u n d e r g r a d u a t e . r e s e a r c h.. o p p o r t u n i t i e s

The basic goals of the research in Dr. Wolf's laboratory are to understand how the environment influences the variation that one sees in the behavior of individuals as well as within and between populations. The general approach is to examine the costs and benefits of the behavior and reasonable alternative types of behavior. This approach can take the form of careful observations of behavior in various environments to examine how the behavior varies. We also design experiments that vary particular parts of the environment to examine the impact on the behavior. Studies in the lab have examined foraging, mating, and aggressive behavior. The organisms studied have included hummingbirds, fish, dragonflies, bark beetles, and fruit flies.

Projects pursued by undergraduates have ranged from interactions among female bark beetles to testing methods for quantifying fish aggression. Students who join the laboratory are encouraged to find a project that is especially interesting to them. However, it must also be a project that is feasible given the availability of resources and organisms. Most students spend at least part of their first semester in the lab reading about behaviors they find interesting before embarking on a project. The goal of the research by undergraduates isnÍt only to collect exciting new data, but also to learn how behavioral research is done. Students learn how to identify important questions and formulate possible hypotheses to explain their observations. They also gain significant practice in the analysis of data and interpretation of their results. Students whose projects progress far enough are encouraged to prepare their work for publication, either alone or as part of a more inclusive study being done in the lab.

Larry L. Wolf
104 Lyman Hall
443-3056
llwolf@syr.edu