Dr. Monika J.B. Eberhard

My research focusses on biotremology, especially on communication signals that are transmitted via the substrate. Arthropods have been shown to use vibratory signals for various reasons such as mate localization, species and sex recognition, predator and prey detection, and social interactions. The long evolutionary history of this communication modality, the remarkable diversity of species in which it occurs, and its role in biotic interactions provide unparalleled opportunities to ask and answer various general questions concerning species recognition, signal evolution, sexual selection, and the role of communication signals in population differentiation and speciation. Despite the extensive use of vibrational signals by animals, research on this topic is still underrepresented and many aspects of this communication mode remain unexplored.

By using Mantophasmatodea (heelwalkers), and nursery web spiders (Pisaura mirabilis) as model systems, I investigate the evolution of vibrational signals, the selective forces at work that shape such signals, and the role vibratory signals play in complex multimodal communication systems. In addition, I focus on the influence of environmental factors such as temperature on the variability and evolution of vibrational signals.

1. Bota, J. L., Schöner, M. G., Schöner, C. R., & Eberhard, M. J. B. 2022. Rustling ants: Vibrational communication performed by two Camponotus species in Borneo. Arthropod Structure & Development 70:101172. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asd.2022.101172

2. Kreuz, J. & Eberhard, M. J. B. 2022. Asymmetry of the male internal reproductive organs in Mantophasmatodea. BMC Zoology 7:4. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40850-021-00105-6

3. Dool, S. E., Picker, M. D., & Eberhard, M. J. B. 2022. Limited dispersal and local adaptation promote allopatric speciation in a biodiversity hotspot. Molecular Ecology 31:279-295. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.16219

4. Eberhard, M. J. B., Möller, T. A., & Uhl, G. 2021. Dragline silk reveals female developmental stage and mediates male vibratory courtship in the nuptial gift-giving spider Pisaura mirabilis. Ethology 127:267-277. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/eth.13124

5. Schoville, S.D., Simon, S., Bai, M., Beethem, Z., Dudko, R.Y., Eberhard, M.J.B., Frandsen, P., Küpper, S.C., Machida, R., Verheij, M., Willadsen, P.C., Zhou, X. & Wipfler B. 2021. Comparative transcriptomics of ice-crawlers demonstrates cold specialization constrains niche evolution in a relict lineage. Evolutionary Applications 14:360-382. doi:10.1111/eva.13120

6. Eberhard, M. J. B., Machnis, A., & Uhl, G. 2020. Condition-dependent differences in male vibratory pre-copulatory and copulatory courtship in a nuptial gift-giving spider. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 74: 138. doi:10.1007/s00265-020-02918-w

7. Eberhard, M.J.B., Metze, D. & Küpper, S.C. 2019. Causes of variability in male vibratory signals and the role of female choice in Mantophasmatodea. Behavioural Processes 166:103907. doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2019.103907

8. Küpper, S.C., Klass, K.-D., Uhl, G. & Eberhard, M.J.B. 2019. Comparative morphology of the internal female genitalia in two species of Mantophasmatodea. Zoomorphology 138:73-83. doi:10.1007/s00435-018-0421-z

9. Eberhard, M.J.B. & Treschnak, D. 2018. Variation of vibrational communication signals in animals depends on trait duration. Ethology 124:855-861. doi:10.1111/eth.12819.

10. Dool, S.E., Künzel, S., Haase, M., Picker, M.D. & Eberhard, M.J.B. 2018. Variable molecular markers for the order Mantophasmatodea. Journal of Heredity 109:477-483. (Published 1. December 2017) doi: 10.1093/jhered/esx109.

11. Eberhard, M.J.B., Schleimer J.H., Schreiber, S. & Ronacher, B. 2015. A temperature rise reduces trial-to-trial variability of locust auditory neuron responses. Journal of Neurophysiology 114: 1424-1437. doi:10.1152/jn.00980.2014. 

12. Eberhard, M.J.B., Gordon, S.D., Windmill, F.C. & Ronacher, B. 2014. Temperature effects on the tympanal membrane and auditory receptor neurons in the locust. Journal of Comparative Physiology A 200: 837-847. doi:10.1007/s00359-014-0926-y.

13. Römschied, F.A., Eberhard, M.J.B., Schleimer J.H., Ronacher, B. & Schreiber, S. 2014. Cell-intrinsic mechanisms of temperature compensation in a grasshopper sensory receptor neuron. eLife 2014;3:e02078. 

14 . Eberhard, M.J.B. & Eberhard, S.H. 2013. Evolution and Diversity of Vibrational Signals in Mantophasmatodea (Insecta). Journal of Insect Behavior 26:352–370.

15. Eberhard, M.J.B., Picker, M.D. & Klass, K.-D. 2011. Sympatry in Mantophasmatodea, with the description of a new species and phylogenetic considerations. Organisms Diversity and Evolution 11(1):43-59. 

16. Eberhard, M.J.B., Lang, D., Metscher, B., Pass, G., Picker, M.D. & Wolf, H. 2010. Structure and sensory physiology of the leg scolopidial organs in Mantophasmatodea and their role in vibrational communication. Arthropod Structure & Development 39(4):230-241.

17. Krenn, H.W., Eberhard, M.J.B., Eberhard, S.H., Hikl, A.-L., Huber, W. & Gilbert, L.E. 2009. Mechanical damage to pollen aids nutrient acquisition in Heliconius butterflies (Nymphalidae). Arthropod-Plant Interactions 3(4):203-208.

18. Eberhard, M.J.B., Pass, G., Picker, M.D., Beutel, R., Predel, R. & Gorb, S.N. 2009. Structure and Function of the Arolium of Mantophasmatodea (Insecta). Journal of Morphology 270:1247-1261.

19. Eberhard, M.J.B. 2009. Kurze Vorstellung der Ordnung Mantophasmatodea. Entomologica Austriaca 16:73-84.

20. Eberhard, M.J.B. & Picker, M.D. 2008. Vibrational Communication in two sympatric species of Mantophasmatodea (Heelwalkers). Journal of Insect Behavior 21(4):240-257.

21. Pass, G., Gereben-Krenn, B.A., Merl, M., Plant, J., Szucsich, N.U. & Tögel, M. 2006.  Phylogenetic relationships of the orders of Hexapoda: Contributions from the circulatory organs for a morphological data matrix. 2nd Dresden Meeting on Insect Phylogeny. Arthropod Systematics and Phylogeny 64(2):165-203.

22. Merl, M. & Pass, G. 2005. Die Segmentalgefäße der Insekten (The Segmental Vessels of Insects). Entomologica Austriaca 13:31-37.          

23. Graw, B., Merl, M., Provvedi, S., Moss, B. & Wagner, T. 2005. Habitat ecology of three different species of whirligig beetles (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae) in the East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania. Entomologische Zeitschrift 115(5):211-216.

24. Abdallah, A., de Mazancourt, C., Elinge, M. M., Graw, B., Grzesiuk, M., Henson, K., Kamoga, M., Kolodziejska, I., Kristersson, H., Kuria, A., Leonhartsberger, P., Matemba, R. B., Merl, M., Moss, B., Minto, C., Murfitt, E., Musila, S. N., Nhayishiniya, J., Nuhu, D., Oduro, D. J., Provvedi, Rasoma, R. V., Ratsoavina, F., Trevelayn, R., Tumanye, N., Ujoh, V. N., van der Wiel, G., Wagner, T., Waylen, K. & Yonas, M. 2004. Comparative studies on the structure of an upland African stream ecosystem. Freshwater Forum 21:27-47.

Academic CV

since 2023: Lecturer, IZS, University of Hamburg, Germany

2014 - 2023: Assistant Professor (non-tenure-track) in the group of Prof. Gabriele Uhl, General and Systematic Zoology, Zoological Institute and Museum, University Greifswald

2015 & 2011: Research stays at the Centre for Ultrasonic Engineering, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, UK, Collaborator: Dr. James Windmill, Dr. Shira Gordon

2010 - 2014: PostDoc in the group of Prof. Bernhard Ronacher, Behavioural Physiology, Department of Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany

2009: Research stay at the Senckenberg Natural History Collections Dresden, Museum of Zoology, Collaborator: Dr. Klaus-Dieter Klass

2009: Dissertation thesis “Vibrational Communication of Mantophasmatodea (Insecta)” at the Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna
Supervisors: Prof. Günther Pass, University of Vienna & Prof. Mike D. Picker, University of Cape Town

2008: Research stay in the group of Prof. Harald Wolf, Institute for Neurobiology, University of Ulm, Germany

2006/2007: Affiliate PhD student in the group of Prof. Mike D. Picker, Zoology Department, University of Cape Town, South Africa

2005: Diploma thesis “The Segmental Vessels of Insects” at the Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Austria (Prof. Günther Pass)

Scholarships, awards, and grants

2022 – 2025 DFG-Project EB533/4-1: “Chemical and vibratory communication: testing the role of spider silk in a reproductive context”

2015 - 2018: DFG-Project 533/2-1: “Vibrational Communication Signals in Mantophasmatodea: Species Recognition, Sexual Selection, and Population Differentiation”

2015: Polytec Young Researcher Award, International Symposium Vibrational Communication in Arthropods, DGaaE-Tagung, Frankfurt/Main

2013: ISV 2013 Scholarship, Society for Experimental Biology

2010: doc.award, University of Vienna for an outstanding dissertation thesis

2009: Förderungspreis der ÖEG, Austrian Entomological Society

2009: Young Investigator Stipend, German Neuroscience Society

2008/09: L’Oréal For Women in Science, L’Oréal Austria, Austrian UNESCO-Commission, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Austrian Federal Ministry of Science and Research

2008: Research Grant for Doctoral Candidates and Young Academics and Scientists from the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)

2007: Forschungsstipendium F105-B, University of Vienna

2006: Scholarship, University of Vienna (Förderungsstipendium)

2006: Windhag-Stipendium, Land Niederösterreich, Austria

2005: Maria-Schaumayer Stiftung (Vienna), award for an outstanding diploma thesis

Professional Affiliations       

since 2015 Associate Editor “Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny”

since 2010 Member of the Editorial Board “Organisms, Diversity and Evolution”

German Zoological Society (DZG), Speaker FG Evolutionary Biology (2018 - 2023)

European Society of Arachnology

Entomological Society of America (ESA)

Ethologische Gesellschaft e.V.

Deutsche Gesellschaft für allgemeine und angewandte Entomologie (DGaaE)

Austrian Entomological Society (ÖEG)

International Society for Invertebrate Morphology (ISIM)