Dr. Cordula V. Mora

	Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
	Email: cordula.mora@gmail.com
	Phone: +1-(919)-593-5945

Academic Appointments:

Education:

Main Research Interests:

• Spatial and temporal aspects of animal orientation, including migration and navigation.

• Magnetoreception in animals.

• Chronobiology.

• Sensory physiology and neurobiology.

• Animal psychophysics.

• Use of computer modelling and statistical analysis in biology.

• Animal behaviour and ecology.

If I had to describe my research interests in one sentence then I would have to say that I am curious to find out how animals orientate in space and time, that is how animals know where to go (animal orientation) and when to display their diverse behaviours (chronobiology).

In relation to the spatial aspects of animal orientation, I am particularly interested in the study of the magnetic sense as a sensory system and how it is used by animals to orientate. Magnetic field intensity information varies systematically on a global scale and is temporally very stable. Consequently, species which migrate or home over great distances would be likely to benefit from a sense that can take advantage of such spatial information. Only over the last 25 years has the existence of the magnetic sense become accepted among researchers as a real sensory system and there is now evidence for magnetic sensitivity in a variety of species ranging from bacteria and honey bees to many birds and even whales. The ultimate goal is to develop a coherent understanding of the location, mechanism, and use of the magnetic sense in different animals. We also know virtually nothing about the evolution of this sensory system and the development of the magnetic sense during the early life stages of individual magnetosensitive species. Recently I have also become interested in vision as a sensory system and its role in orientation behaviours as well as conservation sensory biology.

For my MSc-thesis (Biological Sciences) I behaviourally demonstrated the existence of the magnetic sense in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). My PhD-thesis (Biological Sciences) examined the magnetic sense of homing pigeons (Columba livia) through both field and laboratory experiments.

My current research is concerned with the sensory abilities of sea turtles. I am investigating the magnetic sense and visual abilities (colour vision, polarized light vision, and flicker fusion frequency) of juvenile loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). I am also trying to develop a new behavioural technique that will merge traditional orientation arena approaches with conditioning procedures. My aim is to use this technique to study in the laboratory how sea turtles may use spatial information provided by the Earths magnetic field to navigate.

Academic Prizes, Scholarships, & Fellowships:

Teaching Experience:

Publications:

1. Mora, C.V., Davison, M.C., Wild, M.J., and Walker, M.M. (2004). Conditioned magnetoreception and its mechanism in the homing pigeon (Columba livia). Nature 7016, 508-511.

2. Mora, C.V. (2002). Experimental analysis of the magnetic sense in the homing pigeon (Columba livia). PhD Thesis in Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand.

3. Haugh, C.V., Wiltschko, R., Wiltschko, W., and Walker, M.M. (2001). P-GPS (Pigeon Geomagnetic Positioning System): I. Consistent effect of attached magnets on initial orientation of homing pigeons (Columba livia). IN: Orientation and Navigation: Birds, Humans, and Other Animals Proceedings of the Spring Conference, The Royal Institute of Navigation, London.

4. Haugh, C.V., Davison, M.C., Wild, M.J., and Walker, M.M. (2001). P-GPS (Pigeon Geomagnetic Positioning System): I. Conditioning analysis of magnetoreception and its mechanism in the homing pigeon (Columba livia). IN: Orientation and Navigation: Birds, Humans, and Other Animals Proceedings of the Spring Conference, The Royal Institute of Navigation, London.

5. Haugh, C.V. and Walker, M.M. (1998). Magnetic discrimination learning in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).  Journal of Navigation 51(1): 35-45.

6. Wiltschko, R., Haugh, C.V., Walker, M.M., and Wiltschko, W. (1997). Pigeon homing: suncompass use in the Southern Hemisphere. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology 43: 297-300.

7. Walker, M.M., Diebel, C.E., Haugh, C.V., Pankhurst, P.M., Montgomery, J.C., and Green, C.R. (1997). A nose for north? The vertebrate magnetic sense. Nature 390, 371-376.

8. Haugh, C.V. and Walker, M.M. (1997). Magnetic discrimination learning in rainbow trout. IN: Orientation and Navigation: Birds, Humans, and Other Animals Proceedings of the Spring Conference, The Royal Institute of Navigation, London.

9. Haugh, C.V. (1996). Behavioural testing of magnetic sensitivity in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Master of Science Thesis, University of Auckland, New Zealand.

Scientific Conferences: