Dr. Jonathan P茅rez's Research
- Mechanisms of Seasonal Timing
- Biological Rhythms
- Neuroendocrinology
- Stress Physiology
- Organism Environment Interaction
My research group is broadly interested in understanding how organism detect, integrate
and respond to environmental information. More specifically, we have been focusing
on how animals use light and other environmental cues to time major seasonal transitions.
We seek to understand the physiological mechanisms underlying these processes in order
to be better able to predict how individuals, populations and ultimately species will
or will not be able to respond to rapid global change. To do so we take an integrative
approach that combines observational studies with hypothesis driven experimental manipulations,
while combining molecular, hormonal, and behavioral analyses.
Current research is focused in three main areas:
1.) How do birds use light cues to time seasonal migration?
Many birds (and other animals) rely on the seasonal change in daylength, known as
photoperiod, as a reliable environmental cue to time migration. While the importance
of light cues in triggering the development of migratory physiology and behavior has
long been established, the mechanisms by which this occurs are still not fully understood.
In our past work we鈥檝e found that thyroid hormones are necessary for both migratory
preparation and behavior. More recently we鈥檝e found evidence that difference in thyroid
hormone signaling related genes in the deep brain may distinguish birds that are year-round
residents from seasonal migrants. Our current work is taking a comparative approach
to further test this finding across multiple species. Additionally, we are using manipulative
experiments to further probe the mechanism of light detection and response associated
with migration.
2.) How are light cues regulating breeding detected?
As with migration, many species utilize photoperiod to time seasonal breeding. However,
unlike migration we have a clear understanding of the neuroendocrine and endocrine
pathways controlling breeding in both birds and mammals. Birds (and possibly other
non-mammalian vertebrates) are particularly fascinating in that they detect relevant
light cues directly in the deep brain. Working with collaborator we have been seeking
to definitively identify the non-visual photoreceptors controlling seasonal reproduction.
3.) How might exposure to light cues experienced in ovo shape development, hatch success
and post-hatch welfare? What are the mechanism mediating these effects?
Emerging evidence has shown light can have effect early in develop, even before complete
development of the eyes. We are in the midst of developing novel approaches to probe
the role of non-visual photoreceptors in mediating these early life effects.
We also have active research projects in stress physiology, behavioral ecology and circadian biology.
Chmura HE, Krause JS, P茅rez JH, Ramenofsky R, Wingfield JC. 2020. Autumn migratory
departure is influenced by reproductive timing and weather in an Arctic passerine.
Journal of Ornithology. 1-13.
P茅rez JH, Swanson RE鈥�, Lau HJ鈥�, Cheah J鈥�, Snell KRS, Reid AMA, Meddle SL, Wingfield
JC, Krause JS. 2020.Tissue-specific expression of 11尾-HSD and its effects on plasma
corticosterone during the stress response. Journal of Experimental Biology. 223 (1).
P茅rez JH, Tolla E, Dunn IC, Meddle SL, Stevenson TJ. 2018. A comparative perspective
on extra-retinal photoreception. Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism. 10.1016/j.tem.2018.10.005
Krause JS, P茅rez JH, Chmura HE. Hunt KE, Meddle SL, Gough L., Boelman NT, and Wingfield
JC. 2018. Weathering the storm: Do Arctic blizzards cause repeatable changes in stress
physiology and body condition in breeding songbirds? General and Comparative Endocrinology.
267, 183-192
Oliver R, Ellis D, Chmura HE, Gough L, Krause JS, P茅rez JH, Sweet SK, Wingfield JC,
Boelman N. 2018. Eavesdropping on the Arctic: Automated bioacoustics to reveal dynamics
in songbird phenology in response to global change. Science Advances. 4 (6).
P茅rez JH, Krause JS, Chmura HE, Gough L, & Wingfield JC. 2018. Tundra songbird community
composition during recovery from the Anaktuvuk River Fire. International Journal of
Wildland Fire. 27 (1), 69-71.
P茅rez JH, Meddle SL, Furlow, JD, Wingfield JC, and Ramenofsky M. 2018. Effects of
thyroid hormone knockdown and rescue on pre-nuptial molt, luteinizing hormone and
gonadal growth in white-crowned sparrows (Z. leuchophrys gambelii). General and Comparative
Endocrinology. 255: 12-18.
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