:: Current research project

Neuroendocrinology of reproductive behaviour in the african cichlid Oreochromis mossambicus - Neurobiology and endocrine regulation of social interactions and communicative functions

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

Exogenous factors related with physical conditions of the environment (e.g. temperature, photoperiod) play a major role in the control of reproduction. In turn, social status and social context have been less studied. Hormones and neuroendocrine mechanism have been highly conserved across vertebrates which makes fish good model species for studies on behavioural endocrinology. The proposed plan follows two lines of study: (1) identification of the neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying the expression of reproductive behaviour; and (2) studying how these mechanisms and, concomitantly, the expression of reproductive behaviour are affected by social factors.

Funded by: FCT - SFRH/BD/37187/2007

:: Selected publications

- Barata, E.N., Hubbard, P.C., Almeida, O.G., Miranda, A., and Canário, A.V.M. 2007. Male urine signals social rank in Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus). BMC Biology: 5:54.

- Almeida, O.G., Miranda, A., Frade, P., Hubbard, P.C., Barata, E.N. and Canário, A.V.M. 2005. Urine as a social signal in the Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus). Chemical Senses 30: i309-i310.

- Miranda, A., Almeida, O.G., Hubbard, P.C., Barata, E.N. and Canário, A.V.M. 2005. Olfactory discrimination of female reproductive status by male tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus). Journal of Experimental Biology 208: 2037-2043.

- Almeida, O., Barata, E.N., Hubbard, P., Canário, A.V.M. 2003. Urination rate of male tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) is highly dependent on social context. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 134A (Suppl.): S27-S28.