Irene García-Ruiz, PhD

During my postdoc at Columbia University with Prof. Dustin Rubenstein, I investigated the evolution of cooperation by exploring the phenomenon of age-dependent task specialization in vertebrates. In addition, I looked at the role of reproductive conflict mediating sociality in different ecological environments. I used a combination of theoretical models and comparative methods.

I obtained my PhD in Ecology and Evolution at the University of Bern with Prof. Michael Taborsky. I investigated different direct and indirect fitness benefits that shape the evolution of cooperative breeding, in particular the pay-to-stay and group augmentation hypothesis in connection with kin selection. I used a combination of mathematical and computational modelling, with behavioural experiments in the model species Neolamprologus pulcher, a cichlid fish from Lake Tanganyika.

I did my maters in Animal Behaviour at the University of Exeter. During my master’s thesis with Prof. Tim Fawcett, I investigated how males may adjust courtship displays depending on the number of rival signalers, and how flexible displays may coevolve with the female preference using a theoretical approach.

I received my Bachelor degree in Biology at the University of Valencia. During my bachelor’s thesis with Prof. Juan S. Monrós, I researched the phenology of emergence of different species of cave dwelling bats during their breeding period. I focused on how the raise in their energetic expense at different reproductive stages is traded against a higher predation risk of earlier emergence.