We are interested in understanding the causes and consequences of social behavior, with a focus on disease. We frequently use simulated infections (inflammatory challenges) as a tool to shift the animal's priorities and then explore the extent to which behavior and physiology change depending on the social environment.
We are currently collaborating with the University of Zurich on a study of wild house mice (Mus musculus domesticus) in Switzerland. The study population has been followed for several years by Barbara König and the current setup allows us to remotely obtain information on the social interactions of the majority of individuals.
Within the big realm of behavioral neuroendocrinology, we have focused on the following topics:
Sickness Behavior
The expression "sickness behavior" refers to the array of non-specific symptoms exhibited as a result of an infection. These symptoms include reduced appetite, lethargy and somnolence.
In this work, zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) were used as a model organism to understand sickness behavior at the level of the brain and in terms of the hormones involved. Zebra finches are a great model to explore these questions, because of all of the available molecular tools. Given the gregarious nature of the species, we've been trying to understand how certain social factors can condition the expression of sickness behaviors.
Cooperative Breeding
Cooperative breeding systems are characterized by the presence of individuals that care for eggs or young that are not their own. Frequently, these ‘helpers’ are delaying breeding while providing alloparental care. Why would adult individuals remain reproductively inactive while others in the group are breeding? Why would they dedicate their efforts in aiding to raise offspring of others?
In this work, we studied the sociable weaver (Philetairus socius). Sociable weavers are cooperative breeding passerines endemic to the arid and semi-arid regions of Southern Africa. The general goal of the research with these birds has been to elucidate the neuroendocrine mechanisms involved in the major aspects of cooperative breeding, namely: reproductive inactivity and alloparenting.
These questions are addressed by several different approaches, including: immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR, in situ hybridization, ELISA, and immune function assays (e.g. bacterial killing assay).
We are currently collaborating with the University of Zurich on a study of wild house mice (Mus musculus domesticus) in Switzerland. The study population has been followed for several years by Barbara König and the current setup allows us to remotely obtain information on the social interactions of the majority of individuals.
Within the big realm of behavioral neuroendocrinology, we have focused on the following topics:
Sickness Behavior
The expression "sickness behavior" refers to the array of non-specific symptoms exhibited as a result of an infection. These symptoms include reduced appetite, lethargy and somnolence.
In this work, zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) were used as a model organism to understand sickness behavior at the level of the brain and in terms of the hormones involved. Zebra finches are a great model to explore these questions, because of all of the available molecular tools. Given the gregarious nature of the species, we've been trying to understand how certain social factors can condition the expression of sickness behaviors.
Cooperative Breeding
Cooperative breeding systems are characterized by the presence of individuals that care for eggs or young that are not their own. Frequently, these ‘helpers’ are delaying breeding while providing alloparental care. Why would adult individuals remain reproductively inactive while others in the group are breeding? Why would they dedicate their efforts in aiding to raise offspring of others?
In this work, we studied the sociable weaver (Philetairus socius). Sociable weavers are cooperative breeding passerines endemic to the arid and semi-arid regions of Southern Africa. The general goal of the research with these birds has been to elucidate the neuroendocrine mechanisms involved in the major aspects of cooperative breeding, namely: reproductive inactivity and alloparenting.
These questions are addressed by several different approaches, including: immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR, in situ hybridization, ELISA, and immune function assays (e.g. bacterial killing assay).
Picture credits:
Sociable weaver picture by Gregory R. Goldsmith.
Zebra finch picture taken from: http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/wiredscience/2010/11/zebra-finch-flickr-jessi-bryan.jpg
House mouse picture taken from: http://www.bertpijs.nl/blog/archives/category/zoogdieren/page/5
Sociable weaver picture by Gregory R. Goldsmith.
Zebra finch picture taken from: http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/wiredscience/2010/11/zebra-finch-flickr-jessi-bryan.jpg
House mouse picture taken from: http://www.bertpijs.nl/blog/archives/category/zoogdieren/page/5
