PhDâ€theses - Ethologische Gesellschaft

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Abstract of Dr. Hirschenhauser’s Tinbergen Prize lecture at Ferrara News from Members HORMONES AS COORDINATORS AND FACILITATORS OF SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR, EXCITEMENT AND SUCCESS Katharina Hirschenhauser khirschenhauser@orn.mpg.de MPI for Ornithology, Dept. Behavioural Neurobiology, Seewiesen, Germany Social interactions may provoke changes of a wide array of hormones, activate different neuronal circuits and gene expression. Testosterone (T), the major sex steroid of male vertebrates, has been particularly well studied. On top of seasonally regulated patterns, short‐term T surges of variable magnitude may occur in response to social encounters. The degree of T responsiveness was shown to vary with social system, i.e. larger T responses in males from monogamous than in polygynous bird species (“challenge hypothesis). Thus, seasonal T levels are a function of the social environment. Meanwhile the phenomenon has been extended to males of all vertebrate taxa. However, despite the taxonomic breadth its functions remain puzzling. At the heart of analysis, time‐scale matters and I will present examples for the social modulation of T at both levels: (a) based on seasonal T patterns, the hormonal partner compatibility in geese as example for T acting as coordinator of social behaviour, pairbond maintenance and reproductive success; (b) immediate hormone changes may be viewed as facilitators of (future) behaviour and success, e.g. T surges in winners but not losers of a fight. Yet, in fish and quail mirror‐elicited fighting behaviour was dissociated from T. Recent evidence suggests that an individual perception of fighting vigour, both own and opponent’s, seems to activate the expression of a T surge rather than winning or losing itself. Why engage T when social experience alone would be sufficient for inducing the winner effect? Tests with quail reveal that T‐responsiveness is involved by facilitating behaviours affecting a “winner’s attitude” and thus, the mutual assessment. Currently, I focus on the ability to recall social information for future encounters. In sum, studying the social modulation of hormones may contribute to our understanding of the fine‐tuning mechanisms of social behaviour and “attitude”, the excitement of conflict, and when it pays to invest. Funded by the Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung. 5
Research Update Overview PhD‐theses Research Update Fischer, Barbara: Evolution of plastic life‐histories Kotrschal, Alexander: The influence of early environment on later life – physiology, behaviour and evolution Wascher, Claudia A. F.: Heart‐rate in greylag geese (Anser anser): implications for the study of social systems Masters and Diplom theses Bürgener, Ika: The acoustic recognition system of wild boars (Sus scrofa) Deventer, Sarah: Sexual cannibalism: what do males have to offer? Gerber, Barbara: The influence of female body condition and predator threat on the brood care behaviour of mouthbreeding cichlids Gonswa, Nicole: Maternal care strategies in Phylloneta impressa (Theridiidae) Krasheninnikova, Anastasia: Means‐end comprehension in parrots: a comparative approach Kremers, Dorothee: Vocal repertoire of the Orcas (Orcinus orca) in the Loro Parque, Tenerife – Individual differences in their vocalizations Lembke, Anna: The influence of social interaction between male cavies and juvenile female cavies (Cavia aperea) and of male odors on the maturation of females Müller, Anna: The impact of social rank after confrontation with conspecifics on the reproductive competence of male Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) Schindler, Britta: Home sweet home‐ the influence of housing conditions on stress physiology, cognition and emotional behaviour in mice selectively bred for extremes in stress reactivity Schneider, Tilman: Microhabitat selection by European Bison (Bison bonasus) in Białowieża Primeval Forest, Poland Schnöll, Anna Viktoria: Testing for social diffusion of two novel foraging skills and conformity in wild redfronted lemurs (Eulemur rufifrons) Spiller, Ilka: Who determines the end of brood care in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata)? Titulaer, Mieke: Context‐dependent learning performance in relation to avian personalities Waldmann, Miriam: Relevance of acoustic parameters in the spectacled parrotlet’s (Forpus conspicillatus) contact call Wastinavo, Marta: Differences in activity budgets and social behaviours of three male alternative reproductive tactics in African stripped mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio) Zimmer, Stefanie: Determinants of natural mating success in the cannibalistic orb‐web spider Argiope bruennichi 6
Page 2 and 3: Content Newsletter No. 64 Content G
Page 4 and 5: News from the Council A note from t
Page 8 and 9: PhD‐theses EVOLUTION OF PLASTIC L
Page 10 and 11: HEART RATE IN GREYLAG GEESE (ANSER
Page 12 and 13: SEXUAL CANNIBALISM: WHAT DO MALES H
Page 14 and 15: MATERNAL CARE STRATEGIES IN PHYLLON
Page 16 and 17: Research Update VOCAL REPERTOIRE OF
Page 18 and 19: Research Update THE IMPACT OF SOCIA
Page 20 and 21: Research Update ‘floating’ in H
Page 22 and 23: TESTING FOR SOCIAL DIFFUSION OF TWO
Page 24 and 25: CONTEXT‐DEPENDENT LEARNING PERFOR
Page 26 and 27: Research Update DIFFERENCES IN ACTI
Page 28 and 29: Activities and Meetings Future meet
Page 30 and 31: Activities and Meetings load intere
Page 32 and 33: Activities and Meetings Joint Meeti
Page 34 and 35: Grant and promotion opportunities f
Page 36 and 37: Officers of the Ethologische Gesell
Page 38 and 39: Internet Links Internet Links Ethol

PhDâ€theses - Ethologische Gesellschaft

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?

PhDâ€theses - Ethologische Gesellschaft