Meeting Abstract

P2-12   -   The Effects of Early Life Adversity and Multiple Stressors on Zebra Finch Stress Resilience Freeman, H*; Grindstaff, J; Oklahoma State University; Oklahoma State University hailey.freeman@okstate.edu

Chronic stress has permanent physiological effects on specific biomarkers (hemoglobin, blood glucose, protein, and triglycerides). However, these biomarkers vary among individuals and while some individuals may experience lasting physiological effects, others adapt to recurring stress. There is much known about the effects of single point stressors, but less has been done to explore the effects of chronic stress across developmental stages. The objective of this study was to test the effects of multiple stressors on Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata) and collect biomarkers as an indicator of stress resilience. Zebra finches are biparental and highly social birds living in large groups. We set up Zebra Finch families to be exposed to multiple stressors and a control group exposed to no stressors. The early life stressor was paternal removal, either at the beginning of the nestling period or at the beginning of the fledgling period. For the adolescent stressor, independent offspring were separated for 2 hours per day from their social cage mate for 12 days using a screen. After 140 days post-hatch, we tested adult sensitivity to the environment through social disruption. All individuals were exposed to social disruption by moving to new cages with novel, same sex cage mates. If early life adversity canalizes physiological reactivity to the environment, then we would expect that individuals from the paternal removal and adolescent separation groups will demonstrate less of a change in biomarkers after social disruption in adulthood than control individuals. This study will help us further understand environmental sensitivity and physiological reactivity.