Fish diet heats up marine biodiversity hotspot
Scientists have discovered a never-before-seen biodiversity pattern of coral reef fishes that suggests some fishes might be exceptionally vulnerable to environmental change. A new study shows plank
ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
James Cook University Townsville
Queensland 4811 Australia
Phone: 61 7 4781 4000
Email: info@coralcoe.org.au
Abstract: Pair bonding is defined as a preferential, pro-social, and enduring affiliation between two individuals, and is known to be widespread among birds and mammals, including primates. In these taxa, pair bonding has been shown to be linked to several fitness-associated social processes, principally mate acquisition/defense and cooperative parental care. Mechanistically, the neurological basis of pair bonding in birds and mammals is also reasonably well established. Specifically, pharmacological experimentation and neurological comparative analyses have revealed fundamental roles for the neurochemicals oxytocin, arginine vasopressin, dopamine, and µ-opioids, their conjugate receptor-expressing neurons, and their targeted brain regions, in the expression of pair bond traits. In general, this neurobiological network is hypothesized to govern pair bonding through a cognitive process known as “conditioned partner preference”. As is the case for mammals and birds; amphibians, reptiles and fishes also form pair bonds. However, the occurrence, and adaptive significance, and neurobiology of pair bonding in these taxa currently remains unclear. This knowledge gap limits our capacity to formalize and test general evolutionary-developmental theories for pair bonding in vertebrates. Using butterflyfishes as a model system, Jess will begin by quantifying pair bonding characters (i.e., partner preference, pro-sociality, and permanency) across 6 species in order to determine the extent to which they are strongly vs. weakly pair bonded. Then, she will use the strong ‘pair bonders’ as model species for examining whether the permanency of a pair bond contributes to its ecological benefits (i.e., territory defense and foraging efficiency). Next, pharmacological experiments will be used to determine whether candidate neuron receptors (i.e., the isotocin, arginine vasotocin, dopamine, and opioid receptors) promote pair bonding. In the final chapter, strongly and weakly bonding species will be used to comparatively examine how candidate neuron receptors promote pair bonding (i.e., by identifying the brain regions that they target).”
Biography: Having been born and raised in Wisconsin, USA, Jess had not become enlightened (i.e. seen the ocean) until she was 17 years-old, during a vacation to North Carolina. With much bewilderment, she realized there was more meaning to life than Miller Light beer and ridiculously good cheese. Exchanging her cheese head for fins, she embarked upon her journey toward becoming a marine biologist. From 2008-2010, she focused her research on the effects of ocean acidification and increased sea surface temperatures on the behaviour of marine invertebrates and fishes. Today, she is pursuing a PhD, with a focus on understanding the ecological and neurobiological basis of pair bonding in a family of coral reef fish, the Chaetodontidae (butterflyfishes). Her PhD supervisors are Dr. Stefan Walker and Prof. Morgan Pratchett, from ARC CoE for Coral reef Studies and Dr. Lauren O’Connell, from Harvard University.
Scientists have discovered a never-before-seen biodiversity pattern of coral reef fishes that suggests some fishes might be exceptionally vulnerable to environmental change. A new study shows plank
Scientists say stable seafood consumption amongst the world’s poorer coastal communities is linked to how local habitat characteristics influence fishing at different times of the year. In the co
An international group of scientists is predicting markedly different outcomes for different species of coral reef fishes under climate change – and have made substantial progress on picking the ‘
New research has found as climate change causes the world’s oceans to warm, baby sharks are born smaller, exhausted, undernourished and into environments that are already difficult for them to survi
Abstract: The vast majority of reef fishes have a life history consisting of a pelagic larval phase of typically 20 to 60 days, followed by larval settlement where they remain through their juvenile a
Abstract: Social networks have been and remain important across the Pacific Islands, and beyond, for building and maintaining social-ecological resilience. However, there is little quantitative infor
Abstract: The global conservation community is comprised of a range of organisations, processes, and professionals. Given the diversity of these actors, and the complexity of the systems that conser
Abstract: Seasons create a rhythm in nature and, by extension, in the lives of people who depend directly on natural resources. However, our understanding of how seasons affect the ways that people
Abstract: Oceanic shark populations have declined 77% over the past 60 years as a result of overexploitation in fisheries. However, sustainable shark management is limited to a few developed nations
Abstract: Vertigo3 is a new class of small, fast and agile ‘true-flight’ underwater glider, purposely designed for robotic, artificial intelligence-assisted broadscale marine surveys, and capable
Abstract: Recurrent marine heat waves are leading to widespread coral bleaching, transforming the structure and function of tropical coral reefs. Past bleaching events have highlighted large variatio
Abstract: Shallow-water tropical seascapes typically include a range of habitat types such as coral reefs, mangroves, macroalgal and seagrass beds. These habitats can occur in close proximity and are
ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
James Cook University Townsville
Queensland 4811 Australia
Phone: 61 7 4781 4000
Email: info@coralcoe.org.au