Birds & Brains
photo by David Slipher
What makes a parent a parent?
Important changes in behavior occur when we become parents. For animals that exhibit parental care, raising offspring successfully involves transitioning from aggressive and sexual behaviors to more caring and nurturing ones. However, it is not clear how the brain brings about this transition . We are investigating how changes in gene activity in the brain are linked with various parental care behaviors and other biological factors. By doing so, we are significantly increasing our understanding of how organisms reproduce and, when they can't, how to help them.
Important changes in behavior occur when we become parents. For animals that exhibit parental care, raising offspring successfully involves transitioning from aggressive and sexual behaviors to more caring and nurturing ones. However, it is not clear how the brain brings about this transition . We are investigating how changes in gene activity in the brain are linked with various parental care behaviors and other biological factors. By doing so, we are significantly increasing our understanding of how organisms reproduce and, when they can't, how to help them.
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Select publications
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- Amorín, N.* and Calisi, R.M. 2015. Measurements of Neuronal Soma Size and Estimated Peptide Concentrations in Addition to Cell Abundance Offer a Higher Resolution of Seasonal and Reproductive Influences of GnRH-I and GnIH in European Starlings. Journal of Integrative and Comparative Biology. (pdf)
- Calisi, R.M. 2014. An integrative overview of the role of gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone in behavior using Tinbergen’s four questions. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 203: 95-105. (pdf)
- Hofmann, H., Rubenstein, D.R., Akcay, E., Alonzo, S., Archie, B., Beery, A., Calisi, R.M., Carleton, K., Chow, B., Dubnau, J., Elekonich, M.M., Grozinger, C.M., Ketterson, E., Leifer, A., Links, T., Mendelson, T., MacManes, M., Martin, L., McGraw, K., McGraw, L., O’Connell, L., Ophir, A.G., RemageHealey, L., Renn, S., Roth, T.C., Tung, J., Woolley, S. 2014. New frontiers for the integrative study of animal behavior. National Science Foundation White Paper. (pdf)
- Bentley, G.E., Perfito, N., and Calisi, R.M. 2013. Season- and context- dependent sex differences in melatonin receptor activity in a forebrain song control nucleus: comparison of data from the laboratory and semi-natural environment. Hormones and Behavior, 63(5): 829-835. COVER. (pdf)
- Perfito, N., Young Jeong, S.*, Silverin, B., Calisi, R.M., Bentley, G.E., Hau, M. 2012. Anticipating spring: wild populations of great tits (Parus major) differ in expression of key genes for photoperiodic time measurement. PLoS One, 7(4): e34997. (pdf)
- Calisi, R.M., Díaz-Muñoz, S.L., Wingfield, J.C., Bentley, G.E. 2011. Social and breeding status are associated with recently discovered GnIH. Genes, Brain and Behavior, 10(5): 557-564. COVER. (pdf)
- McGuire, N.L., Calisi, R.M. and Bentley, G.E. 2010. Seasonality: Hormones and behavior, Breed, MD and Moore, J., (ed), Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior, Vol. 3, Oxford Academic Press, pp. 108-118. (pdf)
- Calisi, R.M., and Bentley, G.E. 2009. Lab and field experiments: are they the same animal? Hormones and Behavior 56, 1-10. Ranked as a "Hot Article" in Faculty of 1000. (pdf)
- Calisi, R.M., Malone, J.H., Hews, D.K. 2008. Female secondary coloration in the Mexican boulder spiny lizard (Sceloporus pyrocephalus) is associated with nematode load. Journal of Zoology, 276: 358-367. (pdf)
- Calisi, R.M. and Hews, D.K. 2007. Steroid correlates of multiple color traits in the spiny lizard, Sceloporus pyrocephalus. Journal of Comparative Physiology, 177(6): 641-654. (pdf)
- Calisi, R.M. 2006. Proximate and ultimate mechanisms associated with female coloration in the Mexican boulder spiny lizard, Sceloporus pyrocephalus. Master's Thesis, University of Texas, Arlington, University of Texas Publishing Press, 4396 2. (pdf)
- Calisi, R.M. 2005. Variation in Bidder's organ volume is attributable to reproductive status in Bufo woodhousii. Journal of Herpetology, 39(4): 656-659. (pdf)