Ecology Influence and Hearing Capability of Catfishes
Juan Liu, Professor
Integrative Biology
Applications for Fall 2024 are closed for this project.
Catfishes (Siluriformes) are remarkable among hearing specialist fishes in their possession of the Weberian apparatus, a conductive multi-ossicle chain linking the inner ear and swim bladder that is analogous to the middle ear ossicles of the mammalian tetrapods. Work with laboratory animals has produced considerable insight into the role of Weberian apparatus in increasing the range and lowering the threshold of frequencies Otophysian fish are capable of perceiving as well as some understanding of the mechanistic functioning of the system. Despite this, the evolution of this apparatus, particularly in light of ecology, has largely been understudied. The goal of this project is to understand the diversity and evolution of the Weberian apparatus of catfishes by linking shape variation with potential evolutionary drivers.
Role: This position will involve data collection and analysis for a project comparing the Weberian apparatus of fresh- and saltwater catfishes using CT image data. This will involve image segmentation, mesh generation, and landmarking for geometric morphometric analysis. The student will also assist the lab with digital data curation and wet lab work such as dissections as the need arises. This work may result in a student-led poster presentation at a conference such as the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists or the Annual Meeting of Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology.
Qualifications: There are no experience or physical capability requirements. The student must be comfortable handling fresh and preserved specimens.Previous coursework or familiarity with vertebrate anatomy and morphology is helpful. Reliable, organized, and communicative candidates are preferred. After training, the apprentice should be able to perform tasks independently.
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Jennifer Hoeflich
Hours: to be negotiated
Related website: https://ib.berkeley.edu/labs/liu/
Arts & Humanities Biological & Health Sciences