Anthropogenic Effects on Animal Behavior

Animal behavior is strongly affected by context. Social structure, temperature and climate conditions, pollution and experience all interact to affect animal decision making and behavioral expression. We are interested in trying to understand how these complex factors influence behaviors that are important for fitness. We focus on animal communication, aggression and exploration of the environment in frogs and crickets.

 

Specific projects that the ON-RaMP mentee will focus on include looking at the effects of experience in aggressive interactions on acoustic signaling and exploring the environment, and testing how these effects are modified by exposure to environmental toxins like insecticides. We are also interested in whether acoustic signaling can be used as an indication of climate effects on breeding, using passive acoustic recording in multiple populations.

Mentees will learn skills in experimental design, field and lab research techniques, acoustic signal analysis, behavioral measurement, data curation and analysis and scientific presentation. They will join a dynamic research group doing integrative research on the mechanisms and evolution of animal behavior, focusing on animal communication in frogs and insects.
 
Network mentor: Dr. Michael Reichert