1. Reduction of phenotypic plasticity in behaviour by early experience: functional consequences of an adaptive mechanism? 2. Paternity Plattform 3. Endocrinology Plattform
Final Report Abstract
The aim of the central project was to foster intense cooperation among groups, broadly educate our PhD students through regular discussions within our groups and to provide them and the PIs with multiple international contacts through invitation of well-established researchers for master classes and method courses, participation in conferences and workshops. To this end we established two methodological platforms, the “Endocrinology Platform” in Münster and the “Paternity Platform” in Bielefeld, that offered analytical facilities to all groups. Moreover, we organized regular retreats where we gathered all participants of the Research Group to discuss ongoing research approaches and results. Our students presented their results as posters and spoken contributions at national and international conferences (conference participation detailed in the reports on the individual projects) and we organized workshops where students could meet and discuss with high profile international researchers. The Endocrinology Platform (Münster) analyzed blood, saliva and fecal samples for various hormones (mostly cortisol and corticosterone in several species: cavies, guinea pigs, mice, and zebra finches) for the Münster groups (Kaiser, Sachser), the Osnabrück group (Lewejohann) and for the groups of Trillmich and von Engelhardt in Bielefeld. In the course offered by the Münster group the students were taught current methods for the determination of hormones, in particular steroids, from blood, saliva, and faecal samples by radioimmunoassay and ELISA. The paternity platform (Bielefeld) provided service to the groups of Sylvia Kaiser and Norbert Sachser in determining paternities, particularly in the match-mismatch experiments with guinea pigs and wild cavies. It further determined paternities for the group of Nikolaus von Engelhardt in the experiments on paternity success of zebra finches raised under different social circumstances (Tim Ruploh and Stefanie Bölting). Students from Münster and Bielefeld learned the determination of paternities from DNA extraction to sequencing of microsatellites and the use of Genemarker.
Publications
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2013. Behavioural profiles are shaped by social experience: When, how and why. Phil. Trans. R Soc B 368 (1618)
Sachser N, Kaiser S, Hennessy M
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2013. Early social instability affects plasma testosterone during adolescence but does not alter reproductive capacity or measures of stress later in life. Physiol. & Behav. 120:143-149
Siegeler K, Wistuba J, Damm OS, von Engelhardt N, Sachser N, Kaiser S
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2014. Photoperiodic effects on reproductive development in male cavies (Cavia aperea). Physiol. Behav. 123:142-147
Guenther A, Palme R, Dersen M, Kaiser S & Trillmich F
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2014. Prenatal social conditions shape offspring adult phenotype and reproductive success. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 68:1661-1667
Guenther A, Kowalski G, von Engelhardt N
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2015. Domestication affects the structure, development and stability of biobehavioural profiles. Front. Zool. 12(Suppl1): 19
Kaiser S, Hennessy MB, Sachser N
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2015. Larval food composition affects courtship song and sperm expenditure in a lekking moth. Ecological Entomology 40:34-41
Cordes N, Albrecht F, Engqvist L, Schmoll T, Baier M, Müller C, Reinhold K
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2015. New perspectives in behavioural development: adaptive shaping of behaviour over a lifetime? Frontiers in Zoology 2015, 12 (Suppl. 1):S1
Trillmich F, Günther A, Müller C, Reinhold K, Sachser N
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2015. Stability and change: stress responses and the shaping of behavioral phenotypes over the life span. Front. Zool. 12 Suppl. 1: 18
Hennessy MB, Kaiser S, Tiedtke T, Sachser N
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2015. The maternal social environment shapes offspring growth, physiology, and behavioural phenotype in guinea pigs. Frontiers in Zoology, 2015, 12 (Suppl 1):S13
von Engelhardt N, Kowalski GJ, Guenther A
