YACK LAB
People
Dr. Jayne Yack
Principal Investigator
Jayne is interested in animal sensory systems, with a particular focus on insect bioacoustics. Projects in her neuroethology lab incorporate a variety of approaches and methods (bioacoustics, behaviour, genetics, neurophysiology, phylogenetics) and organisms (beetles, moths, butterflies, caterpillars, earthworms).
Chanchal Yadav
Chanchal is studying proximate mechanisms of larval social behaviour, with a focus on vibroacoustics and sociogenomics.
Ph.D. Candidate
Melanie Scallion
Melanie is studying the evolution of defensive sounds in silk and hawkmoth caterpillars (Bombycoidea).
Ph.D. Candidate
Mairelys Naranjo
Mairelys is studying courtship communication in moths and vibratory sensitivity in caterpillars.
Lab Assistant
Elham Arjomandi
Elham (Elly) is studying acoustic communication in bark beetles.
Ph.D. Candidate
Amanda Dookie
Amanda is studying caterpillar defense sounds and predator-prey interactions.
Ph.D. student (defended!)
Conrado Denadai
Conrado is studying vibration sensitive sensory organs in caterpillars.
M.Sc. Candidate (defended)
Emily Huxter
Emily is studying the effects of inflated wing veins on hearing in butterflies.
Undergraduate Thesis Student
Julia Craig
Undergraduate Honours Thesis Student (completed)
Julia is studying hearing in butterflies.
Jared Gaudet
Undergraduate Honours Thesis Student
Jared is studying the effects of anthropogenic noise on vibratory communication in caterpillars.
Former students
Graduate students
Carrie Sun
Do butterflies use hearing aids? Investigating the structure and function of inflated wing veins in Nymphalidae
Andras Dobai
“Can you hear me?” Investigating the acoustic communication signals and receptor organs of bark beetles
Amanda Lindeman
Acoustic communication in bark beetles with a focus on Dendroctonus species
Christian Nathan
Complex vibratory signaling and putative receptor organs in the masked birch caterpillar, Drepana arcuata (Lepidoptera)
Mathias Kaiser
Acoustics of Mountain Pine Beetle and Lodgepole Pine
Andrew Mikhail
Hearing in butterflies: Neurophysiological characterization of afferents in Morpho peleides
Laura McMillan
Neurophysiology of hearing in butterflies
Jaclyn Scott
Evolution of vibrational signaling in Hook-tip moth caterpillars
Sen Sivalinghem
Acoustic communication in the pine engraver bark beetle (Ips pini)
Jean Paul Fournier
Neuroethology of butterfly hearing
Sarah Matheson
Vibratory spacing in larvae of the dutch elm beetle
Veronica Bura
Evolution of defensive acoustics in silk and hawk moth larvae (Bombycoidea)
Ombor Mitra
Vibration sensitivity in earthworms
Alan Fleming
Acoustic communication in bark beetles (Scolytidae)
Chantel Taylor
Near-field sound reception in Monarch caterpillars (Danaus plexipus)
Katie Lucas
Neuroethology of hearing in Nymphalidae butterflies
Shannon Mahony
Structure and function of Vogel's Organ in
the Speckled Wood Butterfly (Pararge aegeria)
Sarah Brown
Clicking caterpillars: Acoustic aposematism in Bombycoidea
Undergraduate students
Brianna Raven
Michelle Leveille
Lyn Vakulenko
Alyssa Rochefort
Udara Kandegedara
Jordan Huffman
Terry Gall
Kyle LeMay
Courtney Young
Jaime Saxl
Chelsea Stunden
Madison Vidovic
Chelsey Blackman
Asha Toner
Colleen O’Conner
Megan Goulding
Ali Moore
Rajeet Lidhar
Cynthia Prazeres
Joel Buffam
Caitlin Preston
Corey Cougle
Amen Obasohan
Caitlin Grant
Tamara Nevills
Justin Hick
Jenn Mongrain
Sharleen Gill
Sarah Bond
Nadia Kusters
Jessica King
Antoine Hnain
Atif Kukaswadia
Karla Lane
Rebecca Lynes
Amber Dugal
Tiffany Timbers
Brett Painter
Caitlin Saunders
Anne Jose
Barbara Frei
Chris MclIhinney
Other visitors
Alexis Williams
Artists Program
Mikhel Sikhand
Research Technician
Michael Forceno
Work study student
Dr. Raul Guedes
Larval Neuroethology/Acoustic Communication
Sabbatical visitor
Veronica Bura
Laboratory Technician
Animal Care
Dr. Jeff Dawson
Postdoctoral Fellow
Neuroethology of Insect Auditory Systems
Alan Fleming
Technician
Tiffany Soo
High School Co-op student
Data analysis on vibrational communication