http://www.uni-bielefeld.de/biologie/fg1232/index.html?__xsl=/templates/null.xslPhenotypic Plasticity Anja MesserschmidtResearch unitbehaviour phenotype early experience Universität Bielefeld2017-06-08entext/htmlReduction of phenotypic plasticity in behaviour by early experience: functional consequences of an adaptive mechanism? This research unit is funded by the DFG (German Research Foundation)Genetic and environmental factors interact to generate the reaction norm and enable the adaptive integration of environmental information into the phenotype. For most traits - including behaviour - phenotypic plasticity decreases strongly during ontogeny. It has often been postulated that behaviour is a pace-maker of evolution but it has not been investigated in much detail how early ontogeny influences later behaviour. In an explicitly evolutionary context, our Research Unit will concentrate on studying how adult behavioural traits as a consequence of different social and foraging conditions during early ontogeny. Our approach emphasizes that plasticity is an adaptive mechanism building the adult behavioural phenotype during ontogeny. We will investigate the ontogenetic response to relevant ecological factors with an explicit focus on fitness effects of trait adjustments. We approach the problem in a comparative way concentrating on a few species from different taxa (mammals, birds, insects) for which we have massive prior experience. Addressing the issue by asking similar, conceptually closely related questions across projects on animals differing widely in life history traits should allow to extract generalities with regard to (1) the time of information uptake and phenotype change, and (2) the kind of changes that can be induced in important behavioural and life history parameters, and (3) the fit of such changes to the ontogenetic conditions experienced earlier and their adaptive value (i. e. costs and benefits).                              P 1Developmental shaping of behavioural phenotypes by the social environment experienced during adolescence in birdsHans Joachim Bischof Nikolaus von Engelhardt Tim Ruploh Stefanie Bölting, Bielefeld UniversityP 2Phenotypic Plasticity in life history and behavioural syndromes in short lived, iteroparous small mammalsJana Eccard Antje Herde, Potsdam UniversityP 3Social environment during pregnancy shapes behavioural profile in adulthood: constraint or adaptation?Sylvia Kaiser Katja Siegeler Susanne Sangenstedt, Münster UniversityP 4Effects of early food conditions on later behavioural phenotypes in specialist versus generalist leaf beetlesCaroline Müller Martin Tremmel Thorben Müller, Bielefeld UniversityP 5Effects of larval density and larval food on adult behaviour and physiology in the lesser wax moth Achroia Grisella: adaptive anticipation of future environments?Klaus Reinhold Nils Cordes, Bielefeld UniversityP 6Social modulation of behavioural profile and stress responsiveness during adolescence: mechanisms and functionNorbert Sachser Tobias Tiedke Benjamin Zipser, Münster UniversityP 7Seasonnaly distinct life history patterns: the relation between maturational plasticity and behavioural phenotype in a precocial rodentFritz Trillmich Anja Guenther, Bielefeld UniversityP 8All mice are not equal: effects of genetic and environmental variability on the reduction of phenotypic plasticity Lars Lewejohann Philipp Schindler, Münster UniversityP 9Interactions of photoperiod, size-rank in the litter, and sex on development, stability and fitness components of the behavioural phenotypeFritz Trillmich Anja Guenther, Bielefeld University Publications  Associated ProjectsTransgenerational effects of the social environment on behaviour and physiology in quail Nikolaus von Engelhardt, Vivian Goerlich-Jansson, Esther Langen; Bielefeld University  WorkshopNew perspectives in behavioural development: adaptive shaping of behaviour over a lifetime? 29.9.-1.10.2014The interaction of genetic and environmental factors generates a reaction norm which allows integration of environmental information into the phenotype. It has often been postulated that behaviour is a pace-maker of evolution due to its inherent plasticity, but it has not been investigated in much detail how ontogenetic processes change behavioural plasticity over the lifetime of organisms and whether specific periods exist during which such changes are particularly likely. In an evolutionary context, this workshop will concentrate on the question how behavioural traits develop as a consequence of different experiences during ontogeny. Our approach explicitly considers plasticity as an adaptive mechanism that shapes the juvenile and adult (up to senescence) behavioural phenotype during ontogeny and across generations by epigenetic processes. We will discuss the ontogenetic response to relevant ecological and social factors in a variety of species differing widely in life history traits. By this approach we intend to extract generalities with regard to (1) the evolution of plasticity in reaction norms, (2) ontogenetic stages from conception to death of information uptake and phenotype shaping, (3) the adaptiveness (fitness effects) of behavioural phenotypes, (4) influential periods during ontogeny and trans-generational effects on changes in BP, and (5) the mechanisms underlying such shaping of the behavioural (and physiological) phenotype. Seitenaufrufe seit dem 24.01.2013The content of any external pages reached by a link provided here do not represent a service of Bielefeld University. The University distances itself expressly from the content of external links and is not responsible in any way for their content or layout.