Daniel Wiegmann

Dr. Daniel Wiegmann is a researcher in the Department of Biological Sciences at Bowling Green State University (BGSU), College of Arts & Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His primary research focuses on animal behavior, particularly navigation mechanisms in arachnids like whip spiders (Amblypygi) and life history tactics in smallmouth bass. Dr. Wiegmann’s work explores how animals integrate sensory information (e.g., olfactory, tactile, visual cues) to navigate complex environments and make adaptive decisions.

His research interests include the neural substrates of spatial memory, optimal decision-making in reproductive strategies, and the evolutionary implications of conditional life history tactics. Notably, his lab examines how whip spiders use specialized antenniform legs and mushroom bodies (higher-order brain regions) to perform nocturnal homing and configural learning of shelters. This work bridges sensory ecology, neuroethology, and behavioral evolution.

Dr. Wiegmann’s publications span over two decades, with recent studies investigating navigation in arachnids and the ecological factors influencing reproductive timing in fish. He collaborates with institutions like the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (E. Hebets) and Bowling Green State University’s Neuroscience programs. His research has implications for understanding cognitive abilities in invertebrates and the interplay between behavior, environment, and evolution.

His advising record includes mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, evident in co-authored works with students marked by asterisks. While no specific grants are listed, his work suggests ongoing support for field studies and laboratory-based neurobehavioral experiments. Dr. Wiegmann’s lab is part of BGSU’s broader biological sciences research community, contributing to initiatives in behavioral ecology and conservation biology.