Research Symposium

BIO

I'm in the second semester of my first year at FSU. I'm pursuing a dual degree in Biology and Anthropology with the plan to attend grad school.

Cryptic Evolution in the Neural Circuits of Pseudacris feriarum

Abstract

Little is known about the relationship between the evolution of the brain and behavior. Looking specifically at mating behavior, an examination of Pseudacris feriarum, a species of chorus frog, can shine a light on this relationship. Previous research has shown that relatively recently in its evolutionary history, populations of P. feriarum have become allopatrically separated from one another, with some populations overlapping with populations of other members of the genus Pseudacris. The resulting interaction has led to the evolution of mating behaviors to avoid hybridization. Using a particle swarm optimization technique, we identify neural circuit models that fit previously collected female preference data from female P. feriarum. One compelling question is: can two or more neural circuits with different configurations produce the same mating behavior? Examining allopatric populations in North Carolina and Alabama with this method allows us to see if there is any evidence of cryptic evolution (The process by which neural evolution could occur with no observable change in behavior.) 

Keywords: Biology, Cryptic Evolution, Frogs, Neural Circuit, Divergence