Current Member - Dr. Miriam Liedvogel
Research Fellow: Marie-Curie Fellow.
Dr. Miriam Liedvogel
Details
Name: Dr. Miriam Liedvogel
Position: Marie-Curie Fellow
Email: miriam.liedvogel@zoo.ox.ac.uk
Autobiography
I studied Biology in Heidelberg and Berlin (GER) (1998-2001) and came to Oxford (UK) in 2001 for an MSc in Integrated Biosciences, during which I carried out research projects on survival rate estimation of Manx Shearwater, and Drosophila genetics. During my PhD studies at the University of Oldenburg (GER) I was focussing on understanding the mechanisms of magnetic compass orientation in migratory birds. As a Marie Curie Fellow at the EGI, I am now working on ecological genetics of the timing of breeding in great tits.
Research Activities
Magnetic compass orientation in migratory birds: During my PhD studies, I aimed to link behavioural phenomena to their underlying molecular mechanisms. The two key questions I addressed were: (1) How can migratory birds perceive directional information from the Earth's magnetic field, and (2) how do they integrate this information for compass orientation during their migratory flights? Our results provide evidence on the behavioural, molecular as well as cognitive level supporting a light-mediated magnetoperception mechanism in night-migratory birds.
Ecological genetics of the timing of breeding: My current project is an extension of this general integrative approach into a field situation, though in a different biological context. Most organisms inhabit environments that vary in time and space, often showing dramatic seasonal variation. Consequently, organisms have evolved mechanisms that enable them to track the variation in their environment and exploit critical resources effectively. The timing of reproduction in birds, which varies considerably within populations and is often under strong natural selection, is an excellent model for studying individual responses to the environment. My project aims to address the within-population fitness consequences of genetic variation in wild bird populations, with particular reference to the timing of reproduction.
Selected Recent Papers
Liedvogel, M., Szulkin, M., Knowles, S.C.L., Wood, M., Sheldon, B.C. 2009. Phenotypic correlates of variation at the Clock gene in a wild blue tit population: evidence for a role in seasonal timing of reproduction. Molecular Ecology 18, 2444-2456. | Read abstract/paper online | Front cover
Mouritsen, H., Feenders, G., Hegemann, A., Liedvogel, M. 2009. Thermal paper can replace typewriter correction paper in Emlen funnels. Journal of Ornithology | Read paper online
Feenders, G., Liedvogel, M., Rivas, M., Zapka, M., Horita, H., Hara, E., Wada, K., Mouritsen, H. & Jarvis, E.D. 2008. Molecular mapping of movement-associated areas in the avian brain: a motor theory for vocal learning origin. PLoS ONE 3, e1768. | Read abstract/paper online
Liedvogel, M., Maeda, K., Henbest, K., Schleicher, E., Simon, T., Timmel, C.R., Hore, P.J., & Mouritsen, H. 2007. Chemical magnetoreception: Bird cryptochrome 1a is excited by blue light and forms long-lived radical-pairs. PLoS ONE 2, e1106. | Read abstract/paper online
Liedvogel, M., Feenders, G., Wada, K., Troje, N.F. Jarvis, E.D. & Mouritsen, H. 2007. Lateralized activation of Cluster N in the brains of migratory songbirds. European Journal of Neuroscience 25, 1166-1173. | Read abstract/paper online
Mouritsen, H., Feenders, G., Liedvogel, M., Wada, K. & Jarvis, E.D. 2005. A night vision brain area in migratory songbirds. PNAS 102, 8339-8344. | Read abstract/paper online
Mouritsen, H., Janssen-Bienhold, U., Liedvogel, M., Feenders, G., Stalleicken, J., Dirks, P. & Weiler, R. 2004. Cryptochromes and activity markers co-localize in bird retina during magnetic orientation. PNAS 101, 14294-14299.| Read abstract/paper online
Mouritsen, H., Feenders, G., Liedvogel, M. & Kropp, W. 2004. Migratory birds use head scans to detect the direction of the Earth's magnetic field. Current Biology 14, 1946-1949. | Read abstract/paper online
Popular Science
Liedvogel, M. 2009. The Cryptochrome Controversy. Navigation News Jan/Feb 09, 24-26.
