Research

Sex (neuro)steroids and early breeding

Coupling long-term behavioural recording with cutting-edge steroid measurements, I am interested in understanding the sex steroids dynamics during early breeding, and especially during nest building, and how local variations in neurosteroids and their receptors promote the transition between different breeding stages. I am addressing these questions using the opportunistically breeding zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata), as males of these species readily court females and build nests in captivity when provided with the opportunity to do so, and also actively participate to all forms of parental cares.

Blue: brain sectioning; Orange: zebra finch copulation behaviour; Black: zebra finch nest; Red: steroidogenic pathway

Nest building and problem-solving

In addition to being a reproductive behaviour, nest building is also a construction behaviour and as such requires a wide range of motor actions to reach the end product: the nest. Using carefully designed experiments, I am currently investigating the relationship between nest building and problem-solving abilities in zebra finches.

A pair of zebra finches consuming their food reward (millet) after retrieving it from a transparent tube (string- pulling task).