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Education

M.Sc. Candidate, Integrative Biology, University of Guelph

B.Sc. Hons., Biology, Nipissing University 

 

Research

The response of an organism to olfactory cues provided to them in their environment is an important part of their ecology. Olfactory cues can provide vital information on the location and diet preferences of their predators in order for the organism to successfully avoid being preyed upon. Conversely, organisms can use olfactory cues from their prey to successfully locate and capture them. My research will focus on the behavioural modifications of red-backed salamanders, Plethodon cinereus, in response to predator and prey cues. I will be using both soluble and volatile olfactory cues and preference/avoidance behavioural assays to examine these behaviours. 

In addition to these behavioural assays, I will also be investigating the brain response toboth volatile and soluble predator and prey cues. Using functional neuroanatomy techniques (as described in the Techniques section of the Laberge lab site), I will look at whether these cues activate the vomeronasal system, the main olfactory system, or both. This research should give a better picture of the behavioural brain of the salamander and any possible connections between the main olfactory and vomeronasal systems in mediating antipredator or foraging behaviours.  

 

Red-backed Salamander

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contact Information 

 

Dept. of Integrative Biology

488 Gordon St.

University of Guelph

Guelph, ON

N1G 2W1

Canada

atelfer@uoguelph.ca

(519) 824- 4120 ext. 56963 (Office)

 

History

Member for

2 years 21 weeks