Hormones and Behavior

Some seasonally-breeding animals are more aggressive during the short, “winter-like” days (SD) of the non-breeding season, despite gonadal regression and reduced circulating androgen levels. While the mechanisms underlying SD increases in aggression are not well understood, previous work from our lab suggests that pineal melatonin (MEL) and the adrenal androgen dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) are important in facilitating non-breeding aggression in Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus). To characterize the role of MEL in modulating seasonal transitions in aggressive behavior, we housed male hamsters in long days (LD) or SD, treated them with timed MEL (M) or saline injections, and measured aggression after 3, 6, and 9 weeks. Furthermore, to assess whether MEL mediates seasonal shifts in gonadal and adrenal androgen synthesis, serum testosterone (T) and DHEA concentrations were quantified 36 h before and immediately following an aggressive encounter. LD-M and SD males exhibited similar physiological and behavioral responses to treatment. Specifically, both LD-M and SD males displayed higher levels of aggression than LD males and reduced circulating DHEA and T in response to an aggressive encounter, whereas LD males elevated circulating androgens. Interestingly, LD and SD males exhibited distinct relationships between circulating androgens and aggressive behavior, in which changes in serum T following an aggressive interaction (∆T) were negatively correlated with aggression in LD males, while ∆DHEA was positively correlated with aggression in SD males. Collectively, these findings suggest that SD males transition from synthesis to metabolism of circulating androgens following an aggressive encounter, a mechanism that is modulated by MEL.

Data used for each model in Pinho et al. Hormones and Behavior (2019)

Raw data used to test four main hypotheses related to sexual interactions, changes in uOT and cooperation among female bonobos, from Moscovice et al., 2019. The sex preference data set tests whether the frequency of sex in feeding contexts is higher for female dyads in comparison with inter-sexual dyads. The post-sex behavior data set tests whether females are more likely to remain in close proximity to female or male partners following sex. The post-sex physiology data set tests whether changes in log uOT from baseline to post-sex samples differ following GG-rubbing vs. copulations. The coalitionary support data set tests whether same-sex or opposite-sex dyads who have more frequent sex also support each other more in coalitions.

PNr = Participant Number RT = reaction time SD = standard deviation of reaction time Hits = Acuracy education: 1 = elementary school 2 = middle school 3 = traineeship 4 = qualification for university entrance employment: 1 = no employement 2 = in training 3 = in training + part-time 4 = part-time 5 = full-time

Behavioral data consisting of csv sheets for Gambusia affinis fish exposed to either anxiety/exploration (Ramsey_Fry_Cummings_scototaxis) or social exposure (Ramsey_Fry_Cummings_Social_explosure) conditions.

The data contains biomarker and behavioral data on 41 juvenile blue monkeys observed during 4 consecutive 2 month periods, wherein each row of data represents a single subject-period, with corresponding measures of juvenile sex, age, number of groupmates, maternal rank, social strategy (according to PCs 1-3), uCP concentrations, fGC concentrations, fruit availability, and average daily rainfall. Each variable was measured as described in methods and centered according to its mean and standardized by its standard deviation before being entered in final models.

F = photorefractory PS = photosensitive T = photosensitive+T ID of animals in mPOA data matches ID of animals in BNSTm data.

Raw data from article

Information on morphology and hormonal levels of rufous horneros

This dataset is associated with the article "Cortisol during adolescence organises personality traits and behavioural syndromes ". The data are used in all statistical analyses indicated in the main body of the manuscript.