Daniela Perez

BEHAVIOURAL ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION

About me

I’m a biologist fascinated by the mesmerising diversity of animal behaviours that we see in nature. What drives this variety? How do social interactions, life-history traits, and environmental forces intertwine to shape the spectacular range of behaviours we see across species?

To answer these questions, I use key study species as model systems to explore broad evolutionary principles while uncovering unique, often surprising aspects of animal behaviour. My approach combines data from diverse sources — online databases, museum collections, and global field collections and collaborations — to perform large-scale macroevolutionary investigations. Alongside this, I design targeted field and laboratory experiments to manipulate and test for ecological effects and unveil the adaptive meaning of these behaviour.

I’m currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Genes and Behavior Lab at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior where I study collective behaviour in nematodes. My current project delves into the adaptive significance and conditions that lead to remarkable and little-explored 3D collective phenomenon: worm towers — dynamic structures formed by nematode groups that challenge our understanding of competition and cooperation for collective dispersal.

Beyond my science, I love using artwork to convey general research to the public. To me, visual arts is the most powerful tool to translate science to all audiences.

Current research

A *C. elegans* worm tower expressing GFP

COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOUR

Some animals finely coordinate behaviours in large aggregations. A notable example of this is the aggregations formed during swarming movement and towering in roundworms (Caenorhabditis elegans). We manipulate the social contexts and the genetic makeup of these animals to unveil the adaptive meaning, and the core mechanisms and conditions that lead to complex collective group decisions.

CURRENT COLLABORATION: SERENA DING, YOUNJAE KANG, NARCIS FONT MASSOT, RYAN GREENWAY, ASSAF PERTZELAN, THOMAS STIER

Video abstract on our first worm tower paper. Credits: Imran Razik

BIRD courtship diversity

Bird species that display in Lek are under substantial pressure to attract the opposite sex and display extravagant courtship signals. We have recently identified that males and females display syntax across species and that more elaborate displays are more organised. We investigate this dynamics at the species level in Chiroxiphia caudata and across a global set of Lek bird species.

CURRENT COLLABORATIONS: RAFAEL FRATONI, LILIAN MANICA, SABRINA ARAUJO

Chiroxiphia caudata males displaying to a female Photo credit: LECO — ***Chiroxiphia*** *caudata* males displaying to a female Photo credit: LECO

Past research

FIDDLER CRAB BEHAVIOURAL ECOLOGY

I conducted extensive research on the behavioural ecology of fiddler crabs, focusing on sexual selection. My work examined male–male agonistic interactions, female mate preferences, and species recognition. Many of these studies employed robotic crabs to experimentally manipulate courtship behaviours and test female preferences.

THE EVOLUTION OF EXTENDED PHENOTYPES

Extended phenotypes are a great way to quantify animal behaviour, and one of the best-known examples in animals is birds’ nests. I studied how nest building variation is related to ecological factors, such as climate and urbanisation.

THE EVOLUTION OF ANIMAL COLOUR

I have been involved a series of studies on the evolution of animal colour. 1. Warning signals for anti-predator defences in shield bugs and frogs; II. Thermoregulation in ants; III. Species recognition and sexual selection in fiddler crabs

Fiddler crab female choice experiment using robotic crabs. PRESS PLAY!

Birds’ nests collection from the Natural History Museum, Tring UK.

Lovely manakins. Current research with Lilian and Rafael. — Illustration of our lovely manakins.

Curriculum vitae

Daniela M. Perez

Postdoctoral researcher

Genes & Behavior lab

Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior

Germany

education & PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

2021: Postdoctoral fellow and researcher, Max-Planck Institute of Animal Behavior. PI: Dr. Serena Ding

2020 - 2021: Postdoctoral fellow and researcher, Universidade Federal do Paraná. PI: Dr. Lilian Manica

2017 - 2019: Postdoctoral research assistant and officer, The Australian National University. PI: Prof. Patricia R. Y. Backwell

2013 – 2017: PhD; Evolution, Ecology & Genetics, The Australian National University. PI: Prof. Patricia R. Y. Backwell

2010 – 2012: Master of Science; Zoology, Universidade federal do Paraná, Brazil. PI: Dr. Marcio R. Pie

2005 – 2009: Bachelor of Science; Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil

My behavioural ecology students and I 2016 :)

teaching & training

2020: Universidade Federal do Paraná, Tutor, Macroevolution and Behavioural Ecology

2016-2017: Australian National University, Demonstrator, Biol1003: Evolution, Ecology & Genetics

2016-2017: Australian National University, Tutor, Biol3132: Field Studies of Behavioural Ecology

2016: Australian National University, Demonstrator, Biol1008: Human Biology

2011: Universidade Federal do Paraná, Undergraduate student instructor, A BZ025: Ecology II

Grants & Awards

2024: Travel grant - Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour

2023 -2025: Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship, Germany.

2020: Young talent Fellowship - Brazilian Federal Foundation for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education - CAPES.

2017: Travel grant - The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour Student travel award.

2016 - 2017: Research grant - The Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment - Equity Trustees Charitable Foundation.

2016: Travel grant - Vice-chancellor's travel grant, higher degree research, The Australian National University.

2016: Travel grant - ANU Travel Grant, higher degree research students, The Australian National University.

2014: Best poster - ASSAB Conference - Katoomba, NSW, Australia.

2013 – 2017: PhD studentship - The Australian National University PhD Scholarship (International) stipend. The Australian National University HDR Merit Scholarship, tuition.

2010 – 2012: M. Sc studentship - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento Pessoal do Nível Superior, CAPES, Brazil.

2008: Best oral presentation - V Brazilian Crustacean Conference - Gramado, Brazil.

2008 – 2009: Undergraduate studentship - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, CNPq, Brazil.

publications

25. Fratoni, R.O., Perez, D.M., Araujo, S.L.B., Ribeiro, P.H.L., Manica, L.T. Dancing with peers: gestural organization of dominant males reflects the gestural organization of cooperative groups in the Swallow-tailed Manakin (Chiroxiphia caudata). In prep

24. Fratoni, R.O., Araujo, S.B.L., *Perez, D.M., *Manica, L.T. Dancers in fine feathers: the evolution of repertoire and syntax in the courtship of lekking birds. Submitted to Ecology Letters *shared senior authorship

23. Perez, D.M., Greenway, R., Stier, T., Font-Massot, N., Pertzelan, A., Ding, S.S., Towering behavior and collective dispersal in Caenorhabditis nematodes. Current Biology, 35 (12) 2980 - 2986.e4, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2025.05.026

22. Medina, I, Dong, C, Márquez , R, Perez, D.M., Wang, I, Stuart-Fox, D. Anti-predator defenses are linked with high levels of genetic differentiation in frogs. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 291, https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.2292 (2024).

21. Perez D.M., Manica L.T., Medina I. Variation in nest-building behaviour: a multi-species approach. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 378,20220145 https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2022.0145 (2023).

20. Klunk, C.L, Fratoni, R.O, Rivadeneira, C.D, Schaedler, L.M, Perez, D.M. Climate and body size have differential roles on melanism evolution across workers in a worldwide ant genus. Oecologia 199(3):579-587. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-022-05211-x (2022).

19. Medina, I., Perez, D.M., Afonso Silva, A.C., Cally, J., León, C., Mailet, O. & Quintero, I. Nest architecture is linked with ecological success in songbirds. Ecology Letters DOI: 10.1111/ele.13998 (2022).

18. Perez, D.M., Klunk, C. & Araujo, S.B.L. Imperfect synchrony in animal displays: why does it occur and what is the true role of leadership? Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 376, 20200339 (2021).

17. Harrison, L., Melo, G., Perez, D.M. & Backwell, P.R.Y. Why signal if you are not attractive? Courtship synchrony in a fiddler crab. Behavioral Ecology, arab088 (2021).

16. Perez, D.M., Gardner, J.L. & Medina, I. Climate as an evolutionary driver of nest morphology in birds: a review. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 8:566018 (2020).

15. Dyson, M.L., Perez, D.M., Curran, T., McCullough, E.L. & Backwell, P.R.Y. The role of claw color in species recognition and mate choice in a fiddler crab. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, v.74:116 (2020).

14. Medina, I., Vega-Trejo, R., Wallenius, T., Esquerré, D., León, C., Perez, D.M. & Head, M. No link between nymph and adult coloration in shield bugs: weak selection by predators. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, v.287 (2020).

13. Perez, D.M. & Backwell, P.R.Y. The functions of multiple visual signals in a fiddler crab. Ethology, v.126, 445-462 (2020).

12. Perez, D.M., Crisigiovanni, E.L., Pie, M.R., Rorato, A.C., Lopes, S.R. & Araujo, S.B.L. Ecology and signal structure drive the evolution of synchronous displays. Evolution, v.74, 434-446 (2020).

11. Perez, D.M. & Backwell, P.R.Y. Male spacing and female choice in a fiddler crab. Behavioral Ecology arz148 (2019).

10. Chou, C-C., Perez, D.M., Johns, S., Gardner, R., Kerr, K., Head, M., Mccullough, E. & Backwell, P.R.Y. Staying cool: the significance of shade availability for tropical ectotherms. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, v.73:106 (2019).

9. Perez, D.M. & Backwell, P.R.Y. Selection for conspicuous signals in a fiddler crab. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, v.73:61 (2019).

8. Bourdiol, J., Chou, C-C., Perez, D.M. & Backwell, P.R.Y. Investigating the role of a mud structure in a fiddler crab: do semidomes have a reproductive function? Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, v.72:141 (2018).

7. Rorato, A.C., Araujo, S.B.L., Perez, D.M. & Pie, M.R. Social cues affect synchronization of male waving displays in a fiddler crab. Animal Behaviour, v. 126, 293-300 (2017)

6. Perez, D.M. & Backwell, P.R.Y. Female preferences for conspecific and heterospecific wave patterns in a fiddler crab. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, v. 486, 155-159 (2017)

5. Perez, D.M. Christy, J.H. & Backwell, P.R.Y. Choosing a mate in a high predation environment: Female preference in the fiddler crab Uca terpischores. Ecology and Evolution, v. 6, 7443-7450 (2016)

4. Perez, D.M., Heatwole, S.J., Morrell, L.J., & Backwell, P.R.Y. Handedness in fiddler crab fights. Animal Behaviour, v. 110, 99–104 (2015)

3. Araujo, S.B.L., Rorato, A.C., Perez, D.M. & Pie, M.R. A spatially explicit model of synchronization in fiddler crab waving displays. Plos One, v. 8, p. 1-11 (2013).

2. Perez, D. M., Rosenberg, M.S., Pie, M.R. The evolution of waving displays in fiddler crabs (Uca spp., Crustacea: Ocypodidae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, v. 106, p. 307-315 (2012).

1. Perez, D.M., Rebechi, D., Azevedo, K.L., Schreiner, P.G., Mattia, R.C., Slowik, R., Oliveira, O.B. Controversial issues and the argumentation of students of the course of biological sciences. Ensaio: Pesquisa em Educação em Ciências, v. 13, p. 135-150 (2011).

SCIENTIFIC OUTREACH

Human societies have grown to better understand the world we live in through building scientific knowledge. Unfortunately, we witness an era of scientific denial, discouraging people to adopt environmentally friendly lifestyles. More than ever before, scientists need to ensure that the output of their research must reach and impact beyond the academic audiences.

LIVING WORM TOWERS

Our recent paper, which reveals that nematode towers function as collective dispersal structures, has received significant media attention.

CNN - https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/05/science/nematode-stacking-worms-living-towers

Science - https://www.science.org/content/article/watch-tower-worms-wriggle-single-organism

Scientific American - https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/this-tower-of-worms-is-a-squirming-superorganism/

IFL Science - https://www.iflscience.com/we-captured-something-no-one-had-documented-before-wild-worm-towers-seen-for-the-first-time-79498

New Scientist - https://www.newscientist.com/article/2482950-worms-team-up-to-form-tentacles-when-they-want-to-go-places/

Geo - https://www.geo.de/natur/tierwelt/wuermer-bauen-tuerme-aus-ihren-leibern---um-sich-transportieren-zu-lassen-35782794.html

Gizmodo - https://gizmodo.com/wild-worms-build-flesh-towers-and-are-closer-than-you-think-2000611200

Science Alert - https://www.sciencealert.com/worms-use-their-bodies-to-build-towers-as-a-wild-survival-strategy

Phys.org - https://phys.org/news/2025-06-worms-towers-nature-hitch-habitats.html

Live Science - https://www.livescience.com/animals/watch-superorganism-created-by-tiny-worms-the-first-time-its-ever-been-spotted-in-the-wild

El Pais - https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2025-06-05/these-tiny-worms-form-living-towers-to-become-super-organism.html

Bringing the World of Fiddler Crabs to the Screen

I collaborated with Wild Space Productions on a story about fiddler crabs for the Netflix documentary Our Living World. I’m currently assisting Offspring Films in gathering material for another fiddler crab story for a new BBC natural history series scheduled for release in 2017.

Sciart initiative mpi-ab and merz akademie - Re-shaping Nature

I was part of an interdisciplinary partnership between the Merz Akademie, the MPI-AB and the CASCB. Four art students created stunning science outreach projects using the data from my research on fiddler crab wave display diversity and synchrony.

Booklet by Victoria-Luise Scheible; 3D Modelling of the fiddler crab Environment “Cube“ by Isabel Kohlhagen; Virtual reality of fiddler crab burrow by Vivienne Jahn; Interactive installation of fiddler crabs wave displays diversity by Felina Russ

SCIENCE MEETS STREET ART

I was part of Science meets Street Art, a project to communicate scientific research through art.

It is a real challenge to talk about science with an audience that has limited knowledge of the field. Yet art can easily trigger the imagination, grab attention, instigate curiosity and, if well depicted, also communicate ideas.

The artist James Houl created this incredible and fun street art about my work using robotic crabs.

#ScienceWeek @colabscience

Photo credits: Andrew Sikorski

Get in touch for LECTURES, AUDIOVISUAL MATERIAL AND INTERVIEWS

I am always open for invitations. Please drop me an email if you need any audiovisual material or if you are looking for someone to give a talk about animal behaviour and other fun animal related subjects!

artwork

I’m passionate about making science visible and accessible through art. As an artist inspired by science, I’ve worked on projects ranging from research institute banners to PhD thesis covers and scientific illustrations. I am always looking for more projects to take on and I plan to expand to street art.