The genetic and neural bases underlying predator aversion behavior in deer mice

• Applicant: Dr. Andreas Kautt
• Subject Area: Evolution, Anthropology ; Sensory and Behavioural Biology
• Term: from 2019 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 432773897

Elucidating the mechanisms that underlie variation in naturally occurring behaviors is a fundamental objective at the interface of both evolutionary biology and neuroscience. While our understanding of the genetics of morphological variation has increased considerably in the last decade, strongly facilitated by advances in genomics, our understanding of the mechanistic basis of behavioral traits, especially in their natural context, remains limited. Here, I propose to combine population genomics with lab-based experiments and behavioral assays to gain insights into both the ultimate and proximate mechanisms driving anti-predator behavior in deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus). Deer mice have colonized all eight islands of the Channel Island archipelago off the coast of California, but only on six of these islands do they coexist with the archipelago’s only mammalian predator, the island fox (Urocyon littoralis). Ecological experiments have shown that mice on the two fox-free islands no longer show an aversive response to fox odor. Interestingly, phylogenetic evidence suggests that the loss of this important olfactory-based behavior may have occurred independently on the two islands. I will investigate the underlying bases of variation in this behavior using a two-pronged approach. First, I will obtain population samples of mice from all islands and the mainland for whole-genome-resequencing to (i) infer their evolutionary relationships and history, and (ii) screen their genomes for highly-differentiated coding changes and signatures of selection to detect candidate regions potentially underlying behavioral differences. Second, mice from islands with and without foxes will be established in the laboratory to (iii) more fully characterize the behavioral trait, and (iv) functionally test candidate genes and dissect the precise molecular and neural mechanisms underlying this behavior.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Professorin Dr. Hopi E. Hoekstra