René Quispe
Curriculum Vitae
2007 Degree of Veterinary Physician with highest distinction, Universidad de Chile
2006-2007 Research technician, FONDECYT project: “Geographic variation in behavioral profiles”, Universidad de Chile
2006 BSc in Veterinarian Medicine, Universidad de Chile
2004-2005 Research technician, FONDECYT project: “The ecologic-evolutive context of learning: foraging and information use”, Universidad de Chile
Research Interests & Goals
In most temperate zone songbirds exposure to increasing photoperiod in the spring stimulates the reproductive system and behavior. Additionally it has been described plastic structural changes in brain regions controlling singing behavior. What mechanistic relationships exist among neuroplasticity, singing activity and the life cycle of songbirds? A great progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms of neuroplasticity in the song system of oscines birds, however still little is known about how prevalent this phenomenon is and how it is coupled with the annual cycle. In the tropics photoperiod varies little annually, nevertheless tropical birds show seasonal life stages associated with different environmental cues. For my dissertation I focus on the physiological and neural mechanisms of singing in equatorial songbirds in contrast with temperate zone oscines. Comparative studies of songbirds can provide essential information about the functional importance of the song system’s neuroplasticity, life histories and the significance of the environment.
Publications
Quispe R, Villavicencio CP, Cortes A, Vásquez RA. 2009. Inter-population variation in hoarding behaviour in degus, Octodon degus. Ethology 115:465-474. abstract
Villavicencio CP, Márquez IN, Quispe R, Vásquez RA. 2009. Familiarity and kinship influence kin discrimination in Octodon degus. Animal Behaviour 78: 377-384. abstract
Awards & Scholarships
CONICYT Bicentennial Becas-Chile Scholarship
Hometown
Santiago, Chile
Address
Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Behavioral Neurobiology
Fon: +49 8157 932-393
E-mail: rquispe(at)orn.mpg.de
