http://www.uni-bielefeld.de/biologie/fg1232/index.html?__xsl=/templates/null.xslPhenotypic Plasticity Anja MesserschmidtResearch unitbehaviour phenotype early experience Universität Bielefeld2013-02-25entext/html Reduction 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 1 Developmental shaping of behavioural phenotypes by the social environment experienced during adolescence in birds Hans Joachim Bischof Nikolaus von Engelhard Tim Ruploh, Bielefeld University P 2 Phenotypic Plasticity in life history and behavioural syndromes in short lived, iteroparous small mammals Jana Eccard Antje Herde, Potsdam University P 3 Social environment during pregnancy shapes behavioural profile in adulthood: constraint or adaptation? Sylvia Kaiser Katja Siegeler, Münster University P 4 Effects of early food conditions on later behavioural phenotypes in specialist versus generalist leaf beetles Caroline Müller Martin Tremmel Thorben Müller, Bielefeld University P 5 Effects 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 University P 6 Social modulation of behavioural profile and stress responsiveness during adolescence: mechanisms and function Norbert Sachser Tobias Tiedke Benjamin Zipser, Münster University P 7 Seasonnaly distinct life history patterns: the relation between maturational plasticity and behavioural phenotype in a precocial rodent Fritz Trillmich Anja Günther, Bielefeld University P 8 All mice are not equal: effects of genetic and environmental variability on the reduction of phenotypic plasticity Lars Lewejohann Münster University   Publications     Seitenaufrufe seit dem 24.01.2013 The 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.