Education
B.A. 1985 Macalester College,
Ph.D. 1993 University of Washington - Seattle
Courses
Biol 140L Biological Systems
Biol 203L Cellular Basis of Life
Biol 319L Animal Physiology
Biol 373L Sensory Biology
ResearchBiol 456L Biology of Communication
FYS 211 Sense and Nonsense
We examine social and hormonal regulation of brain cell formation and communication behavior in adult electric fish. South American weakly electric fish are nocturnally active and live in muddy waters of the Amazon River basin. They use their electric discharges both for locating objects in the environment and for communicating with each other. During social behavior, such as aggression and courtship, fish emit distinct electric signals, termed “chirps”. Long-term social interaction enhances the production of chirps and increases cell addition near the region of the brain that controls chirping. This suggests that changes in neurogenesis and communication behavior are causally linked. Treatment with the adrenal steroid cortisol partially mediates the connection between social interaction and neurogenesis. In our present research we explore the role of social novelty and locomotor behavior in promoting neurogenesis in adult electric fish.
Summaries of Current Research Projects
Electric Fish Publications
- Dunlap, K. D., D. Jashari* and K. M. Pappas* (2011) Glucocorticoid receptor blockade inhibits brain cell addition and aggressive signaling in electric fish, Apteronotus leptorhynchus. Hormones and Behavior (in press). [Abstract]
- Dunlap, K. D., A. C. Silva and M. Chung* (2011) Environmental complexity, seasonality and brain cell proliferation in weakly electric fish, Brachyhypopomus gauderio. Journal of Experimental Biology 214: 794-805. [Abstract]
- Pappas, K.* and K. D. Dunlap (2011) Shocking comments: Electrocommunication in teleost fish. In: Farrell, A.P. (ed.) Encyclopedia of Fish Physiology: From genome to environment. San Diego: Academic Press
- Dunlap, K. D. B. DiBenedictis* and S. Banever * (2010) Chirping response of weakly electric knife fish (Apteronotus leptorhynchus) to low frequency electric signals and to heterospecific electric fish. Journal of Experimental Biology. [Abstract]
- Dunlap, K. D., E. McCarthy*, D. Jashari* (2008) Electrocommunication signals alone are sufficient to increase neurogenesis in the brain of adult electric fish, Apteronotus leptorhynchus. Developmental Neurobiology 68: 1420-8. [Abstract]
- Dunlap, K. D., J.F. Castellano* and E. Prendaj* (2006) Social interaction and cortisol treatment increase cell addition and radial glia fiber density in the diencephalic periventricular zone of adult electric fish, Apteronotus leptorhynchus. Hormones and Behavior 50: 10-17. [Abstract]
- Dunlap, K. D. and J. Larkins-Ford*. (2003) Diversity in the structure of electrocommunication signals within a genus of electric fish, Apteronotus. Journal of Comparative Physiology A. 189: 153-161 [Abstract]
- Dunlap, K. D. and J. Larkins-Ford*. (2003) Production of aggressive electrocommunication signals to progressively realistic social stimuli in male Apteronotus leptorhynchus. Ethology . 109: 243-258 [Abstract]
- Dunlap, K.D. and L. Oliveri*. (2002) Retreat site selection and social organization in captive electric fish, Apteronotus leptorhynchus, Journal of Comparative Physiology A. 188: 469-477. [Abstract]
- Dunlap, K.D., P. L. Pelczar*, R. Knapp. (2002) Social interactions and cortisol treatment increase the production of aggressive electrocommunication signals in male electric fish, Apteronotus leptorhynchus. Hormones and Behavior . 42: 97-108. [Abstract]
- Dunlap, K.D. (2002) Hormonal and body size correlates of electrocommunication behavior during dyadic interactions in a weakly electric fish, Apteronotus leptorhynchus. Hormones and Behavior . 41: 187 - 194 [Abstract]
- Dunlap, K.D., G. T. Smith, A. Yekta*. (2000) Temperature dependence of electrocommunication signals and their underlying neural rhythms in the weakly electric fish, Apteronotus leptorhynchus . Brain Behavior Evolution . 55, 152-162 [Abstract]
- Zakon, H., L.M. McAnelly, G.T. Smith, K.D. Dunlap, G. Lopreato, J. Oestreich, P. Few. (1999) Plasticity of the electric organ discharge: Implications for the regulation of ionic currents. Journal of Experimental Biology . 202:1409 – 1416 [Abstract]
- Zakon HH, Dunlap KD (1999) Sex steroids and communication signals in electric fish: a tale of two species. Brain Behavior Evolution. 54(1):61-9 [Abstract]
- Dunlap, K.D. and Zakon, H. (1998) Behavioral actions of androgens and androgen receptor expression in the electrocommunication system of an Electric Fish, Eigenmannia virescens. Hormones and Behavior. 34, 30-38 [Abstract]
- Dunlap, K.D., Thomas, P., and Zakon, H. (1998) Diversity of sexual dimorphism in electrocommunication signals and its androgen regulation in a genus of electric fish, Apternotus. Journal of Comparative Physiology A . (1998) 183: 77-86 [Abstract]
- Dunlap, K.D. and H. Zakon. (1998) Hormones and communication signals in fish. In: Encyclopedia of Reproduction, Academic Press, New York.
- Dunlap, K.D., McAnelly, M., and Zakon, H. (1997) Estrogen modifies an electrocommunication signal by altering the electrocyte sodium current in an electric fish, Sternopygus. Journal of Neuroscience . 17(8):2869-2875 [Abstract]
* denotes Trinity College student
General E-Fish info
Present Research Students: Lorenzo Sewanan '12 & Anson McCook '12
Created by Dan McDevit '01and Doris Luk '05