About meI am a PhD student at Simon Fraser University studying the foraging and communication ecology of carpenter ants (supervisor Dr. Gerhard Gries). In addition to my love for research, I am an avid gardener, kickboxer and outdoor adventurer
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About my research
Broadly speaking, I am interested in studying insect communication systems, specifically how certain stimuli (eg. visual, chemical, vibratory) invoke particular behaviours in insects and how these behaviour-modyifying stimuli can be used for eco-friendly insect pest management.
Ants are one of the most ecologically successful animals on the planet. They are highly abundant and present in nearly every terrestrial habitat, serving diverse and significant ecological roles. They are predators, herbivores, scavengers, and nutrient cyclers as well as partners in mutualistic relationships with fungi, other insects and plants. Ants are goal-oriented and coordinate their vast numbers to accomplish specific tasks, such as defending their nest or monopolizing food resources.
Of particular interest for my PhD project are carpenter ants. My project focuses on understanding the foraging and communication ecology of the western carpenter ant (Camponotus modoc), a highly abundant ant on the West coast of North America and a significant urban pest. I seek to characterize ant foraging patterns in nature, understand the cues ants use to locate food resources and the properties that determine which food sources are worth exploiting by ant colonies. In addition, my research aims to understand the chemical (pheromonal) and vibratory communication signals used by carpenter ants to coordinate group tasks such as nest defence and foraging.
Ants are one of the most ecologically successful animals on the planet. They are highly abundant and present in nearly every terrestrial habitat, serving diverse and significant ecological roles. They are predators, herbivores, scavengers, and nutrient cyclers as well as partners in mutualistic relationships with fungi, other insects and plants. Ants are goal-oriented and coordinate their vast numbers to accomplish specific tasks, such as defending their nest or monopolizing food resources.
Of particular interest for my PhD project are carpenter ants. My project focuses on understanding the foraging and communication ecology of the western carpenter ant (Camponotus modoc), a highly abundant ant on the West coast of North America and a significant urban pest. I seek to characterize ant foraging patterns in nature, understand the cues ants use to locate food resources and the properties that determine which food sources are worth exploiting by ant colonies. In addition, my research aims to understand the chemical (pheromonal) and vibratory communication signals used by carpenter ants to coordinate group tasks such as nest defence and foraging.