:: Current research project

Neuroendocrine control of reproductive behavior in the Mozambique tilapia: mechanisms and effects of the social environment

Reproduction in teleost fish is controlled by the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis, which modulates sexual maturation, gametogenesis, development of secondary sex characters and the expression of reproductive behavior. Information on endogenous and exogenous factors is integrated in the brain and regulates the activity of the HPG so that reproductive traits are expressed at the right time and in the right context.

Among the exogenous factors that have been shown to play a major role in the control of reproduction, one may mention photoperiod, temperature and water chemistry. Less importance has been paid to the role of social factors, such as social status and the social context in which the individual is living (e.g. density; stability of dominance relationships).

This project aims to identify the neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying the expression of reproductive behaviour and study how these mechanisms and concomitantly the expression of reproductive behaviour are affected by social factors.

:: Selected publications

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