Rosemary Knapp

Rosemary Knapp

Associate Professor

Department of Zoology
University of Oklahoma
Norman, OK 73019

Phone: (602) 325-4389
Fax: (602) 325-6202

email: rknapp@ou.edu

My research aims to understand the physiological, ecological and evolutionary factors contributing to behavioral variation, with an ultimate aim of increasing our understanding of how behavior evolves. I combine the approaches of behavioral endocrinology, neuroendocrinology and physiological ecology to study the bases of behavior by studying animals both in the field and in the lab. My current research covers two areas: a major focus on the neuroendocrine basis of individual variation in behavior, and a secondary focus on the endocrine mechanisms underlying parental behavior.

To investigate the neuroendocrine bases of intrasexual variation in behavior, I study species in which 1) two distinct types of males exist, one of which commonly exhibits a mosaic of male- and female-typical characters, 2) this morphological variation is correlated with variation in behavior, and 3) both types of males are common and reproductively competent. In such species, largely non-overlapping intra-sexual dimorphisms exist in addition to the more typical intersexual dimorphisms. The intra-sexual dimorphism frequently takes the form of two male phenotypes ("morphs"), one morph that exhibits the entire suite of sexually dimorphic characters typically considered male-typical and one morph that is female-like in the expression of some secondary sex characters. Projects currently in progress include investigations of the role of androgens and glucocorticoids in intrasexual differences in Lepomis sunfish where males differ in secondary sexual characteristics and reproductive behavior, endocrine mediation of paternal behavior in the plainfin midshipman fish (Porichthys notatus), and endocrine correlates of aggressive behavior in various other fish species.

Jennings DH, Moore MC, Knapp R, Matthews L, Orchinik M. 2000. Plasma steroid-binding globulin mediation of differences in stress reactivity in alternative male phenotypes in tree lizards, Urosaurus ornatus. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 120(3): 289-299.

Knapp R, Wingfield JC, Bass AH. 1999. Steroid hormones and paternal care in the plainfin midshipman fish (Porichthys notatus). Hormones and Behavior, 35(1):81-89

Knapp R, Marchaterre MA, Bass AH. 1999. Early development of the motor and premotor circuitry of the sexually dimorphic vocal pathway in a teleost fish. Journal of Neurobiology, 33(4):475-490.

Moore MC, Hews DK, Knapp R. 1998. Hormonal control and evolution of alternative male phenotypes: Generalizations of models for sexual differentiation. American Zoologist, 38(1):133-151.

Knapp R, Moore MC. 1997. Alternative male morphs in tree lizards differ in testosterone sensitivity to elevated levels of corticosterone. General and Comparative Endocrinology,107: 273-279.

Knapp R, Moore MC. 1997. A non-invasive method for sustained elevation of plasma steroid hormone levels in reptiles. Herpetological Review, 28(1):33-36.

Matt KS, Moore MC, Knapp R, Moore IT. 1997. Sympathetic mediation of stress and aggressive competition: plasma catecholamines in free-living male tree lizards. Physiology and Behavior, 61(5): 639-647.

Knapp R, Moore MC. 1996. Alternative male reproductive morphs differ in delayed hormonal responses to staged encounters in free-living tree lizards. Animal Behaviour, 52:1045-1055.

Knapp R, Silver R. 1995. Location of neurons projecting to the hypophysial stalk-median eminence in ring doves (Streptopelia roseogrisea). Cell and Tissue Research, 280:77-86.

Knapp R, Moore MC. 1995. Hormonal responses to aggression vary in different types of agonistic encounters in male tree lizards, Urosaurus ornatus. Hormones and Behavior, 29:85-105.

Hews DK, Knapp R, Moore MC. 1994. Early exposure to androgens affects adult expression of alternative male types in tree lizards. Hormones and Behavior, 28(1):96-115.

Hailman JP, Layne JN, Knapp R. 1991. Notes on aggressive behavior of the gopher tortoise. Herpetological Review, 22(3):87-88.

Knapp R. 1989. The effect of red light on reproduction in Peromyscus maniculatus. Journal of Mammalogy, 70(2):341-346.

Casey TM, Knapp R. 1987. Caterpillar thermal adaptation: behavioral differences reflect metabolic thermal sensitivities. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, 86A(4):679-682.

Knapp R, Casey TM. 1986. Thermal ecology, behavior, and growth of gypsy moth and eastern tent caterpillars. Ecology, 67(3):598-608.