Neuroendocrine control of phenotypic plasticity in birds

表型可塑性允许一个给定的基因型产生多种表型（形态、生理和/或行为）。鸟类表现出多种类型的表型可塑性，包括发育变化和季节变化。在发育过程中，环境因素影响生理和神经过程，对生物体的行为产生长期影响。然而，在成年期，许多鸟类也表现出极端的季节性可塑性和多个生活史阶段（繁殖、换羽、迁徙、越冬）之间的过渡，这些阶段涉及截然不同的生理状态。我的研究项目将研究鸟类如何通过环境信号来调节生理、神经生物学和行为上的发育变化。鸣禽为解决这些长期研究目标提供了一个卓越的研究系统。卵生和产卵为实验操纵发育环境提供了极好的机会。此外，成年鸣禽在一年的周期中表现出多个生活史阶段（如春季迁徙、繁殖、育儿、换羽、秋季迁徙、越冬）。

Phenotypic plasticity allows a given genotype to give rise to a variety of phenotypes (morphological, physiological and/or behavioural). Birds exhibit several types of phenotypic plasticity including developmental and seasonal changes. During development, environmental factors influence physiological and neural processes with long-term consequences on behaviour of the organism. However, during adulthood many bird species also exhibit extreme seasonal plasticity and transition between multiple life history stages (reproduction, moult, migration, wintering) that involve drastically different physiological states. My research program will address how birds transduce environmental cues to regulate developmental changes in physiology, neurobiology and behaviour. Songbirds provide a remarkable study system to address these long-term research objectives. Ovipary and altriciality provide excellent opportunities for experimentally manipulating the developmental environment. In addition, adult songbirds exhibit multiple life history stages over the annual cycle (e.g., spring migration, breeding, parenting, molting, fall migration, over-wintering).