There will be six post-conference symposia and they will take place the day after the end of the regular ISBE-meeting, on Saturday, August 18 2012.
Please register here for the post-conference symposia
Behavioural Responses to a Changing World: Mechanisms and Consequences
Human-induced environmental change represents the single greatest threat to global biodiversity. Species are typically adapted to the environment in which they have evolved. Changes in environmental conditions initially influence behaviour, which in turn affects species interactions, population dynamics, and evolutionary processes. How animals respond to changed conditions, and how this influences population persistence, is an area of growing research interest. This symposium will highlight the vital links between environmental change, behaviour, and population dynamics. It will discuss impacts on both the mechanisms underlying behavioural processes, as well as the longer-term ecological and evolutionary consequences.
Invited speakers:
Dan Blumstein (UCLA)
Andrew Cockburn (Australian National University)
Bart Kempenaers (Max Planck Institute for Ornithology)
Andy Sih (UC Davies)
Iain Barber (University of Leicester)
Organized by
Ulrika Candolin
The University of Helsinki, Finland
ulrika.candolin@helsinki.fi
Bob B.M. Wong
Monash University, Australia
bob.wong@monash.edu
Oxidative stress as evolutionary and behavioral constraints – where are we now?
Abstract: Oxidative stress (i.e., surplus of pro-oxidants to antioxidants) has been suggested to be a key proximate link or constraint between various life-history traits such as reproduction, sexual display, growth, immunity and different behaviors. Most empirical studies have focused on behaviors and traits that influence i) the metabolic demand, thereby, increasing the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS); ii) the intake of dietary antioxidants; and iii) the activation of immune responses and associated up- and down-regulation of ROS and antioxidants. While there have been significant advances in the formulation of concepts regarding the role of oxidative stress as life-history constraints, the number of empirical studies are still relatively scattered. Moreover, the view of for example, ROS as constraints may be too simplistic given their important function as signaling molecules. Our aim with the present symposia is to examine the evidence for and against the role of oxidative stress as behavioral and evolutionary constraints by bringing together behavioral ecologists working on various mechanistic aspects. We wish to have a broad taxonomic representation, and to have organized group meetings and panel discussions to promote a dialogue between participants from different fields, countries and seniority.
Invited speakers:
Geoffrey Hill, Auburn University, USA
Peeter Hõrak, Tartu University, Estonia
Neil Metcalfe, University of Glasgow, UK
Pat Monaghan, University of Glasgow, UK
Mats Olsson, Sidney University, Australia
Organized by:
Michi Tobler and Caroline Isaksson
(Department of Biology, Lund University, Sweden)
Admission to this symposium is free of charge. Contributors who wish to present a 15-minute oral contribution should send a title and short abstract to either Michi Tobler (michael.tobler@biol.lu.se) or Caroline Isaksson (Caroline.Isaksson@biol.lu.se). Deadline: 1st of June 2012.
Recent developments in sexual selection research: History, trends and new horizons
Main contacts:
Kristina Karlsson Green Lund University, SE, and University of Helsinki, FIN, kristina.karlsson@biol.lu.se, Kenyon B. Mobley Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Biology, DE, mobley@evolbio.mpg.de
How have ideas shifted in sexual selection research and what are the new trends to come? In this symposium, we take a fresh look at the state of sexual selection research. In order to discuss possible future directions of this constantly changing field, we focus on three recent areas of empirical and theoretical advancement. Topics to be discussed include development of sexual selection theory, sexual selection in females and the genetics of sexual selection. Each topic will be introduced by a short series of lectures followed by afternoon discussion groups that focus on the major themes and areas of improvement. The ultimate goal of the symposium is to bring together interested students and experts in the field to help outline new research avenues and help facilitate research in these emerging topics.
Historical perspective of sexual selection theory
Professor Marlene Zuk will provide an overview of sexual selection theory to help frame recent trends in a historical context. She will take a look at the history of sexual selection research, starting out as a criticized idea by Darwin’s contemporary scientists, over-looked for almost a century, and then blossoming into one of the most research-intensive fields in behavioral ecology.
Confirmed speakers:
Jessica Abbott, Lund University
Malin Ah-King, Uppsala University
Anders Berglund, Uppsala University
Tim Clutton-Brock, Cambridge University
Hans Ellegren, Uppsala University
Hanna Kokko, Australian National University
Nina Wedell, University of Exeter
Marlene Zuk, University of California Riverside
Topics
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Development of sexual selection theory
We aim to present both established development of the theory, such a sexual conflict, as well as ongoing discussions on new alternatives to traditional sexual selection theory including a critical re-evaluation of Darwin and Bateman’s theoretical contributions.
Organizers (1 and 3): Malin Ah-King Uppsala University, SE. Kristina Karlsson Green, Lund University, SE and University of Helsinki, FIN. Åsa Lankinen Swedish Agricultural University, Alnarp, SE. Josefin Madjidian Swedish Agricultural University, Alnarp, SE and Lund University, SE. -
Sexual selection in females
We aim to explore various overlooked aspects of sexual selection in females including female-female competitive behaviors, ornaments and weaponry, and the ecological and evolutionary conditions under which these traits may evolve. An additional aim is to discuss the theoretical underpinnings and the socio-behavioral implications of sexual selection in females.
Organizers: Anders Berglund University of Uppsala, SE. Gunilla Rosenqvist Norwegian University of Science & Tech. Trondheim, NO. -
Genetics of sexual selection
The recent development of new molecular techniques has revolutionized our understanding of the sexual selection process. Our focus here is on the fascinating topics of how epigenetics and selfish genetic elements may affect sexual selection, but also on the current molecular tools that are at hand to explore these areas.
Group discussions
Following the sessions with oral presentations, symposium participants are invited to group discussions (led by the invited speakers) to discuss the significance of past trends and the future development of the field. Hopefully the group discussions will inspire to new insights, and perhaps even novel lines of research and collaboration. We conclude with a joint discussion, summarizing the day and outlining the likely future trends of sexual selection research.
This symposium is free of charge and open to all interested persons. Snacks and lunch will be available at the cafeteria but is not provided by the organizers. Currently our invited speaker program is full and we are not accepting abstracts for oral presentations.
The Behavioural Ecology of Animal Movement
The study of animal movement is important because it acts at multiple scales, and can shape the destiny of individuals and populations, govern community and ecosystem structure, and influence evolutionary processes and patterns of biodiversity. Movement is a ubiquitous feature of the lives of animals, and is integral to many important behavioural processes. Recent theoretical and technological advances have allowed biologists to gather detailed data on where and how animals travel through space, and apply analytical techniques garnered from many different fields, from physics to psychology, to understand the function and significance of animal movements on various levels from different perspectives. It is our hope that this symposium on ‘the behavioural ecology of animal movement’ will bring together a diverse range of researchers working with
different taxa and at a range of spatial scales of movement to discuss how behavioural ecology can integrate with the nascent discipline of movement ecology. Our aim is to foster dialogue, to synthesise the state-of-the-art of the behavioural ecology of animal movement and to map out future directions in this newly emerging research area.
The symposium will be structured around a backbone of 6 talks from the following speakers (final programme will be announced here shortly):
Confirmed speakers
Gesa Feenders (Newcastle University, UK)
Tim Guilford (Oxford University, UK)
Christine Merlin (University of Massachusetts Medical School, USA)
John B Phillips (Virginia Tech, USA)
Daniel Rubenstein (Princeton University, USA
Andy Sih (UC Davis, USA)
This is an open symposium organised by the Centre for Animal Movement Research (CAnMove), all are welcome to attend, enjoy the talks and join in the discussions!
There will be space and time for posters and ample opportunity for discussions and exchange of ideas within the programme. And you are all most welcomed to join for the Symposium Dinner afterwards. Please register here for the symposium.
Organized by:
For more information, please contact one of the organisers:
Susanne Åkesson:
susanne.akesson@biol.lu.se
Ben Chapman:
ben.chapman@biol.lu.se
Miriam Liedvogel:
miriam.liedvogel@biol.lu.se
Rachel Muheim:
rachel.muheim@biol.lu.se
Centre for Animal Movement Research (CAnMove), Department of Biology, Lund University
The Evolution of Mechanisms for Avoiding Predation
Predation is a major source of mortality for many organisms. Faced with this threat, prey animals should adjust their foraging activity across situations of high and low risk; but to do so adaptively they need mechanisms for storing energy, for assessing the threat from a potential predator and for learning about temporal and spatial variation in risk. Anti-predator behaviour may also be associated with emotional states such as fear, anxiety and stress. It is unclear, however, whether the psychological and physiological response to predation risk is important for avoiding predators, or an unavoidable constraint that sometimes generates biased estimates of risk and apparently maladaptive behaviour. For example, depression may be characterized as a failure to be active when the environment is benign. This symposium will bring together researchers from both functional and mechanistic traditions to explore the evolutionary basis of behavioural, psychological and physiological responses to predation risk.
Confirmed speakers:
Dan Blumstein (UCLA, USA)
Ben Brilot (Newcastle University, UK)
Morgan David (University of Exeter, UK)
Heikki Hirvonen (University of Helsinki, Finland)
Juan Diego Ibáñez-Álamo (University of Granada, Spain)
Arnon Lotem (Tel Aviv University, Israel)
Candace Low (Cornell University, USA)
Jochen Smolka (Lund University, Sweden)
Anyone with an interest in this topic is welcome to attend (free of charge) and participate in the discussions. Please sign up here or contact us directly.
Organized by:
Andy Higginson, Pete Trimmer & Tim Fawcett,
Modelling Animal Decisions (MAD) Group, University of Bristol, UK
Contact:
The role of behaviour in non-ecological and non-adaptive speciation
During the past decade, the ecological theory of adaptive radiation and adaptive speciation has been a main focus of interest in much speciation research. Much of current thinking in this area assumes that incipient species are formed as a direct or indirect result of niche-based ecological differences and divergent natural selection. However, recently it has been an increased interest also in non-ecological and non-adaptive speciation in groups like birds, fish, amphibians and insects. Some radiations are simply not very likely to result from divergent ecological selection, as species are often ecologically similar and show high degree of niche conservatism, yet speciation obviously happens also in these groups. Behavior might play a crucial role in driving speciation processes in these circumstances, including learned mate preferences, sexual selection and sexual conflict. The role of behavior, whether it is through niche conservatism, mating behaviours or learning, makes the study of non-ecological and non-adaptive speciation processes especially interesting for behavioural ecologists. This symposium intends to foster greater communication between speciation researchers and behavioural ecologists.
Invited speakers:
Rampal S. Etienne (University of Groningen, The Netherlands)
Kerry Shaw (Cornell University, USA)
John Wiens (SUNY Stony Brook, USA)
Admission to this symposium is free of charge. Contributors who wish to present a 15-minute oral contribution should send a titel and short abstract to Maren Wellenreuther (maren.wellenreuther@biol.lu.se)
Organized by:
Erik Svensson, Anna Runemark, Machteld Verzijden & Maren Wellenreuther.
Department of Biology, Lund University, Sweden.
Funding:
European Science Foundation (ESF)
Research Networking Programme on Frontiers of Speciation Research (”FroSpects”)