Yifu Pei

Research interest

My main interest is to study if the learning behavior of insects evolves independently for each different learning context. For example the learning rate of parasitic wasps which use olfactory and visual cues to find hosts and food. The aim of my study is to answer if the rate of learning is correlated between learning with different cues and rewards, and are there common genetic mechanisms underlying learning in different contexts. My experimental work will include sequence and expression analysis of candidate genes involved in learning processes, selection experiments and behavioral assays.

Selected Publications

Research project

Correlated evolution of learning rate in parasitoids

Associative learning is a form of behavioural plasticity by which organisms can match their behaviour to the requirements of their current environment. Learning plays a role in a multitude of behaviours, but the optimal rate of learning for each behaviour depends on associated costs and ecological conditions. Low learning rate can be costly due to prolonged suboptimal performance, whereas high learning rate may result in storing irrelevant or misleading information. However, if learning rate and memory dynamics are governed by shared regulatory pathways, correlated evolution across different learning contexts may prevent optimal levels of learning rate.

Specific objectives:
1) Determine the extent of correlated plasticity in foraging behaviour by comparing learning rate across cues and reward types for two closely related species.
2) Perform artificial selection experiments on learning rate to assess correlated responses in learning rate for other reward types and cues.
3) Elucidate the underlying pathways engaged in learning in order to identify shared molecular responses involved in learning rate in different contexts. 

Participants:
Yifu Pei, Prof. Dr. Jacintha Ellers, Dr. Hans M. Smid, Prof. Dr. Louise E.M. Vet, Prof. Dr. N.M. van Straalen, Ing. Janine Mariën, Prof. Dr. Jack H. Werren