Why study non-model organisms?

In the framework of the "Fruits of Ethology" guest talk series we will have the pleasure to welcome our next speaker, Tamás Székely - University of Bath, Department of Biology & Biochemistry (UK) & University of Debrecen, Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology (Hungary).

Date: 4th April, Thursday, 16.00
Location: ELTE, South Building, 7.110, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c
Title: Why study non-model organisms?

Model-organism focused research is increasingly common in evolutionary biology, ecology and ethology. Here I take a different approach, and argue we can gain novel insights by investigating non-conventional organisms. By overviewing some of the research my team has carried out in the last 30 years, I hope to illustrate that natural history is an excellent starting point for exploring animal behaviour. Early notions on parental care and breeding dispersal of plovers lead to discoveries in sex role behaviour, sex ratios, speciation and biodiversity conservation. I argue there is a Goldilocks principle of identifying study organisms: species that are not too complex and not too simple: just right.

All welcome!
Márta Gácsi & Ádám Miklósi

Department of Ethology
Eötvös Loránd UniversityPázmány P. s 1/c, 6th floor
Budapest, 1117 Hungary
Tel: +36 1 381 21 79
http://etologia.elte.hu/?lang=eng
http://familydogproject.elte.hu/