Meeting Abstract
Maternal removal enhances fearfulness, increases the expression of antisocial behaviors, and induces learning deficits in both mammalian and avian offspring. Maternal removal may also influence hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function, as demonstrated in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Zebra finches provide bi-parental care, as do 80% of all bird species, yet few studies have tested the effects of paternal removal on offspring. Therefore, we set up groups of zebra finches that experienced paternal removal at hatching, paternal removal at fledging, and a control group where both parents were present throughout the nestling and fledgling stages. Once mature, we subjected each offspring to a novel foraging task to test learning ability. We also conducted a sociality test, in which we recorded the behavior of each bird when housed with three same-sex, novel conspecifics. Birds that experienced the removal of the father during the fledgling period solved the foraging task in significantly fewer trials. Additionally, birds that experienced paternal removal during the fledgling period exhibited significantly more aggressive behaviors as adults. These results suggest that mothers are unable to fully compensate for the loss of paternal care, when the removal occurs during the fledgling period. Our results are also consistent with past studies that found that stress exposure increases learning ability and boldness.
