Leigh Paradis ’23
How social behavior and interactions scale with group size in Drosophila melanogaster.
Leigh Paradis ’23, Biology and Neuroscience Program
Faculty Mentor: Dr. James Waters, Biology
The goal of this research project was to quantify interaction patterns in groups of fruit flies and determine if flies show evidence for a linear or non-linear effect of group size on their behavior. Specifically, I tested whether flies interact with each other at a constant rate, whether this depends on density or group size, and whether their interaction patterns correlate with overall energy use and metabolic rates. This research questions common assumptions about the differences between eusocial societies such as ants and bees and the solitary lives of other animals.
Poster Presentation: Tuesday, April 26, 12 – 2 p.m.
