US Partnering Award - Combining mechanistic and evolutionary approaches to studying socially-induced stress in vertebrates
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Exeter
Department Name: Biosciences
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Alastair Wilson (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Boulton K
(2015)
How integrated are behavioral and endocrine stress response traits? A repeated measures approach to testing the stress-coping style model.
in Ecology and evolution
Houslay T
(2019)
Habituation and individual variation in the endocrine stress response in the Trinidadian guppy (Poecilia reticulata)
in General and Comparative Endocrinology
Styga JM
(2019)
Development of G: a test in an amphibious fish.
in Heredity
Styga JM
(2017)
Ontogeny of the morphology-performance axis in an amphibious fish (Kryptolebias marmoratus).
in Journal of experimental zoology. Part A, Ecological and integrative physiology
Wilson AJ
(2018)
How should we interpret estimates of individual repeatability?
in Evolution letters
| Description | As noted this scheme does not fund research directly. However, the funding provided has greatly contributed to the success of my BBSRC funded research on the genetic of vertebrate stress response. In particular it has allowed us to maximise the value of the international collaboration built into that grant, with support for extended reciprocal visits having allowed the postdoc (and other members of the Wilson group) to gain new skills and knowledge in endocrinology and physiology. At the same time Dr Earley (the US partner) and his group have benefited from training in advanced statistical modelling and quantitative genetic theory which they are now combining with a particularly powerful empirical system (a naturally occurring selfing- hermaphroditic fish that provides the tractable genetics of a clonal organism with with much greater relevance to vertebrate systems). The scheme has been particularly successful in allowing Wilson and Earley to establish a strong partnership that looks set to continue long beyond the grant end. Indeed two further exchange visits are planned in the next 6 weeks (one by Wilson to Alabama, and a second by two early career researchers in Alabama). In addition there are currently 5 joint papers published with more at various stages of submission and preparation. Earley is also acting as cosupervisor on an incoming (Sept 2019) BBSRC funded PhD studentship project to continue the collaboration. We have also submitted several joint proposals to US funders (though none succesful so far), with more anticipated to UK and US funders in due course. |
| Exploitation Route | This is still difficult to say. The joint projects are rooted firmly in fundamental biology (specifically evolutionary biology) although the contexts being explored -which include stress response physiology and behaviour (including, for instance, aggression displayed under social stressors) have potential application in livestock and aquaculture production. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment |