Research Interest(s):
I am interested in the evolution of cognitive behavior from a functional perspective. I am particularly interested in the relationship between an animal's learning abilities and its ecology and life history. My research focuses on cephalopods (octopuses, cuttlefish, and squids) because they have large, complex brains compared to other invertebrates but we do not yet know why. In my laboratory group, we are currently studying learning and communication in octopuses, cuttlefishes, and squids. Students are currently participating in research here in my laboratory and at marine laboratories in Massachusetts, Texas, and France.
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Selected Publication(s): (*student)
Hvorecny*, L.M., Grudowski*, J.L., Blakeslee*, C.J., Simmons*, T.L., Roy*, P.R., Brooks*, J.A., Hanner*, R.M., Beigel*, M.E., Karson, M.A., Nichols*, R.H., Holm*, J.B., & J.G. Boal. In Press. Octopuses ( Octopus bimaculoides ) and cuttlefishes ( Sepia pharaonis, S. officinalis ) can conditionally discriminate. Animal Cognition. Accepted 12/04/06.
Sigg*, J.E., Lloyd-Knight*, K.M., & Boal, J.G. In Press. UV Light Influences covering behavior in the urchin Lytechinus variegatus . Journal of the Marine Biological Association. Accepted 11/9/06.
Boal, J.G., Fenwick. J.W. Laterality in Octopus Eye Use? In Press. Animal Behaviour Forum. Accepted 10/20/06.
Beigel*, M, & Boal, J. 2006. The effect of habitat enrichment on the mudflat octopus. The Shape of Enrichment 15(1): 3-6.
Boal, J.G. 2006. Social Recognition: a top down view of cephalopod behavior. Vie et Milieu 56(2): 69-79.
Alves*, C., R. Chichery, J.G. Boal, L. Dickel. 2006. Orientation in the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis : response versus place learning. Animal Cognition [Epub ahead of print].
Komak*, S., L. Dickel, J.G. Boal, B.U. Budelmann. 2005. Behavioral responses of juvenile cuttlefish Sepia officinalis to local water movements. Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology 38(2): 117-125.
Boal, J.G., N. Shashar, M. Grable*, K. Vaughan*, E. Loew & R. Hanlon . 2004. Behavioral evidence for intraspecific signals with achromatic and polarized light by cuttlefish (Mollusca: Cephalopoda). Behaviour 141: 837-861.
Buresch, K.C., J.G. Boal, G.T. Nagle, J.Knowles*, R. Nobuhara, K. Sweeney* & R.T Hanlon. 2004. Experimental evidence that ovary and oviducal gland extracts influence male agonistic behavior in squids. Biological Bulletin 206: 1-3.
Karson*, M.A., Boal, J.G. and R.T. Hanlon. 2003. Experimental evidence for spatial learning in cuttlefish ( Sepia officinalis ). Journal of Comparative Psychology 117(2): 149-155.
Buresch, K.C., J.G. Boal, J. Knowles*, J. DeBose*, A. Nichols*(MU), A. Erwin*, S.D. Painter, G.T. Nagle & R.T. Hanlon. 2003. Contact chemosensory cues in egg bundles elicit male-male agonistic conflicts in the squid Loligo pealei (Mollusca: Cephalopoda). Journal of Chemical Ecology. Vol 29(3): 547-560.
Boal, J.G., Wittenberg*, K.M., & R.T. Hanlon. 2000. Observational Learning Does Not Explain Improvement in Predation Tactics by Cuttlefish (Mollusca: Cephalopoda). Behavioural Processes 52: 141-153.
Boal, J.G., A. Dunham*, K. Williams*, & R.T. Hanlon. 2000. Experimental evidence for spatial learning in octopuses. Journal of Comparative Psychology 114: 246-252.
Dickel, L, J.G. Boal & B.U. Budelmann. 2000. Effect of early experience on learning and memory in cuttlefish. Developmental Psychobiology 36: 101-110.
Shashar, N., R. Hagan*, J.G. Boal & R.T. Hanlon. 2000. Cuttlefish use polarization sensitivity in predation on silvery fish. Vision Research 40(1):71-75.
Boal, J.G. & D.K. Golden*. 1999. Distance chemoreception in the common cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis (Mollusca: Cephalopoda). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 235:307-317.
Boal, J.G., R. Hylton*, S.A. Gonzalez* & R.T. Hanlon. 1999. Effects of crowding on the social behavior of cuttlefish ( Sepia officinalis ). Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 38:49-55.
Boal, J.G. & S. Marsh*. 1999. Social recognition using chemical cues in Sepia officinalis (Mollusca: Cephalopoda). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 230:783-792 .
Boal, J.G. & S.A. Gonzalez*. 1998. The social behavior of individual oval squids ( Sepioteuthis lessoniana ) within a captive school. Ethology 104:161-178.
Boal, J.G. 1997. Female choice of males in cuttlefish (Mollusca: Cephalopoda). Behaviour 134:975-988.
Boal, J.G. 1996. Absence of social recognition in laboratory-reared cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis , L. (Mollusca: Cephalopoda). Animal Behavior 52(3): 529-537.
Boal, J.G. & J.N. Ni*. 1996. Ventilation rate of cuttlefish in response to visual stimuli. Veliger 39(4):342-347.
Boal, J.G. 1996. A review of simultaneous visual discrimination as a method of training octopuses. Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society 71:157-190.
Boal, J. 1991. Complex learning in Octopus bimaculoides . American Malacological Bulletin 9(1):75-80.
Boal, J. 1980. Pacific harbor seal ( Phoca vitulina richardii). Haul out impact on the rocky midtidal zone. Marine Ecology Progress Series 2(4):265-269.
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