People : Principal Investigators

Andrew Iwaniuk was born in Toronto, but grew up in Edmonton. He started his university career at the University of Alberta and then transferred to Monash University in Melbourne, Australia where he completed his Honours degree under Dr. John E. Nelson. He then returned to Canada for his MSc at the University of Lethbridge on feeding behaviour in carnivores under Drs.
Pellis and Whishaw. For his PhD, he returned to Australia to focus on the evolution of the brain in birds, with much of his focus on parrots. He then worked as a post-doctoral fellow alongside Dr. Douglas Wong-Wylie at the University of Alberta on avian neuroanatomy and neurochemistry.
Finally, he completed a brief stint as a research fellow at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC where he worked on sensory specializations in extinct and rare birds.
His current research addresses two main questions: 1) how have the brain and behaviour evolved in concert with one another; and 2) what are the neurobehavioural effects of exposure to persistent organic pollutants.

Bird Brain's Lab: http://web.me.com/aniwaniuk/Bird_Brains_Lab/Welcome.html

Hall, M.I., Gutiérrez-Ibáñez, C., and Iwaniuk, A.N. (in press) The morphology of the optic foramen and activity pattern in birds. The Anatomical Record

Wylie, D.R., Gutiérrez-Ibáñez, C., Pakan, J.M.P., Iwaniuk, A.N. (in press) The optic tectum of birds: Mapping our way to understanding visual processing. Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology

Iwaniuk, A.N., Gutiérrez-Ibáñez, C., Pakan, J.M.P., and Wylie, D.R. 2009. Expression of calcium binding proteins in cerebellar- and inferior olivary-projecting neurons in the nucleus lentiformis mesencephali of pigeons. Visual Neuroscience 26: 341-347.

Iwaniuk, A.N., Lefebvre, L., and Wylie, D.R.W. 2009. The comparative approach and brain-behaviour relationships: A tool for understanding tool use. Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology 63: 150-159.

Guay, P.-J. and Iwaniuk, A.N. 2009. Inter-specific variation in relative brain size is not correlated with intensity of sexual selection in waterfowl (Anseriformes). Australian Journal of Zoology 56: 311-321.

Iwaniuk, A.N., Marzban, H., Hawkes, R., Pakan, J.M.P., Watanabe, M., and Wylie, D.R.W. 2009. Compartmentation of the cerebellar cortex of hummingbirds (Aves: Trochilidae) revealed by the expression of zebrin II and phospholipase c-beta-4. Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy 37: 55-63.

Wylie, D.R.W., Pakan, J.M.P., Gutiérrez-Ibáñez, C., and Iwaniuk, A.N. in press. Expression of calcium binding proteins in pathways from the nucleus of the basal optic root to the cerebellum in pigeons. Visual Neuroscience

Guay, P.-J. and Iwaniuk, A.N. 2008. Captive breeding reduces brain volume in waterfowl (Anseriformes). Condor 110: 276-284.

Pakan, J.M.P., Graham, D.J., Iwaniuk, A.N., and Wylie, D.R.W. 2008.
Differential projections from the vestibular nuclei to the flocculus and uvula-nodulus in pigeons (Columba livia). Journal of Comparative Neurology
508: 402-417.

Iwaniuk, A.N., Heesy, C.P., Hall, M.I., and Wylie, D.R.W. 2008. Relative Wulst volume is correlated with orbit orientation and binocular visual field in birds. Journal of Comparative Physiology A 194: 267-282.

Wylie, D.R.W., Pakan, J.M.P., Elliot, C.A., Graham, D.J., and Iwaniuk, A.N. 2007. Projections of the nucleus of the basal optic root in pigeons (Columba livia): A comparison of the morphology and distribution of neurons with different efferent projections. Visual Neuroscience 24:
691-707.

Kark, S., Iwaniuk, A.N., Schalimtzek, A., and Banker, E. 2007. Living in the city: Can anyone become an "urban exploiter"? Journal of Biogeography
34: 638-651.

Pakan, J.M.P., Iwaniuk, A.N., Wylie, D.R.W., Hawkes, R., and Marzban, H.
2007. Purkinje cell compartmentation as revealed by zebrin II expression in the cerebellar cortex of pigeons (Columba livia). Journal of Comparative Neurology 501: 619-630.

Iwaniuk, A.N., Hurd, P.L., and Wylie, D.R.W. 2007. Comparative morphology of the avian cerebellum: II. Relative size of folia. Brain, Behavior and Evolution 69: 196-219.

Iwaniuk, A.N., and Wylie, D.R.W. 2007. A neural specialization for hovering in hummingbirds: hypertrophy of the pretectal nucleus lentiformis mesencephali. Journal of Comparative Neurology 500: 211-221.

Iwaniuk, A.N. and Wylie, D.R.W. 2006. The evolution of stereopsis and the Wulst in caprimulgiform birds: A comparative analysis. Journal of Comparative Physiology A 192: 1313-1326.

Iwaniuk, A.N., Koperski, D.T, Cheng, K.M., Elliott, J.E., Smith, L.K., Wilson, L.K., and Wylie, D.R.W. 2006. The effects of environmental exposure to DDT on the brain of a songbird: changes in structures associated with mating and song. Behavioural Brain Research 173: 1-10.

Iwaniuk, A.N., Hurd, P.L. and Wylie, D.R.W. 2006. Comparative morphology of the avian cerebellum: I. Degree of foliation. Brain, Behavior and Evolution 68: 45-62.

Iwaniuk, A.N., Clayton, D.H. and Wylie, D.R.W. 2006. Echolocation, vocal learning, auditory localization and the evolution of the avian inferior colliculus (MLd). Behavioural Brain Research 167: 305-317.

Iwaniuk, A.N., Hurd, P.L., and Wylie, D.R.W. 2006. The comparative morphology of the cerebellum in caprimulgiform birds: evolutionary and functional implications. Brain, Behavior and Evolution 67: 53-68.