Presentation Details
| How My Undergraduate Training Prepared Me To Study Female Social Behavior Elizabeth M George. The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA |
Abstract
My undergraduate training in animal behavior laid the foundation for my interests in female social behavior and reproduction. As a PhD student, I studied the proximate mechanisms and fitness correlates of aggression in competing female tree swallows. These behaviors led me to wonder why certain females are especially aggressive, and why this aggression varies over time. Next, I did a postdoc in collaboration with the Amboseli Baboon Research Project, studying individual variation in conception rates: why do some female primates take so long to get pregnant? Most recently, I am studying the complex social relationships of female common vampire bats, which are known for their cooperative food sharing. These studies span a range of taxa and a spectrum of sociality, yet they all stem from the research skills, foundational knowledge, and connections to the broader scientific community that I gained from my time in an animal behavior-specific undergraduate program. As I progress in my scientific career, I hope to continue to support new undergraduates who are also curious about why animals behave the way they do.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.