Francesca Giovannelli

My research focuses on endocrine control of aggressive behavior in territorial birds. Territorial aggression has been described in a large number of birds species during the breeding season. Many studies demonstrated that testosterone controls aggressiveness in this period.

In European stonechats (Saxicola torquata rubicola), both sexes defend the territory, showing aggressive behavior during the breeding and non-breeding season. Previous studies confirmed that testosterone controls territorial aggression in the breeding season but not in the non-reproductive periods. In addition, resident stonechats are less aggressive than migratory ones throughout the year.

The aim of my PhD project is to understand how hormonal control of territorial aggression changes according to the season, life history, and social context. In Central Italy there are resident populations of stonechats which are reached by migratory populations in spring.

In my project I will study:

- seasonal variations in testosterone levels in resident stonechat pairs to verify if their low levels of aggressiveness are associated with a lack of a pronounced annual cycle of testosterone;

- the effects of the arrival of migratory stonechats on the territories and hormonal responses of the resident population;

- the gene flow between populations and their respective reproductive success.