Dr Anne Peters - Researcher Profile

Anne Peters

Address

School of Biological Sciences
Building 18, Clayton

Biography

Anne works in the School of Biological Sciences at Monash University as a Senior Lecturer, ARC Future Fellow

Anne’s research areas of interest are:

• Behavioural Ecology
• Sexual selection
• Communication by honest signals
• Avian colouration
• Life-history trade-offs
• Ecological immunology
• Behavioural endocrinology

Sexual selection: Honesty of sexual ornaments One of my main fields of research concerns physiological mechanisms that maintain honest signalling of individual quality through ornamentation. With my research group I tested the role of hormonal effects (testosterone) and dependence on general condition or specific dietary components (antioxidants mainly) as such honesty-enforcing links using birds as model organisms. Currently we are expanding this approach by looking at interactions between mechanisms (testosterone and carotenoids; multiple antioxidants).

Life-history trade-offs: the role of ecological immunology Although the immune system is central to survival, animals show great variation in their immune investment. This is related to trade-offs resulting from costs of immune system maintenance and activation and competing demands (investment in sexual signals, parental care). I study how these trade-offs are affected by individual quality, hormonal status, diet quality and environmental factors.

Interactions between mating and breeding system in Australian fairy-wrens Fairy-wrens are cooperatively breeding small songbirds, that are renowned for their striking seasonal plumage in males, their complex reproductive strategy and above all their extreme unfaithfulness. I showed that testosterone regulates how males balance investment in sexual attractiveness and parental care in superb fairy-wrens. Recently, we discovered that its close relation, the purple-crowned fairy-wren, follows a faithful mating strategy, and this appears to have consequences for its mating behaviour, acoustic signals, plumage development, and the cooperative breeding system.

Avian colour signals: form and functions Birds display a fantastic variety of colours, and this is often related to sexual selection. However, colours can also function in crypsis. We are testing hypotheses explaining colour variation by considering avian visual physiology, patterns of variability and sources of colour production.

Keywords

Behavioural Ecology, Sexual selection

Qualifications

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (ECOLOGY)
Institution: The Australian National University
Year awarded: 2001

Publications

Journal Articles

Griesser, M., Schneider, N.A., Collis, M., Overs, A., Guppy, M., Guppy, S., Takeuchi, N., Collins, P., Peters, A., Hall, M.L., 2012, Causes of ring-related leg injuries in birds - evidence and recommendations from four field studies, PLoS ONE [P], vol 7, issue 12, Public Library Science, United States, pp. 1-11.

Kingma, S., Hall, M., Peters, A., 2012, Sperm storage reflects within- and extra-pair mating opportunities in a cooperatively breeding bird, Behavioral Ecology And Sociobiology [P], vol 66, issue 8, Springer, New York USA, pp. 1115-1123.

Peters, A., Roberts, M., Kurvers, R., Delhey, J., 2012, Testosterone treatment can increase circulating carotenoids but does not affect yellow carotenoid-based plumage colour in blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus, Journal Of Avian Biology [P], vol 43, issue 4, Wiley-Blackwell, New Jersey USA, pp. 362-368.

Gardner, J., Peters, A., Kearney, M., Joseph, L., Heinsohn, R., 2011, Declining body size: a third universal response to warming?, Trends in Ecology and Evolution [P], vol 26, issue 6, Elsevier Science, London England, pp. 285-291.

Gardner, J., Kearney, M., Peters, A., Joseph, L., Heinsohn, R., 2011, Mechanisms and consequences of changing body size: reply to Bickford et al. and McCauley and Mabry, Trends in Ecology and Evolution [P], vol 26, issue 11, Elsevier Science, England, pp. 555-556.

Kingma, S., Hall, M., Peters, A., 2011, Multiple benefits drive helping behavior in a cooperatively breeding bird: an integrated analysis, American Naturalist [P], vol 177, issue 4, University of Chicago Press, Chicago USA, pp. 486-495.

Peters, A., Kurvers, R., Roberts, M., Delhey, K., 2011, No evidence for general condition-dependence of structural plumage colour in blue tits: an experiment, Journal Of Evolutionary Biology [P], vol 24, issue 5, Wiley-blackwell, Malden USA, pp. 976-987.

Kingma, S., Hall, M., Peters, A., 2011, No evidence for offspring sex-ratio adjustment to social or environmental conditions in cooperatively breeding purple-crowned fairy-wrens, Behavioral Ecology And Sociobiology [P], vol 65, Springer-Verlag, Germany, pp. 1203-1213.

Delhey, J., Carrizo, M., Verniere, L., Mahler, B., Peters, A., 2011, Rejection of brood-parasitic shiny cowbird Molothrus bonariensis nestlings by the firewood-gatherer Anumbius annumbi?, Journal Of Avian Biology [P], vol 42, issue 5, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Inc, USA, pp. 463-467.

Peters, A., Magdeburg, S., Delhey, K., 2011, The carotenoid conundrum: improved nutrition boosts plasma carotenoid levels but not immune benefits of carotenoid supplementation, Oecologia [P], vol 166, issue 1, Springer, New York USA, pp. 35-43.

Langmore, N., Stevens, M., Maurer, G., Heinsohn, R., Hall, M., Peters, A., Kilner, R., 2011, Visual mimicry of host nestlings by cuckoos, Proceedings of the Royal Society - Biological Sciences (Series B) [P], vol 278, issue 1717, Royal Society, London England, pp. 2455-2463.

Peters, A., Klonczinski, E., Delhey, K., 2010, Fat quill secretion in pigeons: could it function as a cosmetic?, Animal Biology [P], vol 60, issue 1, Brill Academic Publishers, PA Leiden Netherlands, pp. 69-78.

Kingma, S.A., Hall, M.L., Arriero, E., Peters, A., 2010, Multiple benefits of cooperative breeding in purplecrowned fairy-wrens: A consequence of fidelity?, Journal Of Animal Ecology [P], vol 79, issue 4, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Inc, Malden Massachusetts USA, pp. 757-768.

Kurvers, R.H.J., Delhey, K., Roberts, M.L., Peters, A., 2010, No consistent female preference for higher crown UV reflectance in Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus: a mate choice experiment, Ibis [P], vol 152, issue 2, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Inc, Malden Massachusetts USA, pp. 393-396.

Delhey, K., Burger, C., Fiedler, W., Peters, A., 2010, Seasonal changes in colour: a comparison of structural, melanin- and carotenoid-based plumage colours, PLoS ONE [P], vol 5, issue 7, Public Library of Science, San Francisco USA, pp. 1-14.

Delhey, K., Carrizo, M., Verniere, L., Mahler, B., Peters, A., 2010, Seasonal variation in reproductive output of a neotropical temperate suboscine, the firewood-gatherer (anumbius annumbi), Auk [P], vol 127, issue 1, The American Ornithologists' Union, Lawrence KS USA, pp. 222-231.

Delhey, K., Roberts, M., Peters, A., 2010, The carotenoid-continuum: carotenoid-based plumage ranges from conspicuous to cryptic and back again, BMC Ecology [P], vol 10, BioMed Central Ltd, London England, pp. 1-13.

Catoni, C., Peters, A., Schaefer, M., 2009, Dietary flavonoids enhance conspicuousness of a melanin-based trait in male blackcaps but not of the female homologous trait or of sexually monochromatic traits, Journal Of Evolutionary Biology [P], vol 22, issue 8, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Inc, Malden Massachusetts USA, pp. 1649-1657.

Hall, M., Peters, A., 2009, Do male paternity guards ensure female fidelity in a duetting fairy-wren?, Behavioral Ecology [P], vol 20, issue 1, Oxford University Press, USA, pp. 222-228.

Roberts, M., Peters, A., 2009, Is testosterone immunosuppressive in a condition-dependent manner? An experimental test in blue tits, Journal Of Experimental Biology [P], vol 212, issue 12, The Company of Biologists, Cambridge England, pp. 1811-1818.

Kingma, S., Hall, M., Segelbacher, S., Peters, A., 2009, Radical loss of an extreme extra-pair mating system, BMC Ecology [P], vol 9, BioMed Central Ltd, UK, pp. 1-11.

Roberts, M., Ras, E., Peters, A., 2009, Testosterone increases UV reflectance of sexually selected crown plumage in male blue tits, Behavioral Ecology [P], vol 20, issue 3, Oxford University Press, USA, pp. 535-541.

Peters, A., Delhey, K., Anderson, S., van Noordwijk, H., Forschler, M., 2008, Condition-dependence of multiple carotenoid-based plumage traits: an experimental study, Functional Ecology [P], vol 22, issue 5, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford Oxon England, pp. 831-839.

Hall, M., Peters, A., 2008, Coordination between the sexes for territorial defence in a duetting fairy-wren, Animal Behaviour [P], vol 76, Academic Press Ltd Elsevier Science Ltd, London England, pp. 65-73.

Kurvers, R., Roberts, M., McWilliams, S., Peters, A., 2008, Experimental manipulation of testosterone and condition during molt affects activity and vocalizations of male blue tits, Hormones And Behavior [P], vol 54, issue 2, Academic Press Inc Elsevier Science, San Diego USA, pp. 263-269.

Catoni, C., Schaefer, M., Peters, A., 2008, Fruit for health: the effect of flavonoids on humoral immune response and food selection in a frugivorous bird, Functional Ecology [P], vol 22, issue 4, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford Oxon England, pp. 649-654.

Catoni, C., Peters, A., Schaefer, M., 2008, Life history trade-offs are influenced by the diversity, availability and interactions of dietary antioxidants, Animal Behaviour [P], vol 76, Academic Press Ltd Elsevier Science Ltd, London England, pp. 1107-1119.

Delhey, K., Peters, A., Biedermann, P., Kempenaers, B., 2008, Optical properties of the uropygial gland secretion: no evidence for UV cosmetics in birds, Naturwissenschaften [P], vol 95, issue 10, Springer, New York USA, pp. 939-946.

Delhey, K., Peters, A., 2008, Quantifying variability of avian colours: are signalling traits more variable?, PLoS ONE [P], vol 3, issue 2, Public Library of Science, San Francisco USA, pp. 1-10.

Kempenaers, B., Peters, A., Foerster, K., 2008, Sources of individual variation in plasma testosterone levels, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series B Biological Sciences [P], vol 363, issue 1497, The Royal Society, London England, pp. 1711-1723.

Delhey, K., Peters, A., Johnsen, A., Kempenaers, B., 2007, Brood sex ratio and male UV ornamentation in blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus): correlational evidence and an experimental test, Behavioral Ecology And Sociobiology [P], vol 61, issue 6, Springer, New York USA, pp. 853-862.

Delhey, K., Peters, A., Kempenaers, B., 2007, Cosmetic coloration in birds: occurrence, function, and evolution, American Naturalist [P], vol 169, issue 1, University of Chicago Press, Chicago USA, pp. 145-158.

Delhey, K., Peters, A., Johnsen, A., Kempenaers, B., 2007, Fertilization success and UV ornamentation in blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus: correlational and experimental evidence, Behavioral Ecology [P], vol 18, issue 2, Oxford University Press, USA, pp. 399-409.

Poesel, A., Dabelsteen, T., Darden, S., Delhey, K., Peters, A., 2007, Territorial responses of male blue tits, Cyanistes caeruleus, to UV-manipulated neighbours, Journal fur Ornithologie [P], vol 148, issue 2, Springer, New York USA, pp. 179-187.

Peters, A., 2007, Testosterone and carotenoids: an integrated view of trade-offs between immunity and sexual signalling, Bioessays [P], vol 29, issue 5, John Wiley & Sons Inc, Hoboken USA, pp. 427-430.

Peters, A., 2007, Testosterone treatment of female Superb Fairy-wrens Malurus cyaneus induces a male-like prenuptial moult, but no coloured plumage, Ibis [P], vol 149, issue 1, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford Oxon England, pp. 121-127.

Peters, A., Delhey, K., Johnsen, A., Kempenaers, B., 2007, The condition-dependent development of carotenoid-based and structural plumage in nestling blue tits: males and females differ, American Naturalist [P], vol 169, issue 1, University of Chicago Press, Chicago USA, pp. 122-136.

Peters, A., Delhey, K., Goymann, W., Kempenaers, B., 2006, Age-dependent association between testosterone and crown UV coloration in male blue tits (Parus caeruleus), Behavioral Ecology And Sociobiology [P], vol 59, issue 5, Springer, Germany, pp. 666-673.

Delhey, K., Peters, A., Johnsen, A., Kempenaers, B., 2006, Seasonal changes in blue tit crown color: do they signal individual quality?, Behavioral Ecology [P], vol 17, issue 5, Oxford University Press Inc, USA, pp. 790-798.

Johnsen, A., Delhey, K., Schlicht, E., Peters, A., Kempenaers, B., 2005, Male sexual attractiveness and parental effort in blue tits: a test of the differential allocation hypothesis, Animal Behaviour [P], vol 70, Academic Press Ltd Elsevier Science Ltd, London England, pp. 877-888.

Denk, A., Holzmann, A., Peters, A., Vermeirssen, E., Kempenaers, B., 2005, Paternity in mallards: effects of sperm quality and female sperm selection for inbreeding avoidance, Behavioral Ecology [P], vol 16, issue 5, Oxford University Press Inc, USA, pp. 825-833.

Langmore, N.E., Kilner, R.M., Butchart, S.H.M., Maurer, G., Davies, N.B., Cockburn, A., Macgregor, N.A., Peters, A.C., Magrath, M.J.L., Dowling, D.K., 2005, The evolution of egg rejection by cuckoo hosts in Australia and Europe, Behavioral Ecology [P], vol 16, Oxford University Press, USA/Australia, pp. 686-692.