biological sciences HONOURs 2014 - The University of Sydney
biological sciences HONOURs 2014 - The University of Sydney
biological sciences HONOURs 2014 - The University of Sydney
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BEHAVIOUR AND GENETICS<br />
OF SOCIAL INSECTS<br />
33<br />
Research Interests<br />
<strong>The</strong> ‘Bee lab’ is interested in behavioural ecology, behavioural<br />
genetics and molecular genetics <strong>of</strong> social insects. Recently we<br />
have also acquired a new ‘lab rat’ a gigantic slime mould that<br />
can make foraging decisions despite having no brain or nervous<br />
system. We study honey bees (particularly Thai and African<br />
ones), ants, Australian native stingless bees and the slime<br />
mould. We are particularly interested in cheating behaviour:<br />
when workers start laying eggs or changing caste. We also<br />
study collective decision making: how do social insects decide<br />
on a new nest site, or how best to allocate their foragers to<br />
food sources? We <strong>of</strong>fer projects ranging from field biology to<br />
molecular genetics and mathematical modeling.<br />
For more check out our website<br />
sydney.edu.au/science/biology/socialinsects/index.shtml<br />
Honours projects<br />
1. Epigenetic inheritance in honey bees: consequence <strong>of</strong> the<br />
caste system or a battle <strong>of</strong> the sexes?<br />
2. Heat tolerance in honey bees.<br />
3. Biology <strong>of</strong> Australian stingless bees.<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Ben<br />
Oldroyd<br />
Room 239B, Macleay<br />
Building A12<br />
T: (02) 9351 7501<br />
E: benjamin.oldroyd@<br />
sydney.edu.au<br />
4. Foraging behaviour and decision-making in the slime mould, Physarum polycephalum.<br />
5. Network formation by ants.<br />
6. Exploration versus exploitation in ants.<br />
7. Can bees regulate intake <strong>of</strong> protein and carbohydrate? (Jointly supervised by Pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />
Steve Simpson)<br />
8. Identification <strong>of</strong> ‘African’ genes in imported stock including semen.<br />
9. Intragenomic conflict and the evolution <strong>of</strong> uniparental inheritance <strong>of</strong> cytoplasmic<br />
organelles.