Project: The effects of line breeding on the antipredator behavior and personality of the terrestrial isopod, Porcellio scaber (a.k.a., the rough woodlouse)

Co-researchers:

• Cecilia Robeson (Pre Vet major at the University of Findlay)
• Emily Scoggins (Psychology major at the University of Findlay)
• Sam Waldman (Psychology and Animal Science double-major at the University of Findlay)
• Maggie Devan (Pre Vet major at the University of Findlay)
• Brandan Gray (Professor of Biology at the University of Findlay)

Summary: Beginning in fall 2023, our lab will be investigating the effects of line breeding (artificial selection/captivity) on turn alternation (an antipredator escape behavior) and personality (boldness/shyness) in wild-caught versus line-bred ("Spanish orange") Porcellio scaber. The relationship between turn alternation and personality will also be investigated.

 

Project: Goal-directed navigation in Floridian whip spiders (Phrynus marginemaculatus)

Co-researchers:

• Hannah Caram (Animal Sciences major at the University of Findlay)
• Cecilia Robeson (Pre Vet major at the University of Findlay)
• Sophia Beeler (Pre Vet major at the University of Findlay)
• Daniel Weigmann (Professor of Biology at Bowling green State University)
• Verner Bingman (Professor of Psychology at Bowling Green State University)

Summary: Most recently, our lab investigated the hierarchical relationship between geometric (enclosure boundary) and feature (visual cue) information for guiding goal-directed navigation in Floridian whip spiders. Animals were trained to locate a goal location (shelter) situated in one corner of a rectangular arena (geometric information) with one colored wall (feature). During various probe trials, either the geometry of the arena was changed to a square (eliminating geometric information; FEAT probe), the feature was removed (leaving only geometric information; GEO probe) or the feature was moved such that it conflicted with geometric information (CONF probe). Data from GEO probes found animals capable of directing their choice behavior towards geometrically-correct corners at a rate significantly higher than chance. By contrast, animals appeared to be indifferent to the feature on FEAT probes, directing their choices to the feature-correct corner at a rate not significantly different than chance. CONF probes suggested that moving of the feature disrupted use of geometric information. Thus, while the feature may not have been encoded for orientation purposes, it could have been encoded as part of the overall context that was disrupted on CONF probes.

In spring 2022, we conducted a follow-up study aimed at 1) confirming previous data suggesting Floridian whip spiders are capable of using boundary geometry for goal-directed navigation, and 2) assessing their ability to use boundary geometry for goal-directed navigation when it is the only cue available (in contrast to the previous study in which geometry information was presented as one component of a multi-sensory, compound cue). The findings were inconclusive, as spiders did not appear to learn anything at all during this study. We plan to revisit this study in fall 2022.

Production:

• Coppola, V.J., Caram, H., Robeson, C., Beeler, S.M., Hebets, E.A., Wiegmann, D.D., and Bingman, V.P. (accepted for publication). Investigating boundary-geometry use by whip spiders (Phrynus marginemaculatus) during goal-directed navigation. Learning & Behavior.
• Coppola, V.J., Caram, H., Robeson, C., Beeler, S., Weigmann, D., Bingman, V.P. (2022). Whip Spiders Prefer Geometric to Feature Information for Goal-directed Navigation. Poster presentation. Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL. PDF of poster.
• Caram, H., Robeson, C., Beeler, S. (2022). Confirming Geometric Cue Use in Whip Spiders: A Follow-Up Study. Poster presentation. University of Findlay's annual Symposium for Scholarship and Creativity, Findlay, OH. PDF of poster.
• Caram, H., Robeson, C., Beeler, S. (2021). Assessing the Use of Geometric and Feature Cues During Goal-directed Navigation in Whip Spiders (Phrynus marginemaculatus): A Pilot Study. Poster presentation. University of Findlay's annual Symposium for Scholarship and Creativity, Findlay, OH.

 

Project: Neuropathological aging in pigeons (Columba livia)

Co-researchers:

• Caillie Barnett (Pre Vet major at the University of Findlay)
• Holden Schribner (Psychology major at the University of Findlay)
• Verner P. Bingman (Professor of Psychology at Bowling Green State University)

Summary: To the best of our knowledge, only two studies exist reporting amyloid-pathology (a neuropathology typical of Alzheimer's disease and cerebral amyloid angiopathy) in birds: one was of a single, captive great spotted woodpecker that lived for approximately 16 years and another that found organochlorine pesticide levels in the liver to correlate with amyloid pathology in wild Sparrowhawks. Our lab is currently processing the brain tissue from a number of old pigeons (ranging from 13 to 20 years old) for congophilic (amyloid-beta) plaques. Additionally, our lab is revisiting previous findings that the brain of older pigeons is actually larger than that of younger pigeons, extending the age range of the sample up to about 20 years.

Production:

• Coppola, V.J., Scribner, H.R., Barnett, C., Flanigan, K.A.S., and Bingman, V.P. (2023). Revisiting Age-related Atrophy of the Pigeon Telencephalon. Poster presentation. Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.

• Schribner, H., & Barnett, C. (2022). Is the Pigeon Brain Robust to Age-Related Atrophy? Revisiting Coppola and Bingman (2020). University of Findlay's annual Symposium for Scholarship and Creativity, Findlay, OH. PDF of poster.