Kari Bohn Research Assistant Auditory Neurethology Laboratory University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742 Contact  Information Degrees,  Positions Interests Research

Contact Information

E-mail:       kbohn@psyc.umd.edu
Telephone:   301-405-0374 (batlab)

Degrees, Positions

BS Ecology Animal behaviour and Evolution	University of california, San Diego	1999
Research Associate, BATLAB	University of Maryland	2000-present

Interests

My interests include physiology, behaviour, communication and evolution. Future goals include a graduate degree in biology or conservation biology, or a professional degree in veterinary science.

Research

I joined the neuroethology laboratory in May of 2000 after gaining experience in the field with bats and completing a bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Animal Behavior and Evolution at the University of California, San Diego. I am working on flight behavior experiments and researching the possible importance of stable IPI groups to the bats’ perception of its environment and the tracking of targets. Stable IPI groups have been observed in sound recordings of Eptesicus fucus in the wild as well as in the laboratory. In particular, I am interested in the changes in the flight and vocal behavior of these bats as they learn to track and capture targets in a “cluttered” acoustical environment. The results from these experiments combined with those of previous seasons will be presented at the ARO conference in January. I am also participating in the collection and analysis of data from experiments with free flying praying mantids that can hear and react to the bats’ vocalizations, diving to avoid being caught. In a third set of experiments I am working with Kaushik Ghose on a project involving an obstacle course in the flight room and beam aim measurements. Finally, I have always been interested in Veterinary Science and spend a fair amount of time capturing bats and aiding with their care while in captivity. I have applied to veterinary school for the entering class of 2002 and hope to pursue a career in wildlife veterinary medicine.