ECR Spotlight – Min Tan Free

Min Tan

How did you become interested in biology?

I have consistently found biology to be more intuitive for me compared with other scientific disciplines. Over the years, I have developed an interest in the ecological aspect of biology as I believe it is important to learn more about the various organisms living around us. Growing up in Singapore, I've observed that the opportunities for interacting with the natural environment are somewhat limited, given the highly urbanized nature of the city. Thus, I consistently try to deepen my understanding of the local fauna and flora. However, it is evident that there is still much to discover and comprehend. Therefore, I aspire to continue my learning in the field of biology.

Describe your scientific journey and your current research focus

My interest in research first started when I took up an undergraduate research project on mate-choice learning in butterflies in my second year of study. It introduced me to the field of animal behavior and encouraged me to partake in more research projects as an undergraduate, where I worked with various animals including fishes and jumping spiders. These experiences have deepened my interests in animal behavior, and I decided to continue research as a graduate student at the National University of Singapore under the supervision of Professors Li Daiqin and Eunice Jingmei Tan. For my research, I am exploring the effectiveness of motion on prey camouflage using natural predator–prey systems. Presently, I am investigating the flicker fusion camouflage effect, which refers to the blurring of patterns with movement of the body, thus reducing conspicuousness, in various species of jumping spiders and lizards.

How would you explain the main findings of your paper to a member of the public?

Motion has long been believed to ‘break’ camouflage, as sudden movements are often detected even before the animal is recognized. Background matching is a well-known camouflage strategy employed by animals to blend in with their surroundings. As the efficacy of background matching depends upon the surroundings, its effectiveness may diminish as the animal moves. However, recent research in this area has shown that animals can still conceal themselves whilst moving. In our study, we explored whether the detectability of computer-generated stimuli varies with stimulus speed and size, as well as background, in six species of jumping spiders. Our results showed that smaller and faster stimuli moving against a camouflaged background elicited lower responses, thus indicating that background matching is effective even when stimuli are in motion.

Why did you choose JEB to publish your paper?

We selected JEB for publication as we are confident that our paper aligns well with the scope of the journal. Given that our study delves into a comparative analysis of motion and camouflage across various jumping spider species, we anticipate that it should be of interest to the diverse readership of JEB. Furthermore, our laboratory has a history of contributing several papers to the journal over the years, and thus we recognize it as a reputable platform that offers significant visibility for our research.

What do you enjoy most about research, and why?

The aspect of research I enjoy the most is collaborating with other researchers. In the second year of my research, I was very fortunate to work with Professor Elizabeth Jakob's lab at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (UMass), USA. I also had the lovely experience of collaborating with Professors Yin Qi and Guohua Ding on a project related to camouflage in lizards. Having worked primarily on spiders, learning how to work with lizards was certainly an eye-opening experience for me. I believe the experience and skillsets gained from working in different labs are invaluable in terms of my growth as a researcher.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I enjoy going for outdoor walks during my leisure hours. While Singapore is a highly urbanized city, there are still many nature reserves and parks to visit. In fact, I have been participating in local citizen science surveys, which involve visiting designated sites in nature parks and observing specific wildlife, such as the Raffles’ banded langur, and various bird species. Recently, I have ventured into macrophotography, aspiring to refine my skills progressively. Additionally, I have begun participating in night walks, and one of the most unforgettable moments was encountering elusive sambar deer at a forest fringe during one such nocturnal exploration.

What's next for you?

I will be continuing my PhD research for the next one and a half years, aiming to successfully complete my degree on schedule. Following graduation, I plan to pursue postdoctoral positions, with a particular emphasis on exploring opportunities related to animal behavior. While I haven't pinpointed the specific model animal or research topic just yet, I am enthusiastic about the potential opportunities that lie ahead.