Dijkstra, Peter

We study how social competition and oxidative stress shape brain function, stress resilience, and evolutionary processes. Using African cichlid fish (our primary model for studying social behavior), we combine behavioral, physiological, and neurogenomic approaches to study how animals cope with the metabolic challenges of territoriality, reproduction, and social stress.

Cichlids are highly social, vividly colored fish in which males must aggressively compete for territories to gain access to mates. Females face extreme reproductive challenges: they mouthbrood their young for 2–3 weeks without eating, making them especially vulnerable to energetic trade-offs. These features make cichlids a powerful system for studying social stress, sexual selection, and the physiological costs of reproduction and parenting.

For more information about our research, please visit the lab website.