A5088783776- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Plant and animal studies
- Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications
- Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Marine animal studies overview
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Advancements in Transdermal Drug Delivery
- Hemispheric Asymmetry in Neuroscience
- Advanced Drug Delivery Systems
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
- Spatial Cognition and Navigation
- Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal Abnormalities
- Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Anesthesia and Neurotoxicity Research
University of Mississippi
2013-2024
University of Ferrara
2013
University of California, Los Angeles
2005-2012
University of California, Santa Barbara
2001-2006
James Cook University
2005
The University of Texas at Austin
1996-2003
Next-generation sequencing technology provides an attractive means to obtain large-scale sequence data necessary for comparative genomic analysis. To analyse the patterns of mutation rate variation and selection intensity across avian genome, we performed brain transcriptome using Roche 454 10 different non-model species. Contigs from de novo assemblies were aligned two available reference genomes, chicken zebra finch. In total, identified 6499 genes all species, with approximately 1000...
To entice females to mate, male bowerbirds build elaborate displays (bowers). Among species, bowers range in complexity from simple arenas decorated with leaves complex twig or grass structures myriad colored objects. investigate the neural underpinnings of bower building, we examined contribution variation volume estimates whole brain (WB), telencephalon minus hippocampus (TH), (Hp) and cerebellum (Cb) explain differences among 5 species. Using independent contrasts, found a significant...
Summary Superior physical competence is vital to the adaptive behavioural routines of many animals, particularly those that engage in elaborate sociosexual displays. How such traits evolve across species remains unclear. Recent work suggests activation sex steroid receptors neuromuscular systems necessary for fine motor skills needed execute physically Thus, using passerine birds as models, we test whether interspecific variation display complexity predicts differences abundance androgen and...
Rats with kainate-colchicine hippocampal lesions (HL) and controls (C) were initially trained in the Morris water maze procedures that deterred their prepotent thigmotaxic response. Training began an escape platform occupied nearly entire pool. The area to which rats could was made smaller by substituting platforms as training progressed. In contrast standard procedures, HL C showed comparable performance during acquisition preferentially searched goal quadrant on probe trials removed. a...
Abstract The males of the Golden‐collared manakin ( Manacus vitellinus ), a passerine bird Neotropical region, perform elaborate courtship displays that are among most spectacular in animal kingdom. During 7‐mo long breeding season, male manakins aggregate leks up to 12 individuals, and each clears small ‘court’ on forest floor where he spends several hours per day performing his either with or without presence female. Like other species, M. produce loud mechanical sounds their wings during...
Spectacular athleticism is a conspicuous feature of many animal courtship displays yet surprisingly little known about androgen dependence skeletal muscles underlying these displays. Testosterone (T) acts through receptors (ARs) to stimulate muscular male Golden-collared manakins Panama perform remarkably athletic display that includes loud wingsnaps generated by the rapid and forceful lifting wings. We tested hypothesis sensitivity, reflected in expression levels AR mRNA, adaptation...
Acrobatic display behaviour is sexually selected in manakins (Pipridae) and can place high demands on many neural systems. Manakin displays vary across species terms of behavioural complexity, differing number unique motor elements, production mechanical sounds, cooperation between displaying males, construction the site. Historically, research emphasis has been placed neurological specializations for vocal aspects courtship, less known about control physical, non-vocal displays. By...
Circulating androgens in adult reproductively active male vertebrates influence a diversity of organ systems and thus are considered costly. Recently, we obtained evidence that androgen receptors (AR) expressed several skeletal muscles three passeriform birds, the golden-collared manakin (Manacus vitellinus), zebra finch (Taenopygia guttata), ochre-bellied flycatcher (Mionectes oleagieus). Because control wing movement make up bulk bird's body mass, for widespread effects action on these...
A fundamental question in cognitive science is whether an animal can use a map. map mental representation of the external world, and knowledge one's place this that be used to determine efficient routes any destination. Many birds mammals are known employ map, but other vertebrates create less clear. Amphibians capable using beacons, gradients landmarks when navigating, many proficient at homing. Yet only one prior study directly tested for amphibians, with negative results. Poison frogs...
Sex steroids affect the motivation to court mates, but less is known about how they influence motor movements associated with courtship behavior. Steroidal control of function may be especially important for species in which requires superior strength, stamina, and neuromuscular coordination. Here we use golden-collared manakin (Manacus vitellinus) examine whether circuitry that controls motoric aspects activity sensitive androgens. Males this tropical attract mates by rapidly jumping among...
Is hemispheric specialization for speech more closely related to left hemisphere manual skill and sequencing, as is usually supposed, or control of asymmetries in whole body posture, recent findings right-handedness nonhuman primates suggest? This question can be evaluated the 10% humans who have mixed handedness footedness. Footedness entails postural asymmetry, persons with limb preferences often prefer hand ipsilateral preferred foot asymmetrical actions which adjustments are obligatory...
The need to locate distributed resources such as mates, food, and nests is correlated with an enlarged hippocampus in many mammalian avian species. This correlation believed be a consequence of selection for spatial ability. Little known about how ecological needs affect non-mammalian, non-avian In lizards, the putative hippocampal homologues are dorsal cortex (DC) medial (MC). We examined relationship between foraging ecology size DC MC congeneric male lizards. predicted based on literature...
The role of central cholinergic blockage in spatial learning was examined by testing atropine sulfate-treated (50 mg/kg) rats and saline-injected controls the Morris water task using training procedures designed to promote use a search strategy. First, constraints used early trials deterred thigmotaxis. Second, an originally oversized hidden platform that nearly occupied entire pool effectively "shrunk" into southwest quadrant substituting smaller platforms over trials, procedure intended...
Animals use a variety of cue types to locate and discriminate objects. The ease with which particular are learned varies across species context. An enormous literature contains comparisons spatial other types, but few experiments examine the various nonspatial cues learned. In addition, studies have examined in reptiles. Thus, authors compared whiptail lizards' (Cnemidophorus inornatus) ability learn reverse discrimination using either position (left or right) visual feature cues. Lizards...