Richard B. Gump South Pacific Research Station

18 Oct, 05 AM - 21 Dec, 04 AM

Fish cleaning mutualisms offer a promising setting to study the evolution of complex inter-specific social behavior, such as cooperation and deception, and of its proximate mechanisms. Our main aim is to study the neuromolecular basis of cooperative behaviour (mutualisms). In this project we will integrate both behaviour and dopaminergic influence in order to understand decision making during cooperation among unrelated individuals. In the wild, we will first aim to find out the influence of putative alterations of dopamine manipulation (D1 receptor) on four different labrid species : a) Labroides dimidiatus, b) Labroides bicolor, c) Labroides rubrolabiatus and d) Labrichthys unilineatus. Secondly, we will aim in finding out out which brain nuclei within the social behaviour network are activated by different levels cooperative behaviour. For that we will also aim at those same 4 species and 2 other facultative species. In laboratorial conditions, we will similarly focus on the above 3 species of obligatory cleanerfish (L. dimdiatus, L. bicolor and L. rubrolabiatus) as to: a) assess their risk based decision-making and b) the influence of familiarity on their behavioural response. Our general idea is to expose each cleaner to a putatite interspecific partner, which may vary in risk gradient (exposure to either a predator or a non predator) or in familiary (a familiar individual or an unfamiliar). This project will provide important insights and tools for comprehension and study of the overall evolution of cooperative behaviour.

Visit #37538 @Richard B. Gump South Pacific Research Station

Approved

Under Project # 29778 | Research

WHAT ARE THE NEUROENDOCRINE MECHANISMS REGULATING THE EVOLUTION OF BEHAVIORAL PLASTICITY AND COOPERATION AMONGST SPECIES WITH COMPLEX INTERSPECIFIC RELATIONSHIPS?

faculty - CIBIO-InBIO (University of Porto)

Reservation Members(s)

João Messias Oct 18 - Dec 21, 2014 (65 days)
Teresa Santos Oct 18 - Dec 21, 2014 (65 days)

Reserve Resources(s) | Create Invoice

Dorm 1 2 Oct 18 - Dec 21, 2014