Alexander Schlatmann
@aaschlatmann.bsky.social
PhD Candidate in Behavioural Ecology @ University of Groningen 🇳🇱 | Researching how personality variation drives mating patterns & reproductive isolation | Birder
Note the (barely visible) thin, wavy larval fin fold: a transient membranous structure running along the dorsal, caudal, and ventral edges
June 18, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Note the (barely visible) thin, wavy larval fin fold: a transient membranous structure running along the dorsal, caudal, and ventral edges
From egg to hatchling!
Swipe through the larval development of the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)
Swipe through the larval development of the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)
June 18, 2025 at 3:16 PM
From egg to hatchling!
Swipe through the larval development of the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)
Swipe through the larval development of the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)
Conclusion: We found no olfactory kin discrimination in begging blue tit nestlings. To assess the importance of olfaction in kin recognition across birds, more work is needed. Current evidence suggests colony-breeding birds (e.g. seabirds) may rely more on olfaction than species that breed solitary.
March 28, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Conclusion: We found no olfactory kin discrimination in begging blue tit nestlings. To assess the importance of olfaction in kin recognition across birds, more work is needed. Current evidence suggests colony-breeding birds (e.g. seabirds) may rely more on olfaction than species that breed solitary.
An extra exploratory analysis showed no difference in growth and survival between cross-fostered and non-cross-fostered nestlings shortly before fledging, adding further support to our results and (re)confirming that cross-fostering doesn’t negatively affect nestling growth and survival.
March 28, 2025 at 6:40 PM
An extra exploratory analysis showed no difference in growth and survival between cross-fostered and non-cross-fostered nestlings shortly before fledging, adding further support to our results and (re)confirming that cross-fostering doesn’t negatively affect nestling growth and survival.
We replicated most previous findings, including stronger begging responses from lighter nestlings and after longer food deprivation. However, nestlings did not show stronger begging responses (in probability or duration) toward kin versus nonkin nestmates.
March 28, 2025 at 6:40 PM
We replicated most previous findings, including stronger begging responses from lighter nestlings and after longer food deprivation. However, nestlings did not show stronger begging responses (in probability or duration) toward kin versus nonkin nestmates.
Apart from cross-fostering, we followed the exact same experimental procedures as used before. We temporarily food-deprived nestlings and presented odour samples from related versus unrelated (yet familiar) cross-fostered nestmates at 30, 90 & 150 min after the onset of food deprivation.
March 28, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Apart from cross-fostering, we followed the exact same experimental procedures as used before. We temporarily food-deprived nestlings and presented odour samples from related versus unrelated (yet familiar) cross-fostered nestmates at 30, 90 & 150 min after the onset of food deprivation.
The authors hypothesised olfaction to mediate kin-biased sibling competition in nests where relatedness varies due to extra-pair paternity. To test this, we replicated the original experiment but cross-fostered two nestlings per brood at hatching to disentangle familiarity from relatedness effects.
March 28, 2025 at 6:40 PM
The authors hypothesised olfaction to mediate kin-biased sibling competition in nests where relatedness varies due to extra-pair paternity. To test this, we replicated the original experiment but cross-fostered two nestlings per brood at hatching to disentangle familiarity from relatedness effects.
Across animal taxa, olfaction often mediates kin-biased behaviour. While birds also display kin-biased behaviour, it remains unknown through which mechanism(s) they can discriminate kin from nonkin.
March 28, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Across animal taxa, olfaction often mediates kin-biased behaviour. While birds also display kin-biased behaviour, it remains unknown through which mechanism(s) they can discriminate kin from nonkin.
NEW PAPER OUT 📃: My first ever paper, which reports on my Master’s research, is now out in Animal Behaviour.
Can blue tit nestlings sense their relatedness to their nestmates through smell? 🧵
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#OpenAccess #OpenScience #Preregistration #AcademicSky🧪
Can blue tit nestlings sense their relatedness to their nestmates through smell? 🧵
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#OpenAccess #OpenScience #Preregistration #AcademicSky🧪
March 28, 2025 at 6:40 PM
NEW PAPER OUT 📃: My first ever paper, which reports on my Master’s research, is now out in Animal Behaviour.
Can blue tit nestlings sense their relatedness to their nestmates through smell? 🧵
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#OpenAccess #OpenScience #Preregistration #AcademicSky🧪
Can blue tit nestlings sense their relatedness to their nestmates through smell? 🧵
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#OpenAccess #OpenScience #Preregistration #AcademicSky🧪