Research Symposium

BIO

My name is Skyler Haas, and I am from Tampa, Florida. I am a Sophomore here at Florida State University and I'm currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science with the Bio/Chem track. I am interested in the analytical side of Computer Science, whether it be database management or algorithms for data analysis. I hope to expand my horizons and participate in more experiences like this one in the coming year. My favorite activity to do right now is bike around campus at night with my new bike.

Neural Circuit Model for Chorus Frog Mating Behavior

Abstract

We currently know very little about how alterations in neural circuits translate to changes in behavior. The
upland chorus frog (Pseudacris feriarum) is a prime subject for advancing our knowledge in this realm because
their mating behaviors (consisting of male advertisement calls and female preferences for those calls) vary
across populations.
We seek to identify the connection between neural circuits and mating behavior, focusing on the variables that
are most likely to result in evolution. To do so, we fit neural circuit models to the behavioral data gathered from
presenting alternative mating calls to female frogs testing and noting which calls attract the most females. This
study was conducted in two populations that are known to differ substantially in their behaviors, an Alabama
population and a Florida population.
In the end, my project hopes to find the evolutionary trajectory in neural circuit parameter space that allowed
divergent evolution between these two populations. Specifically, I want to determine which neural circuits
components have evolved. Additionally, I also hope to predict how female hybrids between these populations
would behave when mating

Keywords: Neural Circuit, Chorus Frog, Mating