The Open University of Israel
Prof. Anat Barnea

Prof. Anat Barnea

Department of Natural Sciences

Updated: May 2011

 

Personal

Tel: 972-9-7781753
Fax: 972-9-7780661

E-mail: anatba@openu.ac.il

Born: 15 September 1954
Status: Married + 3

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Education

1991 – 1994 Postdoctoral research, Rockefeller University, NY (with Prof. F. Nottebohm), "Neural and hormonal mechanisms underlying food storing behavior in birds"
1991 Sound recording workshop, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca NY, US
1989 – 1990 Postdoctoral studies, Dept. of Plant Sciences, Oxford University, UK (with Dr. C. Pannel and Mr. White), "Interactions between fleshy fruits and their dispersers in Britain, and fruits toxicity and palatability"
1983 – 1988 Ph.D., Zoology, Tel-Aviv University, Israel
Dissertation: "Interactions between fleshy fruited plants and vertebrates which disperse them in Israel"
Supervisors: Prof. Yoram Yom-Tov and Prof. J. Friedman
1982 High-school Teacher's Diploma in Biology and Agriculture, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem
1979 – 1982 M.Sc. (cum laude), Zoology, Tel-Aviv University
Thesis: "The biology of the Syrian woodpecker, Dendrocopos syriacus"
Supervisor: Prof. Yoram Yom-Tov
1976 – 1979 B.Sc., Faculty of Life Sciences, Hebrew University, Jerusalem
1973 Tourist Guide Diploma, Ministry of Tourism
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Fields of Research

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Academic Positions

2009 – Dean of Research, The Open University of Israel
2009 Associate Professor, Department of Natural Sciences, The Open University of Israel
2000 – 2009 Senior Lecturer, Department of Natural Sciences, The Open University of Israel
1995 – 2000 Lecturer, Department of Natural Sciences, The Open University of Israel
1994 – 1995 Guest Lecturer, Department of Natural Sciences, The Open University of Israel
1991 – 1994 Guest investigator, The Rockefeller University, New York
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Professional Experience

2006 – 2008 Board member, The Zoology Society in Israel
1989 – 1990 Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. of Plant Sciences, Oxford University, UK
1988 – 1989 Research assistant, Dept. of Botany, Tel-Aviv University
1979 – 1988 Teaching assistant, Dept. of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University
Courses: "Introduction to the Fauna of Israel"; Faunistics (ecology and natural history) of vertebrates in Israel
In these courses, I guided field trips and instructed students in the laboratory as well as in the Zoological Garden
1987 – 1988 Scientific writer, zoological and botanical sections of a children's encyclopedia, Yavne Publishing House, Israel
1973 – 1979 Tourist guide in Israel and Sinai
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Administrative Activities

The Open University of Israel

2009 Member, Academic Steering Committee on the activities of the "Friends of the Open University" and the Public Relations Unit
2008 Chair, Steering Committee for the Self Evaluation Report in Life Sciences, submitted to the Council for Higher Education
2007 – 2009 Member, Committee of Accreditation of Prior Studies
2006 – Member, Ethics Committee
2005 – Head, Life Sciences Section, Dept. of Natural Sciences
2001 – 2006 Chair, Academic Subcommittee for Natural Sciences
1995 – Member, Academic Subcommittee for Natural Sciences
1995 – Member, Faculty Council
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Scholarships

1995

Alon Scholarship, Council for Higher Education in Israel
1989 – 1990 Postdoctoral Scholarship (S&T), Commission of European Communities
1989 – 1990 Postdoctoral Fellowship, AVI Fellowships
1989 Postdoctoral Scholarship, B'nai B'rith Organization
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Sponsored Research

2010 – The Israel Science Foundation: "Effects of environmental and hormonal conditions on brain plasticity in adult birds"
2008 The Research Authority, The Open University of Israel: "Does plant species diversity affect avian species diversity in urban open areas?"
2006 – 2009 The National Institute for Psychobiology in Israel: "Neurobiological aspects of migratory behavior in birds: a neuroethological study, comparing migrant and resident species in Israel"
2004 – 2006 The Research Authority, The Open University of Israel: "Does social complexity affect survival of new neurons in the forebrain of adult songbirds?"
2004 – 2007 The Israel Science Foundation: "Effect of social change on neuronal recruitment, survival, and replacement in the adult brain"
2003 Research Authority, The Open University of Israel: "Honey bees colony defense: from behavior to molecules"
2000 – 2002 The National Institute for Psychobiology in Israel: "Experience-dependent recruitment of new neurons in the forebrain of adult songbirds"
1998 – 2000 The Research Authority, The Open University of Israel: "The effect of social environment on neuronal recruitment in the adult brain"
1998 Adams Super-Center for Brain Studies, Tel-Aviv University (with R. Rado, Tel-Aviv University): "Do learning and memory of social environment affect neurogenesis in adult avian brain?"
1997 The National Institute for Psychobiology in Israel (with R. Rado, Tel-Aviv University): "Do learning and memory of social environment and spatial complexity affect neurogenesis in adult avian brain?"
1995 – 1998 Israel Ministry of Science: "The biological role of alerting odors in natural communication systems and their possible applied significance"
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Supervision of Higher Degrees

2009 – Eesra Jabali. Dept. of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University. M.Sc.
Co-supervision with Prof. J. Terkel
2009 – Maayan Rauch. Dept. of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University. M.Sc.
Co-supervision with Prof. Y. Yom-Tov
2008 – Anat Cattan. Dept. of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University. M.Sc.
Co-supervision with Prof. A. Ayali
2008 – Oleg Spivak. Dept. of Neurobiology, Tel-Aviv University. M.Sc.
Co-supervision with Dr. Y. Gothilf
2007 – 2010 Yair Pecker. Dept. of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University. M.Sc.
Co-supervision with Prof. Y. Yom-Tov
2007 – 2010 Hadass Grushka. Dept. of Biology, Haifa University. M.Sc.
Co-supervision with Prof. I. Izhaki
2007 – Shay Hornfeld. Dept. of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University. Ph.D.
Co-supervision with Prof. J. Terkel
2005 – Shay Barkan. Dept. of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University. Ph.D.
Co-supervision with Prof. Y. Yom-Tov
2004 – 2008 Anat Schori. Dept. of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University. M.Sc.
Co-supervision with Prof. A. Ar
2004 – 2008 Meital Yogev. Dept. of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University. M.Sc.
Co-supervision with Prof. A. Lotem
2003 – 2006 Einat Shavit. Dept. of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University. M.Sc.
Co-supervision with Prof. A. Lotem
2002 – 2005 Eran Levin, Dept. of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University. M.Sc.
Co-supervision with Prof. Y. Yom-Tov
2002 – 2006 Uri Moran. Dept. of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University. M.Sc.
Co-supervision with Prof. A. Ayali
2000 – 2004 Shay Barkan. Dept. of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University. M.Sc.
Co-supervision with Prof. A. Ayali
1997 – 2002 Adina Mishal. Dept. of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University. M.Sc.
Co-supervision with Prof. Z. Volberg & Dr. R. Rado
1996 – 2000 Dina Lipkind. Dept. of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University. M.Sc.
Co-supervision with Prof. Z. Volberg & Dr. R. Rado
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List of Publications

Articles in Refereed Books

Barnea, A., Gvaryahu, G. & Rothschild, M. (2004). The effect of the odour of pyrazine and colours on recall of past events and learning in domestic chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus). In H. F. van Emden & M. Rothschild (Eds.), Insect and Bird Interactions (chapter 14, pp. 205-216). Andover: Intercept Ltd.

Rothschild, M. & Barnea, A. (2004). A note on the odour of amyl acetate in the role of an alerting signal. In H. F. van Emden & M. Rothschild (Eds.), Insect and Bird Interactions (chapter 15, pp. 217-222). Andover: Intercept Ltd.

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Articles in Refereed Journals

Tsaadon, Alon, L., Pietrokovski, S., Barkan, S., Avrahami, L., Kaidanovich-Beilin, O., Woodgett, J.R., Barnea, A., Eldar-Finkelman, H. (2011). Selective loss of glycogen synthase kinase-3a in birds reveals distinct roles for GSK-3 isozymes in tau phosphorylation. FEBS Letters 585:1158-1162.

Barnea, A. (2010). Wild neurogenesis. Brain, Behavior and Evolution, 75:86-87.

Hornfeld, S.H. Terkel, J., Barnea, A. (2010). Neurons recruited in the nidopallium caudale, following changes in social environment, derive from the same original population. Behavioral Brain Research, 208:643-645.

Barnea, A. (2009). Interactions between environmental changes and brain plasticity in birds. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 163(1/2):128-134.

Levin, E. Yom-Tov, Y., Barnea, A. (2009). Frequent summer nuptial flights of ants provide a primary food source for bats. Naturwissenschaften, 96:477-483.

Levin, E., Yom-Tov, Y., Barnea, A., Huchon D. (2008). Genetic diversity and phylogeography of the greater mouse-tailed bat (Rhinopoma microphyllum) in the Levant. Acta Chiropterologica, 10(2):207-212.

Adar, E., Nottebohm, F., Barnea, A. (2008). The relationship between nature of social change, age, and position of new neurons and their survival in adult zebra finch brain. Journal of Neuroscience, 28(20):5394-5400.
v  Editors' choice, Science magazine.

Adar, E., Lotem, A., Barnea, A. (2008). The effect of social environment on singing behavior in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) and its implication for neuronal recruitment. Behavioural Brain Research, 187:178-184.

Barkan S., Ayali A., Nottebohm F., & Barnea, A. (2007). Neuronal recruitment in adult zebra finch brain during a reproductive cycle. Developmental Neurobiology (Formerly: Journal of Neurobiology), 67(6):687-701.

Levin, E., Barnea, A., Yovel, Y. & Yom-Tov, Y. (2006). Have introduced fish initiated piscivory among the long-fingered bat? Mammalian Biology, 71(3):139-143.

Barnea, A., Mishal, A. & Nottebohm, F. (2006). Social and spatial changes induce multiple survival regimes for new neurons in two regions of the adult brain: An anatomical representation of time? Behavioural Brain Research, 16(1):63-74.

Ar, A., Barnea, A., Yom-Tov, Y. & Mersten-Katz, C. (2004). Woodpecker cavity aeration: A predictive model. Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology, 144:237-249.

Barnea, A. & Pannell, C.M. (2004). Male Blackbird defending Holly fruits. British Birds, 97(2):100-101.

Barnea, A. & Rothschild, M. (2002). The odour of pyrazine increases the egg mass of domestic chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus). Journal of Zoology, 257(3):411-416.

Lipkind, D., Nottebohm, F., Rado, R. & Barnea, A. (2002). Social change affects the survival of new neurons in the forebrain of adult songbirds. Behavioural Brain Research, 133(1):31-43.

Katz, A., Gvaryahu, G., Robinson, B., Snapir, N. & Barnea, A. (1999). The effect of pyrazine odor on body mass and various organs in embryos and chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus). Poultry Science, 78:1786-1789.

Party, E., Barnea, A., Linnis, I. & Gershy, E.L. (1997). Elimination of tritiated thymidine from birds. Health Physics, 72(4) 633-635.

Barnea, A. & Nottebohm, F. (1996). Recruitment and replacement of hippocampal neurons in young and adult chickadees: an addition to the theory of hippocampal learning. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, USA, 93:714-718.

Barnea, A. & Nottebohm, F. (1995). Patterns of food-storing by black-capped chickadees suggest a mnemonic hypothesis. Animal Behaviour, 490:1161-1176.

Barnea, A. & Nottebohm, F. (1994). Seasonal recruitment of hippocampal neurons in adult free-ranging black-capped chickadees. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, USA, 91(23):11217-11221.

Barnea, A., Harborne, J.B. & Pannell, C.M. (1993). What parts of fleshy-fruits contain secondary compounds toxic to birds and why? Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 214(4):421-429.

Barnea, A., Yom-Tov, Y. & Friedman, J. (1992). Effect of frugivorous birds on seed dispersal and germination of multi-seeded fruits. Acta Oecologia, 13(2):209-219.

Barnea, A., Yom-Tov, Y. & Friedman, J. (1991). Does ingestion by birds affect seed germination? Functional Ecology, 5:394-402.

Barnea, A., Yom-Tov, Y. & Friedman, J. (1990). Differential germination of two closely related species of Solanum in response to bird ingestion. Oikos, 57:222-228.

Barnea, A. & Yom-Tov, Y. (1985). Syrian woodpeckers attack Israeli irrigation pipes. Water and Irrigation Review, 3:4-5.

Barnea, A. & Yom-Tov, Y. (1984). A method to deter Syrian woodpeckers from drilling holes in irrigation pipes. Crop Protection, 3:35-39.

Submitted for publication

Barnea, A., Pravosudov, V., Birds as a model to study adult neurogenesis: Bridging evolutionary, comparative and neuroethological approaches. Submitted to European Journal of Neuroscience.

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Open University Publications (in Hebrew)

Faunistics of Vertebrates in Israel
Unit 1: Introduction (2008, 60 pp.)

Selected Topics in Animal Behavior
Unit 1: Animal behavior - fields of research, introductory topics and examples (2002, 111 pp.)
Unit 2: Ontogenesis of behavior and learning (2004)
Unit 3: Behavioral genetics and neuroethology (2004)
Unit 4: Worlds of perception, motivation and hormonal control of behavior (2004)

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Other Publications

Barnea, A. (2002). The brainy bunch. New Scientist (23 February), 19.

Barnea, A. (2000). Bad smell, good eggs. New Scientist (1 July), 13.

Barnea, A. (1995). Do birds renew their brains each year? National Geographic (June).

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Papers at Scientific Conferences

Barnea, A., Lotem, A., & Adar, E., The effect of social environment on singing behavior in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) and its implication for neuronal recruitment. The 12th International Behavioral Ecology congress, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. 2008.

Barnea, A., Invited lecture: Interactions between environmental changes and brain plasticity in birds. The 9th International symposium on avian endocrinology, Leuven, Belgium. 2008.

Adar, A., Lotem A., & Barnea, A., Effect of social environment on neuronal recruitment and singing behaviour of adult zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). TThe 44th Annual Meeting of the Israel Society for Zoology, Achva College, Israel. 2007.

Yogev, M., Lotem, A., & Barnea, A., Parent-offspring recognition in the Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata). Meeting of the Israel Society for Zoology, Achva College, Israel. 2007.

Barkan, S., Ayali, A., Nottebohm, F. & Barnea, A., Neuronal recruitment in adult zebra finch brain during a reproductive cycle. The 10th Birdsong Workshop, Rockefeller University, USA. 2005.

Barkan, S., Ayali, A., Nottebohm, F. & Barnea, A., Neuronal recruitment in adult zebra finch brain during a reproductive cycle. The 13th Annual Meeting of the Israel Society for Neurosciences, Eilat, Israel. 2003.

Barnea, A., Mishal, A., Rado, R. & Nottebohm, F., Social change affects the turnover of new neurons in the forebrain of adult songbirds. Sixth IBRO world congress of neuroscience, Czech Republic. 2003.

Barkan, S., Ayali, A., Nottebohm, F. & Barnea, A., Neuronal recruitment in adult zebra finch brain during a reproductive cycle. The 29th Gottingen Neurobiology Conference, Germany. 2003.

Barnea, A., Social environment affects new neuronal survival in the adult avian brain. The 38th meeting of the Zoological Society of Israel. 2001.

Lipkind, D., Nottebohm, F., Rado, R., Barnea, A., Social change affects the survival of new neurons in the forebrain of adult songbirds. The 6th International Congress of Neuroethology, Bonn, Germany. 2001.

Rothschild, M., and Barnea, A., Chickens lay larger eggs when exposed to the odour of pyrazine. New Frontiers in Science 2000, The Royal Society, London. 2000.

Lipkind D., Nottebohm, F., Rado R. and Barnea, A., Effect of social environment on neuronal recruitment in the adult avian brain. The 8th Annual Meeting of the Israel Society for Neurosciences, Eilat, Israel. 1999.

Barnea, A., Gvaryahu, G. and Rothschild, M., The effect of the odor of pyrazine and colors on learning and recall in chicks. Animal Behavior Society meeting, Carbondale, Illinois, USA. 1998.

Lipkind, D., Rado, R., Barnea, A. and Nottebohm, F., Effect of social environment on neuronal recruitment in the adult avian brain. The 6th Annual Meeting of the Israel Society for Neurosciences, Eilat, Israel. 1997.

Barnea, A. and Rothschild, M., Aromatic pyrazine, an alerting signal found in certain plants and insects, improves recall in birds. The Royal Entomological Society, 1997 conference, University of Reading, UK. 1997.

Barnea, A. and Nottebohm, F., Patterns of food-storing by black-capped chickadees suggest a mnemonic hypothesis. The 6th International meeting, Behavioral Ecology, Canberra, Australia. 1996.

Barnea, A. and Nottebohm, F., Seasonal recruitment of hippocampal neurons in adult free-ranging black-capped chickadees. (Invited lecture); The 1st Meeting of F.I.S.E.B (Federation of the Israeli Societies of Experimental Biology), Eilat, Israel. 1995.

Barnea, A. and Nottebohm, F., Seasonal patterns of nuerogenesis in the hippocampus of adult food caching birds and their possible relation to spatial learning. The 23rd annual meeting, Society of Neuroscience, Washington, D.C. U.S.A. 1993.

Barnea, A., White, F. and Pannel, C., Blackbirds, redwings and starlings: Their interactions with three fleshy-fruited trees in England. The 4th International Behavioral Ecology Congress, Princeton University, U.S.A. 1992.

Barnea, A., Yom-Tov, Y. and Friedman, J., The impact of frugivorous birds on seed dispersal and germination of multi-seeded berries. Annual Meeting of the Society of Experimental Biology, University of Warwick, U.K. 1990.

Barnea, A., Yom-Tov, Y. and Friedman, J., Germination enhancement due to reduction of density of seeds in response to bird ingestion. The 4th Conference of Environmental Quality and Ecosystem Stability (invited paper), Jerusalem. 1989.

Barnea, A., Yom-Tov, Y. and Friedman, J., The impact of frugivorous birds on seed dispersal and germination of multi-seeded berries: Mullberry (morus nigra) and Nightshade (Solanum luteum). The 25th meeting of the Zoological Society in Israel. 1988.

Barnea, A., Yom-Tov, Y. and Friedman, J., The influence of birds ingestion on seed germination in some common Mediterranean fleshy fruited perennials. The 24th meeting of the Zoological Society in Israel. 1987.

Barnea, A., Yom-Tov, Y. and Friedman, J., Differential germination of two species of Solanum in response to ingestion by birds. The 23rd meeting of the Zoological Society of Israel. 1986.

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