Research


The Integrative Behaviour and Neuroscience (IBN) Group was founded in 2001 to foster research in functional and evolutionary aspects of animal behaviour. The group currently includes 6 research faculty (Andrade, Boonstra, Fitzpatrick, Lovejoy, Mason, Reid). IBN activities include ongoing collaborative research and infrastructure development, and a weekly seminar/discussion group. Each member of the group is well-funded and heads a research team focusing on a different aspect of evolution, mechanisms, or function of behaviour (including neural, phylogenetic and physiological factors). The result is a concentration of equipment, expertise, and intellectual support for integrative behavioural research not otherwise available in Canada, and at few places elsewhere.

In the past four years, IBN has supported five postdoctoral researchers, 14 graduate students, and over 50 undergraduates. New members of IBN labs join an interactive team with training opportunities that bridge the diverse research approaches of individual labs.

Selected recent publications:

  • Elias, D.O., Kasumovic, M.M., Punzalan, D., Andrade, M.C.B. Mason, A.C. 2008. Male assessment during aggressive contests in jumping spiders. Animal Behaviour. 76: 901-910. [PDF] .
  • Fitzpatrick, MJ, Feder, E, Rowe, L, & Sokolowski, MB. 2007. Maintaining a behaviour polymorphism by frequency-dependent selection on a single gene. Nature. 447: 210-212. [PDF] .
  • Kasumovic, MM & Andrade, MCB. 2006. Male development tracks rapidly shifting sexual versus natural selection pressures. Current Biology. 16(7):R242-R243. [PDF] .
  • Lovejoy, N.R., S.P. Mullen, G.A. Sword, R.F. Chapman, and R.G. Harrison. 2006. Ancient trans-Atlantic flight explains locust biogeography: molecular phylogenetics of Schistocerca . Proceedings of the Royal Society B . 273: 767-774. [PDF]
  • Boonstra, R. 2005. Equipped for life: the adaptive role of the stress axis in male mammals. Journal of Mammalogy 86:236-247. [PDF]
  • Montealegre-Z F, Mason, AC. 2005. The mechanics of sound production in Panacanthus pallicornis (Orthoptera : Tettigoniidae : Conocephalinae): the stridulatory motor patterns. J Exp Biol. 208:1219-1237. [PDF]
  • Reid SG, Perry SF, Gilmour KM, Milsom WK and Rantin FT. 2005. Reciprocal modulation of oxygen and carbon dioxide cardiorespiratory chemoreflexes in the tambaqui. Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology. 146. 175-194. [PDF]

Selected recent press coverage: