Moira J. van StaadenM.Sc. University of Natal (Durban), ethology,
Ph.D. Texas Tech University, evolutionary population genetics
Post-docs: Harvard University and University of Cape Town
Department of Biological Sciences
Life Sciences Building
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA
Tel: (419) 372-0341, Fax: (419) 372-2024
Email: mvs@caspar.bgsu.edu
Research Interests
My research is motivated by the idea of behavior as a causal force in
evolution. Current projects are exploring how acoustic communication, breeding
tactics, dispersal and territorial systems affect the microgeographic genetic
structure and evolutionary history of populations and species. Working at
the interface of ethology and evolution, we employ a range of approaches
including field behavioral experiments, extracellular neurophysiological
recordings, molecular genetic markers (RAPDs, sequencing), and statistical
analyses of spatial data. Taxonomic range covers mammals, amphibians, fish
and insects. Present work focuses on bladder grasshoppers
in southern Africa and orthoptera in the Venezuelan rainforest canopy. Other
interests are conservation genetics, adaptive radiations, and hybrid zones.
Selected references
van Staaden MJ & H Römer 1998 Evolutionary
transition from stretch to hearing organs in ancient grasshoppers. Nature
394: 773-776
van Staaden MJ & H Römer 1997 Sexual signalling in bladder grasshoppers: tactical design for maximizing calling range. J. Exp. Biol. 200: 2597-2608
Huber R, van Staaden MJ, Kaufman, LS & KF Liem 1997 Microhabitat
use, trophic patterns, and the evolution of brain structure in African cichlids.
Brain Behav. Evol.50: 167-182
van Staaden MJ, Michener GR & RK Chesser 1996 Spatial
analysis of microgeographic genetic structure in Richardson's ground squirrels.
Canadian Journal of Zoology 74: 1187-1195
van Staaden MJ 1995 Breeding tactics, social
structure and genetic variation in mammals: problems and prospects.
Acta Theriologica Suppl. 3: 165-182
van Staaden MJ, Huber R, Kaufman LS & KF Liem 1995 Brain
evolution in cichlids of the African Great Lakes: brain and body size, general
patterns, and evolutionary trends. ZACS 98:165-178
van Staaden MJ, Hamilton MJ & RK Chesser 1995 Genetic
variation of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in North America.
Zeitschrift für Säugertierkunde 60: 1-9
van Staaden MJ, Chesser RK & GR Michener 1994 Genetic
correlations and matrilineal structure in a population of Spermophilus
richardsonii. Journal of Mammalogy 75: 573-582
last modified: 18 December 1998