PhD Elina Mäntylä - University of Turku
Research interests
Behavioural ecology | Multitrophic interactions | Avian chemical ecology | Inducible defences of plants
CV | Publications | Experiments
Curriculum vitae
PERSONAL
Name: Elina Kukka-Maaria Mäntylä
Birthdate and place: 9 April 1978; Turku, Finland
Marital status: Engaged
CONTACT INFORMATION
Address: Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, FIN-20014 University of Turku, Finland
E-mail: elkuma (at) utu.fi
EDUCATION
- PhD in Ecology in University of Turku, Finland: Mutualistic interactions between plants and birds: behavioural mechanisms and ecological importance - 22 January 2009 (supervisors Dr Tero Klemola and Dr Toni Laaksonen)
- MSc in University of Turku, Finland: Tunturikoivun indusoituvan vasteen vaikutus pajulinnun ravinnonetsintään, major: ecology; minors: genetics, taxonomy, physiology and statistics - graduated 3 June 2004 (supervisors prof. Erkki Haukioja and Dr Tero Klemola
- Upper secondary school at Porin suomalainen yhteislyseo (with special program of science), Pori, Finland - graduated 31 May 1997
WORK EXPERIENCE
- University of Turku, Department of Biology, Section of Ecology; Assistant in animal ecology (eläintieteen assistentti), 1-7/2009
- University of Turku, Department of Biology, Section of Ecology; PhD student (jatko-opiskelija), 11/2005 - 1/2009
- Kevo Subarctic Research Station of University of Turku; research technician (temporary post) (tutkimusteknikko), 6-8/2005
- Kevo Subarctic Research Station of University of Turku; research assistant (tutkimusavustaja), 6-8/August 2004
- Kevo Subarctic Research Station of University of Turku; research assistant, 6-9/2003
- City of Pori, Upper secondary school of Länsi-Pori; teacher of biology and geography (temporary post) (lehtori), 1-6/2002
- University of Turku; research assistant (tutkimusavustaja), 5-7/2001
- Satakunta Environmental Research Institute; trainee (harjoittelija), 5-8/2000
- Environment Office of the City of Pori; bird counting at the delta of river Kokemäenjoki (kesätyöntekijä), 5-6/1999
- Kevo Subarctic Research Station of University of Turku; research assistant (tutkimusavustaja), 6-7/1998
- Kevo Subarctic Research Station of University of Turku; research assistant (tutkimusavustaja), 6-7/1997
RESEARCH GRANTS
- Turku University Foundation 1200€ (22 April 2008)
- Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation 18000€ (9 October 2007)
- Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation 16000€ (9 October 2006)
- Turku University Foundation 900€ (24 April 2006)
- Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation 16000€ (9 October 2005)
PRESENTATIONS
- Methods to study avian olfaction (7th Conference of the European Ornithologists' Union, 21-26 August 2009, Zürich, Switzerland) (PDF)
- Birds help plants - a meta-analysis of top-down trophic cascades caused by avian predators (Symposium in Ecology, Biological Diversity, Genetics, Environmental and Marine Biology, 18-19 March 2009, Turku, Finland) (PDF)
- From plants to birds: higher avian predation rates in trees responding to insect herbivory (12th International Behavioral Ecology Congress, 9-15 August 2008, Ithaca, NY, USA) (PDF, photo)
- From plants to birds: higher avian predation rates in trees responding to insect herbivory (Symposium in Ecology, Biological Diversity, Genetics, Environmental and Marine Biology, 1-2 April 2008, Turku, Finland) (PDF)
- Low light reflectance at the visible range may explain the attraction of passerine birds to defoliated trees (Annual Meeting of Graduate School in Evolutionary Ecology, 17-19 December 2006, Konnevesi, Finland)
- Attraction of passerine birds to herbivore-damaged trees: UV vision in use? (11th International Behavioral Ecology Congress, 24-29 July 2006, Tours, France) (PDF)
- Attraction of passerine birds to herbivore-damaged trees: UV vision in use? (Annual Meeting of Graduate School in Evolutionary Ecology, 12-14 December 2005, Turku, Finland)
CONGRESSES AND SYMPOSIUMS
- 7th Conference of the European Ornithologists' Union, 21-26 August 2009, Zurich, Switzerland (organiser of the symposium in avian chemical ecology)
- Symposium in Ecology, Biological Diversity, Genetics, Environmental and Marine Biology, 18-19 March 2009, Turku, Finland
- 12th International Behavioral Ecology Congress, 9-15 August 2008, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Symposium in Ecology, Biological Diversity, Genetics, Environmental and Marine Biology, 1-2 April 2008, Turku, Finland (also a member of the organising committee)
- Alien Species symposium, 18-19 January 2007, Turku, Finland
- Annual Meeting of Graduate School in Evolutionary Ecology, 17-19 December 2006, Konnevesi research station, Finland
- 11th International Behavioral Ecology Congress, 24-29 July 2006, Tours, France
- Annual Meeting of Graduate School in Evolutionary Ecology, 12-14 December 2005, Turku, Finland
COURSES
- Project management, November 2007, University of Turku
- Information theory and model selection, 5-7 November 2007, Konnevesi research station, Finland
- Animal experimentation course and licence, spring 2006
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
Computer: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, SigmaPlot and HTML language.
Statistical analysis: SAS, SPSS and MetaWin
Field: Planning experiments, bird catching, rearing herbivorous larvae, and various methods for bird, herbivore and plant observation
OTHER
Languages: Finnish (native language), English (excellent), Swedish (good), Spanish (good), French (good), German (basics)
Driving licence: B
HOBBIES
- Bird-watching
- Travelling
- Running and other sports
- Following international tennis
List of publications
ARTICLES IN REFEREED SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS
Mäntylä, E., Sirkiä, P., Klemola, T. & Laaksonen, T. 2009. Territory choice of pied flycatchers is not based on induced cues of herbivore-damaged trees. (submitted manuscript)
Mäntylä, E., Klemola, T. & Laaksonen, T. 2009. Birds help plants - a meta-analysis of top-down trophic cascades caused by avian predators. (submitted manuscript)
Mäntylä, E., Alessio, G., Blande, J.B., Heijari, J., Holopainen, J.K., Laaksonen, T., Piirtola, P. & Klemola, T. 2008. From plants to birds: higher avian predation rates in trees responding to insect herbivory. - PLoS ONE 3(7): e2832. (link/PDF)
Mäntylä, E., Klemola, T., Sirkiä, P. & Laaksonen, T. 2008. Low light reflectance at the visible range may explain the attraction of birds to defoliated trees. - Behavioral Ecology 19(2): 325-330. (link/PDF)
Mäntylä, E., Klemola, T. & Haukioja, E. 2004. Attraction of willow warblers to sawfly-damaged mountain birches: novel function of inducible plant defences? - Ecology Letters 7(10): 915-918. (link/PDF)
OTHER SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS
Mäntylä, E. 2009. Mutualistic interactions between plants and birds: behavioural mechanisms and ecological importance. - PhD thesis. (link/PDF, Lectio)
Mäntylä, E. 2004. Tunturikoivun indusoituvan vasteen vaikutus pajulinnun ravinnonetsintään. - MSc thesis.
Experiments
2003
Attraction of willow warblers to sawfly-damaged mountain birches: novel function of inducible plant defences?
Place: Kevo Subarctic Research Institute of the University of Turku
Studied species: mountain birch (Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii), sawfly larva (Arge fuscinervis), willow warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)
Methods: Birds were individually released to the study booth which had an intact branch from both an herbivore tree (that had larvae on other branches) and a control tree.2006
Attraction of willow warblers to herbivore-damaged mountain birches in different densities of wild autumnal moth larvae
Place: Ruissalo Botanical Gardens of the University of Turku
Studied species: silver birch (Betula pendula), autumnal moth larva (Epirrita autumnata), great tit (Parus major), blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Methods: Birds were individually released to the study booth which had an intact branch from both an herbivore tree (that had larvae on other branches) and a control tree. Additionally we did spectrophotometer measurements of the light reflectance of the birch leaves.2007
Low light reflectance may explain the attraction of birds to defoliated trees
Place: Kevo Subarctic Research Institute of the University of Turku
Studied species: mountain birch (Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii), autumnal moth larva (Epirrita autumnata), local passerine birds
Methods: Artificial plasticine larvae (photo right) were attached to all experimental birches (both herbivore and control trees) to measure bird predation rate in the nature. From the same trees we measured also the emission of several volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and net photosynthesis rate.2008
Territory choice of pied flycatchers is not based on induced cues of herbivore-damaged trees
Place: oldish, mainly coniferous forest near Turku
Studied species: silver birch (Betula pendula), downy birch (Betula pubescens), autumnal moth larva (Epirrita autumnata), pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)
Methods: We put mesh bags on branches of two small birches close to the nest-box, and either put inside the bags larvae (herbivore territory) or not (control territory). We monitored the arrival of birds to the territories and their breeding success.2009
I continued the pied flycatcher experiment of the previous year, and also some new birch stuff. More info of those later. =)
