biological sciences HONOURs 2014 - The University of Sydney

BEHAVIOUR AND GENETICS
OF SOCIAL INSECTS
13
Research Interests
The ‘Bee lab’ is interested in behavioural ecology, behavioural
genetics and molecular genetics of social insects. Recently we
have also acquired a new ‘lab rat’ a gigantic slime mould that
can make foraging decisions despite having no brain or nervous
system. We study honey bees (particularly Thai and African
ones), ants, Australian native stingless bees and the slime
mould. We are particularly interested in cheating behaviour:
when workers start laying eggs or changing caste. We also
study collective decision making: how do social insects decide
on a new nest site, or how best to allocate their foragers to
food sources? We offer projects ranging from field biology to
molecular genetics and mathematical modeling.
For more check out our website:
sydney.edu.au/science/biology/socialinsects/index.shtml
Honours projects
1. Epigenetic inheritance in honey bees: consequence of the
caste system or a battle of the sexes?
2. Heat tolerance in honey bees.
3. Biology of Australian stingless bees.
4. Foraging behaviour and decision-making in the slime
mould, Physarum polycephalum.
5. Network formation by ants.
6. Exploration versus exploitation in ants.
Professor
Madeleine Beekman
Room 249, Macleay
Building A12
T: (02) 9351 8779
E: madeleine.beekman@
sydney.edu.au
7. Can bees regulate intake of protein and carbohydrate? (Jointly supervised by Professor
Steve Simpson)
8. Identification of ‘African’ genes in imported stock including semen.
9. Intragenomic conflict and the evolution of uniparental inheritance of cytoplasmic
organelles.