Maternal decisions and hormonal responses to predation risk: testing the limits of parental plasticity in egg-guarding reptiles

• Grant number: 25/13326-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: November 30, 2025
• End date: November 29, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Physiology of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Ribeiro Gomes
• Grantee: Stefânia Pereira Ventura dos Reis
• Supervisor: Daniel Augustus Warner
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Auburn University, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/02024-6 - Can agonistic interactions modulate physiological responses related to anti-predatory strategies in a neotropical lizard species?, BP.PD

Abstract

Parental care is a behavior that enhances offspring survival. Although extensively studied in mammals and birds, it has recently garnered increasing attention in ectotherms, such as reptiles. Among reptiles, the occurrence of parental care varies significantly across species, with some exhibiting prolonged mother-of-offspring associations and even active predator defense. Nest-site selection is a crucial component of this care, as it directly influences female reproductive success. While females have been documented to adjust their oviposition decisions based on environmental cues, such as predator presence, their ability to adapt to post-oviposition conditions remains uncertain. Furthermore, the hormonal regulation of this behavior is less understood in reptiles compared to other vertebrates. This study investigates the influence of predator cues on oviposition decisions and parental care behavior in Plestiodon fasciatus, a lizard exhibiting maternal care. We will test three hypotheses: (1) females will avoid depositing eggs in predator-cued microhabitats, (2) post-oviposition predator detection will trigger either egg relocation or clutch abandonment, and (3) these behavioral responses will be mediated by dynamic changes in Corticosterone, prolactin, and gonadal steroids. Conducted in a laboratory setting, this study aims to advance our understanding of parental care strategies in reptiles by integrating behavioral, ecological, and physiological aspects. It will also provide insights into the hormonal regulation of these behaviors under predation risk.