Lea Vodjerek

Research Interest

I am an ecologist with broad interests in all aspects of animal behavior and cognition. In particular, I am curious about the female mate choice and what traits make a male more desirable, and also social learning and social dynamics, as well as problem solving in both social and non-social species. 

My current doctoral research, titled "Pregnancy replacement in mammals – all costs or hidden benefits for females?" centers on unraveling the complexities of female mate choice. Through experiments with bank voles, I explore the adaptive and mechanistic aspects of pregnancy replacement, more specifically how females make crucial decisions in selecting mates. The study involves manipulating male quality, examining male-relatedness to females, and investigating male infanticidal tendencies and personality matching.

This research aims to provide valuable insights into female decision-making processes, shedding light on the influence of male behavior and traits.