf T. 2019. Always a price to pay: hibernation at low temperatures comes with a trade-off between energy savings and telomere damage. Biology Letters, 15 :20190466-20190466 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Scheun J, Geiser F, Ganswindt A, Nowack J. 2019. Non-invasive evaluation of stress hormone responses in a captive population of sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps) Australian Mammalogy, 42 :176-184 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Scheun J, Greeff D, Nowack J. 2019. Urbanisation as an important driver of nocturnal primate sociality Primates, 60 :375-381 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Nowack J, Vetter SG, Stalder G, Painer J, Kral M, Smith S, Minh HL, Jurcevic P, Bieber C, Arnold W, Ruf T. 2019. Muscle nonshivering thermogenesis in a feral mammal Scientific Reports, 9 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Geiser F, Stawski C, Doty AC, Cooper CE, Nowack J. 2018. A burning question: what are the risks and benefits of mammalian torpor during and after fires? Conservation Physiology, 6 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Nowack J, Stawski C, Körtner G, Geiser F. 2018. Physiological and behavioral responses of an arboreal mammal to smoke and charcoal-ash substrate Physiology and Behavior, 184 :116-121 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Nowack J, Giroud S, Arnold W, Ruf T. 2017. Muscle Non-shivering Thermogenesis and Its Role in the Evolution of Endothermy Frontiers in Physiology, 8 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Geiser F, Stawski C, Wacker CB, Nowack J. 2017. Phoenix from the Ashes: Fire, Torpor, and the Evolution of Mammalian Endothermy Frontiers in Physiology, 8 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Scheun J, Bennett NC, Nowack J, Laver PN, Ganswindt A. 2017. Putative drivers of adrenocortical activity in captive African lesser bushbaby ( Galago moholi ) Canadian Journal of Zoology, 95 :787-795 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Nowack J, Stawski C, Geiser F. 2017. More functions of torpor and their roles in a changing world Journal of Comparative Physiology B, 187 :889-897 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Stawski C, Hume T, Körtner G, Currie SE, Nowack J, Geiser F. 2017. Post-fire recovery of torpor and activity patterns of a small mammal Biology Letters, 13 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Scheun J, Bennett NC, Nowack J, Ganswindt A. 2017. Reproductive behaviour, testis size and faecal androgen metabolite concentrations in the African lesser bushbaby Journal of Zoology, 301 :263-270 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Streicher U, Nowack J, Stalder G, Walzer C, Nadler T, Ruf T. 2017. Hibernation in pygmy lorises (Nycticebus pygmaeus)–what does it mean? Vietnamese Journal of Primatology, 5 :51-57 Public Url

Stawski C, Nowack J, Körtner G, Geiser F. 2017. A new cue for torpor induction: charcoal, ash and smoke The Journal of Experimental Biology, 220 :220-226 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Levesque DL, Nowack J, Stawski C. 2016. Modelling mammalian energetics: the heterothermy problem Climate Change Responses, 3 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Nowack J, Delesalle M, Stawski C, Geiser F. 2016. Can hibernators sense and evade fires? Olfactory acuity and locomotor performance during deep torpor Naturwissenschaften (The Science of Nature), 103 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Stawski C, Körtner G, Nowack J, Geiser F. 2016. Phenotypic plasticity of post-fire activity and thermal biology of a free-ranging small mammal Physiology & Behavior, 159 :104-111 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Nowack J, Cooper CE, Geiser F. 2016. Cool echidnas survive the fire Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 283 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Nowack J, Geiser F. 2016. Friends with benefits: The role of huddling in mixed groups of torpid and normothermic animals Journal of Experimental Biology, 219 :590-596 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Scheun J, Nowack J, Bennett NC, Ganswindt A. 2016. Female reproductive activity and its endocrine correlates in the African lesser bushbaby, Galago moholi Journal of Comparative Physiology B: Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology, 186 :255-264 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Nowack J, Rojas AD, Körtner G, Geiser F. 2015. Snoozing through the storm: torpor use during a natural disaster Scientific Reports, 5 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Stawski C, Körtner G, Nowack J, Geiser F. 2015. The importance of mammalian torpor for survival in a post-fire landscape Biology Letters, 11 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Nowack J, Dausmann KH. 2015. Can heterothermy facilitate the colonization of new habitats? Mammal Review, 45 :117-127 DOI Publisher Url

Scheun J, Bennett NC, Ganswindt A, Nowack J. 2015. The hustle and bustle of city life: Monitoring the effects of urbanisation in the African lesser bushbaby Science of Nature, 102 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Doty A, Stawski C, Nowack J, Bondarenco A, Geiser F. 2015. Increased lyrebird presence in a post-fire landscape Australian Journal of Zoology, 63 :9-11 DOI Publisher Url

Scheun J, Bennett NC, Ganswindt A, Nowack J. 2014. Spicing up the menu: Evidence of fruit feeding in Galago moholi Primates, 55 :359-363 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Kobbe S, Nowack J, Dausmann KH. 2014. Torpor is not the only option: Seasonal variations of the thermoneutral zone in a small primate Journal of Comparative Physiology B: Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology, 184 :789-797 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Nowack J, Dausmann KH, Mzilikazi N. 2013. Nonshivering thermogenesis in the African lesser bushbaby, Galago moholi Journal of Experimental Biology, 216 :3811-3817 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Nowack J, Mzilikazi N, Dausmann KH. 2013. Torpor as an emergency solution in Galago moholi: Heterothermy is triggered by different constraints Journal of Comparative Physiology B: Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology, 183 :547-556 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Nowack J, Wippich M, Mzilikazi N, Dausmann KH. 2013. Surviving the Cold, Dry Period in Africa: Behavioral Adjustments as an Alternative to Heterothermy in the African Lesser Bushbaby (Galago moholi) International Journal of Primatology, 34 :49-64 DOI Publisher Url

Nowack J, Mzilikazi N, Dausmann KH. 2010. Torpor on Demand: Heterothermy in the Non-Lemur Primate Galago moholi PLoS ONE, 5 :e10797-e10797 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Nowack J, Stawski C, Geiser F, Levesque DL. Rare and opportunistic use of torpor in mammals - an echo from the past? Integrative and comparative biology, :icad067-icad067 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Other

Nowack J. 2019. Birds don't mind the light - if it's dim enough JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY, 222 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Nowack J. 2019. Sit tight: nest temperature affects infection resistance of chicks JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY, 222 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Nowack J. 2019. A spider's decision depends on its thirst JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY, 222 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Nowack J. 2018. Risking the land of milk and honey JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY, 221 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Nowack J. 2018. Whisper in the dark JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY, 221 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Nowack J. 2018. What eyes can tell Journal of Experimental Biology, 221 DOI Publisher Url

Nowack J. 2018. Beating the heat through the beak Journal of Experimental Biology, 221 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Nowack J. 2017. Fighting the cold as pigs do Journal of Experimental Biology, 220 :3403-3404 DOI Publisher Url

Nowack J. 2017. Juvenile marsupials need the sun to warm up Journal of Experimental Biology, 220 :2301 DOI Publisher Url

Nowack J. 2017. Too much hibernation isn't always good for you Journal of Experimental Biology, 220 :1167-1168 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Nowack J. 2017. Basking behavior reveals vulnerability to climate change Journal of Experimental Biology, 220 :137-138 DOI Publisher Url

Nowack J. Pacifishs have nothing to fight for Journal of Experimental Biology, 222 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Editorial/letter to the editor

Reibelt LM, Nowack J. 2015. Community-based conservation in Madagascar, the `cure-all´ solution? Madagascar Conservation & Development,

Chapters

Dausmann K, Nowack J, Kobbe S, Mzilikazi N. 2012. Afrotropical Heterothermy: A Continuum of Possibilities Ruf T, Bieber C, Arnold W, Millesi E. Living in a Seasonal World Springer. Berlin, Heidelberg DOI Publisher Url

Thesis/Dissertation

Nowack J. Energy expenditure and strategies to cope with high seasonality in the African lesser bushbaby, Galago moholi (Galagidae) Dausmann KH, Mzilikazi N.

Editorial boards:

Biology Letters, Editorial Board Member. 2021

Folia Primatologica, Editorial Board Member. 2020

Frontiers Research Topic: Coping with Environmental Fluctuations: Ecological and Evolutionary Perspectives, Topic Editor, https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/9922/coping-with-environmental-fluctuations-ecological-and-evolutionary-perspectives. 2019

Scientific Reports, Editorial Board Member. 2018

Other Professional Activity:

Mentor The Girls Network. 2020

Writing for the "Outside JEB" section of the Journal of Experimental Biology.

Teaching qualification:

PgCAP. 2019

Other invited event:

5th International Course on Comparative Physiology of Respiration, Jaboticabal - São Paulo - Brazil, http://www.iccpr2019.com/. 2019

Fellowships:

Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship, Humboldt Foundation. 2016

Endeavour Research Fellowship, Australian Government. 2016

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