Jasmine L. Loveland

Lise Meitner Fellow

Email: jasmine.loveland[at]univie.ac.at

I am a neurobiologist with a strong interest in how conserved neuron types and brain structures can provide the basis for behavioral diversity, particularly in aggression and courtship. My focus areas are neuroendocrinology, gene expression and neuroanatomy in fishes and birds.

In my current work as a Lise Meitner Fellow I study how genetics and hormones shape the brain and mating behavior of male ruffs (Calidris pugnax) a species with alternative mating tactics linked to a chromosome inversion. We combine behavioral, neuroanatomical and transcriptomics analyses to gain insight on the evolution of this fascinating species.

 

Learn more about my project “Neural bases for behavior differences in male ruffs”

FWF Lise Meitner Project M3302-B

 

Selected Publications

  • Giraldo-Deck LM, Loveland JL, Goymann W, Lank D, Küpper C. (2022). A supergene affects steroid metabolism during early ontogeny in a bird with alternative reproductive morphs. doi: 10.22541/au.166913241.14402024/v1. (preprint)
  • Loveland JL, Giraldo-Deck LM, Kelly AM. (2022) How inversion variants can shape neural circuitry: Insights from the three-morph mating tactics of ruffs. Frontiers in Physiology 13. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1011629
  • Giraldo-Deck LM, Loveland JL, Goymann W, Tschirren B, Burke T, Kempenaers B, Lank DB, Küpper C. (2022) Intralocus conflicts associated with a supergene. Nat Commun 13, 1384. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-29033-w
  • Loveland JL, Lank DB, Küpper C. (2021) Gene expression modification by an autosomal inversion associated with three male mating morphs. Front Genet 12: 794. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2021.641620
  • Loveland JL, Giraldo-Deck LM, Lank DB, Goymann W, Gahr M, Küpper C. (2021) Functional differences in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis are associated with alternative reproductive tactics based on an inversion polymorphism. Horm Behav 127: 104877. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104877

 

Past research

Some of my past research topics beyond ruffs include:

  • Neural activity and roles for oxytocin-family peptides in innate predispositions that precede imprinting in chicken (Center for Mind/Brain Sciences, CIMeC, University of Trento)
  • Changes in serotonin turnover in association with social rank in the African cichlid Astatotilapia burtoni (Stanford University)
  • Activation of vasotocin neurons during male aggression, but not courtship, in Astatotilapia burtoni (Stanford University)
  • Control of female spawning behavior by prostaglandin F2-alpha in Astatotilapia burtoni (Stanford University)
  • LKB1IP characterization in adaptation to freshwater in sticklebacks (Stanford University)
  • Age of transposable elements in Drosophila melanogaster (Stanford University)
  • Neural processing of hunger and taste in rats (Amherst College)
  • Wingspot evolution in Hetaerina damselflies
  • Territory size, body coloration and mating behavior in the Mexican blue lizard Sceloporus minor in La Manzana, Hidalgo, Mexico
  • Stress sensitivity and immune capacity in fruit bats Artibeus jamaisensis (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute)
  • Evolution of the ribozyme component of bacterial RNase P, a ribonucleoprotein responsible for tRNA processing (Smith College)

 

Other links

Google Scholar

Research Gate