Population-level effects of management
Do individual-level effects of contraception have population-level consequences?
I am interested in how changes in mare behavior and physiology in response to contraception management may impact other individuals with which they associate. Preliminary data suggest that contracepted females initiate more aggression with other females in their group. In addition, my former students and I have produced long-term datasets regarding female interactions.
With this information and additional field research, my future students and I will compare the frequency of female aggression 1) for treated vs. untreated females, and 2) before and after PZP use. Moreover, we will conduct fecal sampling to determine whether changes to aggression rates result in increases to mare cortisol levels. Using these metrics, we will determine whether PZP-induced changes in individual mares can ripple throughout the population.
I am interested in how changes in mare behavior and physiology in response to contraception management may impact other individuals with which they associate. Preliminary data suggest that contracepted females initiate more aggression with other females in their group. In addition, my former students and I have produced long-term datasets regarding female interactions.
With this information and additional field research, my future students and I will compare the frequency of female aggression 1) for treated vs. untreated females, and 2) before and after PZP use. Moreover, we will conduct fecal sampling to determine whether changes to aggression rates result in increases to mare cortisol levels. Using these metrics, we will determine whether PZP-induced changes in individual mares can ripple throughout the population.
