Researcher ORCID Identifier
0000-0002-4984-6010
Graduation Year
2022
Document Type
Campus Only Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Neuroscience
Reader 1
Tessa Solomon-Lane
Reader 2
Elise Ferree
Terms of Use & License Information
Abstract
Individual variation in social behavior, neuroendocrine function, and neural gene expression contribute to phenotypic variation. The relationship of these factors in adult social behavior are well studied, yet their nuanced interaction across developmental stages remains elusive. We studied the establishment and maintenance of social status in adult and juvenile Astatotilapia burtoni, a highly social African cichlid fish. Adults form social hierarchies and display highly plastic social status phenotypes. Dominant males are sexually active, aggressive, territorial, and ornately colored compared to reproductively suppressed, submissive, and gray subordinate males. Juveniles form social status, yet little is known about their status and patterns of regulation. We compared dominant and subordinate adults and juveniles at the initiation of status relationships (1-day) and when stable (7-days). We observed social behavior, analyzed water-borne hormones for cortisol, and measured whole brain transcriptome. We found variation in behavioral profiles across status, developmental stage, and time, including the distance travelled to perform behaviors. In week treatments, dominant juveniles perform all distances of approaches and displacements at a higher frequency than subordinates. Dominant adults only perform far approaches and close, middle, and far displacements at a higher frequency than subordinates. Adults and juveniles formed status. Close approaches in dominant adults and far approaches in dominant juveniles were positively related to cortisol. This suggests dominance is regulated by different social behaviors and neuroendocrine mechanisms in adults and juveniles. This work can enhance our understanding of the neural and neuroendocrine basis of social behavior and status across developmental stages in social species.
Recommended Citation
Maurice, Jessica, "Of all the fish in the sea, who is different than me? Status-driven variation in social behavior, hormones, and neural gene expression across development" (2022). Scripps Senior Theses. 1800.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/scripps_theses/1800
This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.
