mykiss
Jan 16th 2007, 08:10 PM
In case CAC people are interested....and it's free..... the next speaker will be talking about.......
Title: *Exploring the behavior, ecology, and evolution of mormyrid
electric fishes in the warm heart of Central Africa*
The ecological importance and natural behaviors of weakly-electric
fishes have remained rather mysterious since the Hans Lissmann first
discovered (in the 1950's) that these fishes possess a novel sensory
system, the sense of electricity! African elephantfishes (family
Mormyridae) are even more obscure than their South American
counterparts: the electrical eel-like gymnotiforms. However, recent
efforts have started to throw light onto the mysterious electric fishes
of Africa, which can be dominant members of their aquatic ecosystems and
which have actually served as important models for neurobiological
research. Dr. Matt Arnegard has been an important part of these early
efforts to understand the secret lives of electric fishes. In his talk,
he will take us on a journey that provides rare glimpses of mormyrid
electric fishes in Malawi, Congo, and Gabon -- focusing on his 2006
research expedition funded by the National Geographic Society. Along
the way, he will share some of what he has learned about the behavior,
ecology, and evolution of these enigmatic creatures.
Dr. Matthew Arnegard has spent nearly three years on the ground in
Africa studying the evolution, ecology, and systematics of mormyrid
electric fishes from several drainages in Africa, as well as the
spectacular radiation of cichlids in Lake Malawi. Unlike many
big-science lab biologists today, Matt always emphasizes the importance
of natural history in his research. And it shows. He received a Ph.D.
from the Department of Neurobiology & Behavior at Cornell University in
2005, with a dissertation covering both cichlids and electric fishes.
Although he continues to work on these African fishes, he has recently
turned his focus toward the evolution of species pairs of British
Columbia's own threespine stickleback. After his recent discovery of
"evolution in action" in electric fishes, Arnegard was invited to be a
guest on the CBC radio show "As It Happens". Using Real Player, you may
listen to a recording of that show (and get an introduction to Matt's
upcoming talk) by clicking on "Part 1" at the following website:
http://www.cbc.ca/radioshows/AS_IT_HAPPENS/20060607.shtml (javascript:ol('http://www.cbc.ca/radioshows/AS_IT_HAPPENS/20060607.shtml');) (scroll
forward 11 minutes to hear the segment with Matt)
Title: *Exploring the behavior, ecology, and evolution of mormyrid
electric fishes in the warm heart of Central Africa*
The ecological importance and natural behaviors of weakly-electric
fishes have remained rather mysterious since the Hans Lissmann first
discovered (in the 1950's) that these fishes possess a novel sensory
system, the sense of electricity! African elephantfishes (family
Mormyridae) are even more obscure than their South American
counterparts: the electrical eel-like gymnotiforms. However, recent
efforts have started to throw light onto the mysterious electric fishes
of Africa, which can be dominant members of their aquatic ecosystems and
which have actually served as important models for neurobiological
research. Dr. Matt Arnegard has been an important part of these early
efforts to understand the secret lives of electric fishes. In his talk,
he will take us on a journey that provides rare glimpses of mormyrid
electric fishes in Malawi, Congo, and Gabon -- focusing on his 2006
research expedition funded by the National Geographic Society. Along
the way, he will share some of what he has learned about the behavior,
ecology, and evolution of these enigmatic creatures.
Dr. Matthew Arnegard has spent nearly three years on the ground in
Africa studying the evolution, ecology, and systematics of mormyrid
electric fishes from several drainages in Africa, as well as the
spectacular radiation of cichlids in Lake Malawi. Unlike many
big-science lab biologists today, Matt always emphasizes the importance
of natural history in his research. And it shows. He received a Ph.D.
from the Department of Neurobiology & Behavior at Cornell University in
2005, with a dissertation covering both cichlids and electric fishes.
Although he continues to work on these African fishes, he has recently
turned his focus toward the evolution of species pairs of British
Columbia's own threespine stickleback. After his recent discovery of
"evolution in action" in electric fishes, Arnegard was invited to be a
guest on the CBC radio show "As It Happens". Using Real Player, you may
listen to a recording of that show (and get an introduction to Matt's
upcoming talk) by clicking on "Part 1" at the following website:
http://www.cbc.ca/radioshows/AS_IT_HAPPENS/20060607.shtml (javascript:ol('http://www.cbc.ca/radioshows/AS_IT_HAPPENS/20060607.shtml');) (scroll
forward 11 minutes to hear the segment with Matt)