BRIEF CV WITH RECENT PUBLICATIONS - TROND AMUNDSEN

Current positionProfessor of Ethology

Current institutionDepartment of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Phone +47 73 596293, Mobile +47 91 897293, Fax +47 73 596100, email: trond.amundsen@bio.ntnu.no.

Professional qualifications

Dr.philos. (PhD), University of Oslo 1994

Associate Professor in ethology, University of Trondheim/NTNU, 1991-1998

Professor of Ethology, NTNU (1998-present)

Sabbaticals at Uppsala University, Göteborg University and University of Queensland, Brisbane.

Research profile

My research is focused on the evolutionary understanding of animal behaviour. I have a primary interest in the dynamics of reproduction, including behavioral and ecological factors that promote or constrain reproduction. A particular focus is on parental care and sexual selection, and the interplay between these two processes. In addressing these topics, I have studied a wide range of fish and bird species. My current research is focused on three main topics: (1) Sex role dynamics, (2) Female ornamentation in relation to male mate choice and female-female competition, and (2) Social and genetic mating systems; all of these relating to the larger issue of animal signaling. My current main model species is the two-spotted goby (Gobiusculus flavescens), a small but ecologically important marine fish. I have also recently initiated a project on coral reef fish coloration, diversity and speciation. While my research has consistently been directed at understanding basic biological processes, the work is also aimed to address issues related to environmental impacts and climate change. My research involves collaboration with specialists around the world, and with students, post-docs and senior researchers at my NTNU lab.

Project management

-“Sexual selection and parental care in bluethroats” (1991-2003)

-“Reproductive dynamics, mate choice and sex roles in two-spotted gobies” (1997-present).

-“Reef fish coloration: sexual selection, diversity and speciation” (2009-2012)

-Numerous smaller projects (on e.g. shags, Antarctic seabirds, titmice and flycatchers, minnows, gobies, guppies)

Funding

The Research Council of Norway, NORFA, EU, Norwegian Academy of Science, The Royal Norwegian Society of Science and Letters, Royal Swedish Academy of Science, Nordic Marine Academy, etc.

Meetings and workshops

-Have attended a large number of conferences and workshops (mostly talks, some posters)

-Invited plenary or symposium speaker at several international meetings and workshops

-Have organized several international workshops, symposia and PhD courses

Supervision of graduate studies

MScCompleted : 20, Current: 1.

PhDCompleted: 6, Current: 3.

Post-doc Previous: Pélabon, Mobley, Current: Walker.

Collaborations

Currently with scientists in the UK, USA, Australia, Uruguay, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway.

Teaching

Extensive teaching experience in ethology, ecology, evolution, philosophy of science; all levels (undergraduate to PhD).

Media coverage

My research has received wide media attention, including national and international TV and radio, national and international newspapers (including New York Times and The Independent), national and international popular science magazines (e.g. National Geographic, Scientific American, Science News, Illustrert Vitenskap), etc.

Publications 2000-2009 (peer reviewed journal articles, book chapters, books)

(* Papers with students or post-docs of mine as first authors)

*de Jong, K., Wacker, S., Amundsen, T. & Forsgren, E. (2009). Do operational sex ratio and density affect mating behaviour? An experiment on the two-spotted goby. Animal Behaviour, 78: 1229-1238.

*Svensson, P.A., Blount, J.D., Forsgren, E. & Amundsen, T. (2009). Female ornamentation and egg carotenoids of six sympatric gobies. Journal of Fish Biology, 75: 2777-2787. DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2009.02478.x

Barber, I., Davies, A.J., Ironside, J.E., Forsgren, E. & Amundsen, T. (2009). First record of a Kabatana sp. microsporidium infecting fish in the Atlantic Ocean. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 83: 145-152. DOI: 10.3354/dao02019

*Mobley, K.B., Amundsen, T., Forsgren, E., Svensson, P.A. & Jones, A.G. (2009). Multiple mating and a low incidence of cuckoldry for nest-holding males in the two-spotted goby, Gobiusculus flavescens. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 9:6. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-9-6

*Svensson, P.A., Pélabon, C., Blount, J.D., Forsgren, E., Bjerkeng, B. & Amundsen, T. (2009). Temporal variability in a multicomponent trait: nuptial coloration of female two-spotted gobies. Behavioral Ecology, 20: 346-353. DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arn154

*Pärn, H., Lindström, K., Sandell, M. & Amundsen, T. (2008). Female aggressive response and hormonal correlates – an intrusion experiment in a free-living passerine. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 62: 1665-1677.

Sköld, H.N., Amundsen, T., Svensson, P.A., Mayer, I., Bjelvenmark, J. & Forsgren, E. (2008). Hormonal regulation of female nuptial coloration in a fish. Hormones and Behavior, 54: 549-556.

Amundsen, T. & Pärn, H. (2006). Female coloration: review of functional and non-functional hypotheses. In: Bird Coloration, Vol. 2. Function and Evolution, pp. 280-345 (eds. Hill, G.E. and McGraw, K.J.). Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass.

*Borg, Å.A., Forsgren, E. & Amundsen, T. (2006). Seasonal change in female choice for male size in the two-spotted goby. Animal Behaviour, 72: 763-771. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2005.11.025

*Borg, Å.A., Rosenqvist, G., Amundsen, T. & Forsgren, E. (2006). Presence of same sex individuals negatively affects egg maturation in female guppies (Poecilia reticulata). Behaviour, 143: 747-761.

*Svensson, P.A., Pélabon, C., Blount, J.D., Surai, P.T. & Amundsen, T. (2006). Does female nuptial coloration reflect egg carotenoids and clutch quality in the two-spotted goby (Gobiusculus flavescens, Gobiidae)? Functional Ecology, 20: 689-698.

*Pärn, H., Lifjeld, J.T. & Amundsen, T. (2005). Female coloration does not reflect cell-mediated immune response in bluethroats Luscinia s. svecica. Oecologia, 146: 496-504.

*Pélabon, C., Borg, Å.A., Bjelvenmark, J., Barber, I., Forsgren, E. & Amundsen, T. (2005). Do microsporidian parasites affect courtship in two-spotted gobies? Marine Biology, 148: 189-196.

*Svensson, P.A., Amundsen, T., Forsgren, E. & Sköld, H.N. (2005). Chromatic interaction between egg pigmentation and skin chromatophores in the nuptial coloration of female two-spotted gobies. Journal of Experimental Biology, 208: 4391-4397.

Forsgren, E., Amundsen, T., Borg, Å.A. & Bjelvenmark, J. (2004). Unusually dynamic sex roles in a fish. Nature, 429: 551-554.

Amundsen, T. (2003). Fishes as models in studies of sexual selection and parental care. Journal of Fish Biology, 63 (suppl. A): 17-52.

Amundsen, T. & Forsgren, E. (2003). Male preference for colourful females affected by male size in a marine fish. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 54: 55-64.

*Pélabon, C., Borg, Å.A., Bjelvenmark, J., Forsgren, E., Barber, I. & Amundsen, T. (2003). Do male two-spotted gobies prefer large fecund females? Behavioral Ecology, 14: 787-792.

*Smiseth, P.T., Bu, R.J., Eikenæs, A.K. & Amundsen, T. (2003). Food limitation in asynchronous bluethroat broods: effects on food distribution, nestling begging and parental provisioning rules. Behavioral Ecology, 14: 793-801.

Amundsen, T., Brobakken, P.T., Moksnes, A. & Røskaft, E. (2002). Rejection of cuckoo Cuculus canorus eggs in relation to female age in the bluethroat Luscinia svecica. Journal of Avian Biology, 33: 366-370.

*Smiseth, P.T. & Amundsen, T. (2002). Senior and junior nestlings in asynchronous bluethroat broods differ in their effectiveness of begging. Evolutionary Ecology Research, 4: 1177-1189.

Amundsen, T. & Forsgren, E. (2001). Male mate choice selects for female coloration in a fish. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, 98: 13155-13160.

Johnsen, A., Lifjeld, J.T., Andersson, S., Örnborg, J. & Amundsen, T. (2001). Male characteristics and fertilization success in bluethroats. Behaviour, 138: 1371-1390.

*Smiseth, P.T., Örnborg, J., Andersson, S. & Amundsen, T. (2001). Is male plumage reflectance correlated with paternal care in bluethroats? Behavioral Ecology, 12: 164-170.

Amundsen, T. (2000). Why are female birds ornamented? Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 15: 149-155.

Amundsen, T. (2000). Female ornaments: genetically correlated or sexually selected? In: Espmark, Y., Amundsen, T. & Rosenqvist, G. (Eds.), Animal Signals: Signalling and Signal Design in Animal Communication, pp. 133-154. Tapir Academic Press, Trondheim.

Amundsen, T. (2000). Female ornamentation, mate choice and sexual selection. Reply. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 15: 471-472.

Espmark, Y., Amundsen, T. & Rosenqvist, G. (Eds.) (2000). Animal Signals: Signalling and Signal Design in Animal Communication. Tapir Academic Press, Trondheim.

Johnsen, A., Fiske, P., Amundsen, T., Lifjeld, J.T. & Rohde, P.A. (2000). Colour bands, mate choice and paternity in the bluethroat. Animal Behaviour, 59: 111-119.

Lorentsen, S.-H., Amundsen, T., Anthonisen, K. & Lifjeld, J.T. (2000). Molecular evidence for extrapair paternity and female-female pairs in Antarctic Petrels. Auk, 117: 1050-1055.

*Smiseth, P.T. & Amundsen, T. (2000). Does female plumage coloration signal parental quality? A male removal experiment with the bluethroat. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 47: 205-212.

Citations: >1500 (ISI Web of Knowledge)