Maximilian Bolder
PhD Student
Curriculum Vitae
| July 2022 | PhD. Student. Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Title: Role of gene regulation in the social control of queen behavior in ants Supervisors: Dr. Romain Libbrecht, Dr. Joseph Colgan |
| 2018 - 2021 | Master of Science in Animal Biology and Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Thesis Title: “Machine learning models for recognition of season-dependent serotonin reactivity in Lasius niger.” Supervisors: Dr. Michael Stern, Prof. Dr. Klaus Jung |
| 2013 - 2018 |
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, Gottfried Willhelm Leibniz University Hannover, Thesis Title:” Generation and analysis of a mouse cytomegalovirus M25-UL25 swap-mutant.” Supervisor: Prof. rer.nat. Martin Messerle |
Research Interests
I am interested in the evolution and functioning of insect societies. I find fascinating that ants display such diversity in their strategies to establish colonies, control the production of different castes, and regulate social life. I strive to better understand this complex world of eusociality and examine some of the mechanisms that regulate ant behavior, adaptation and diversification.
PhD Project
My PhD project aims to uncover the intricate mechanisms that regulate the division of labor in ants. This fascinating aspect of social insect behavior is explored through three distinct but interrelated avenues:
- Gene Regulatory Mechanisms in Lasius niger: I investigate the genetic underpinnings of labor division in the black garden ant, Lasius niger. During the colony founding stage, queens perform all essential tasks, from nest building to brood care. Once workers emerge, the queens focus exclusively on reproduction while the workers take over other duties. Intriguingly, experiments have demonstrated that queens can revert to brood care when workers are removed, a behavior absent in their presence. I delve into potential candidate genes that may drive this remarkable behavioral flexibility.
- Behavioral Responses to Worker Presence Across Ant Species: This part of my research examines how the presence or absence of workers influences queen behavior in various ant species. Ants exhibit diverse social structures, morphologies, and behavioral patterns. I have collected data from over 50 ant species across three continents, encompassing various phylogenetic branches and life history traits. My goal is to determine if certain life history traits or phylogenetic relationships affect queens' behavioral flexibility in response to worker presence.
- Behavioral Flexibility in Polygynous and Monogynous Queens of Stigmatomma: In the basal ant genus Stigmatomma, colonies can be monogynous (with a single queen) or polygynous (with multiple queens). These queens, slightly larger than workers, occasionally leave the nest and newly mated queens often join established colonies instead of founding new ones. I investigate whether queens in polygynous colonies exhibit behavioral differences among themselves and compared to monogynous queens. Additionally, I explore how factors such as mating status influence these behaviors and their associated gene expression patterns.
By integrating these three research directions, my work aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of queen behavioral flexibility in ants. This study will shed light on the factors and mechanisms that regulate and maintain division of labor, offering insights into the variability and success of social insect societies.
Publications
Bolder, Maximilian F., Klaus Jung, and Michael Stern. "Seasonal variations of serotonin in the visual system of an ant revealed by immunofluorescence and a machine learning approach." Royal Society open science 9.2 (2022): 210932. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.210932
Contact
Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution
Maximilian Bolder
Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 15
01.470
5518 Mainz
Tel.: +49 6131 39 27853
Fax: +49 6131 39 27850
Deutschland