Meeting Abstract

P1-87    Paternal removal and adolescent stress impacts on neophobia in adulthood Cox, K M*; Grindstaff, J L; Oklahoma State University, Stillwater; Oklahoma State University, Stillwater kileycox7@yahoo.com

Early life difficulties that come upon an individual, particularly within the family, lead to changes in behavior and flexibility. Having almost equal biparental care, Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata) are a good model for familial stress and consequences. The impacts of stress on offspring have been heavily studied with maternal removal, though less with paternal removal and even less with added stressors. Various studies have been done to show how more stress in life either forces plasticity or causes more fear. We created three groups which experienced paternal removal early (at hatching), late (at fledging), or never as the control. In adolescence, birds were split further into two groups either allowed to interact with their social partner or separated by a wire screen as another stressor. In adulthood, all birds experienced a change in cage mate and responses to novel objects were tested. Based on early data analysis, paternal removal did not significantly influence the response to novel objects. There were sex-specific effects of separation during the adolescent period on neophobia. Control females were bolder in approaching the object, whereas control and separated males’ responses were about the same. This data helps us to further understand behavioral plasticity after early life adversity.