DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Behavioral adaptation to captivity in the zebrafish, Danio rerio

PI巴里D.罗宾逊提案# IOS-0808551斑马鱼对圈养的行为适应。圈养繁殖程序通常被用作保护工具。不幸的是，对圈养环境的适应（驯化）会产生戏剧性的行为变化，使圈养动物不适合释放到野外。了解产生驯化种群典型的驯服行为的过程有助于制定明智的保护决策。野生和家养斑马鱼将被用来研究压力和驯化产生的驯服行为类型之间的关系。研究将把行为和激素测定与遗传学研究结合起来。在实验室中，野生斑马鱼种群的应激激素水平预计会高于国内种群，并且对人类处理等应激活动的反应也会更高。这项研究将建立对驯化过程中行为变化的方式和原因的理解，并为未来研究这些变化的遗传基础奠定基础。更广泛的影响将包括研究培训机会，通过整合行为学，内分泌学和遗传学的研究来增强教育经验。这项工作将包括指导本科生。

PI Barrie D. Robison Proposal # IOS-0808551Behavioral adaptation to captivity in the zebrafish, Danio rerio.Captive breeding programs are often used as a conservation tool. Unfortunately, adaptation to the captive environment (domestication) can produce dramatic behavioral changes that make captive animals unsuitable for release into the wild. Understanding the processes that produce the tame behavior typical of domesticated populations helps the development of informed conservation decisions. Wild and domestic zebrafish will be used to examine the relationship between stress and the tame behavioral type produced by domestication. Studies will integrate behavioral and hormonal assays with studies of genetics. Wild populations of zebrafish are expected to show higher levels of stress hormones in the laboratory relative to domestic populations, as well as higher responses to stressful activities such as handling by humans. This research will build understanding of how and why behavior changes during domestication, and set the stage for future studies on the genetic basis of these changes. Broader impacts will include research training opportunities that will enhance educational experiences by integrating studies of behavior, endocrinology, and genetics. The work will include mentoring of undergraduate students.