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Schwabl Lab
Welcome!
Professor Schwabl's research is at the interface of behavioral biology, endocrinology, and evolutionary ecology . Specifically his lab is interested in the regulation of reproduction in relation to the social and physical environment.
Professor Schwabl's current research focuses on female reproductive biology and the consequences of female reproductive decisions for the phenotype and the fitness of the offspring. Understanding the evolutionary significance of such maternal effects requires investigation of proximate regulatory mechanisms and of ultimate fitness consequences. Therefore he studies animals (mainly birds) in their natural environment (including the tropics), conducts controlled laboratory experiments, measures and manipulates hormone levels, quantifies behavior, and estimates fitness. The specific goals of this research program are to understand 1) female reproductive plasticity; 2) effects of female reproductive decisions on anatomy, physiology, development, and behavior of offspring; and 3) evolution and fitness consequences of maternal effects.