Professor of Zoology School of Biological Sciences Washington State University Pullman, WA 99164-4236   Phone: 509-335-4278 FAX: 509-335-3184 E-mail: huschwabl@wsu.edu    Ph.D., 1981 Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Munich, Germany RESEARCH INTERESTS: Avian Reproduction RESEARCH SUMMARY: We investigate the neuroendocrine control of avian reproduction and development. We are particularly interested in: 1) Neuroendocrine control of female reproduction such as onset and termination of laying, number and sex of eggs laid, onset of incubation, and deposition of developmentally active maternal hormones into the egg; 2) Effects of maternal hormones on offspring development. The latter studies focus on maternal steroid hormones, localization of their receptors in the embryo, and long- and short-term effects on reproductive functions and brain of the offspring. We are also interested in endocrine disruption of reproduction and sexual differentiation. A 3-day old canary chick begging for food. Neonates that are exposed to high concentrations of maternal testosterone in the egg beg more vigorously and out compete their nestmates for parental food.   REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS: Lucas JR, Freeberg TM, Egbert J, Schwabl H. 2006 Fecal corticosterone, body mass, and caching rates of Carolina chickadees (Poecile carolinensis) from disturbed and undisturbed sites. Horm Behav. 2006 May;49(5):634-43. Cariello MO, Macedo RH, Schwabl HG. 2006 Maternal androgens in eggs of communally breeding guira cuckoos (Guira guira). Horm Behav. 2006 May;49(5):654-62. Schwabl H, Flinks H, Gwinner E. 2005 Testosterone, reproductive stage and territorial behavior of male and female European stonechats Saxicola torquata. Horm Behav. 47(5):503-12. Marshall RC, Leisler B, Catchpole CK, Schwabl H. 2005 Male song quality affects circulating but not yolk steroid concentrations in female canaries (Serinus canaria). J Exp Biol. 208(Pt 24):4593-8. Badyaev AV, Schwabl H, Young RL, Duckworth RA, Navara KJ, Parlow AF. 2005 Adaptive sex differences in growth of pre-ovulation oocytes in a passerine bird. Proc Biol Sci. 272(1577):2165-72. Sockman KW, Schwabl H, Sharp PJ. (2001) Regulation of yolk-androgen concentrations by plasma prolactin in the American kestrel. Horm Behav. 40(4):462-71. Sockman KW, Schwabl H. (2001) Plasma corticosterone in nestling american kestrels: effects of age, handling stress, yolk androgens, and body condition. Gen Comp Endocrinol. 122(2):205-12. French, J.B.Jr., Nisbet, I.C.T. Schwabl, H. 2001. Maternal steroid and contaminant in Common tern eggs: A mechanism of endocrine disruption? Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol. 128(1):91-8. Birkhead T, Schwabl H., & Burke T. 2000. Testosterone and maternal effects ­ integrating mechanisms and function. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 15, 86 - 87. Sockman, K. W. & Schwabl, H. 2000. Yolk androgens reduce offspring survival. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B, 267, 1451-1456. Sockman, K. W. Schwabl, H. & Sharp, P.J. 2000. The role of prolactin in the regulation of clutch size and onset of incubation behavior in the American kestrel. Horm. Behav., 38: 168-176. Sockman K. & H. Schwabl. 1999. Daily estradiol and progesterone levels relative to laying and onset of incubation in canaries. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 114, 257-268. Schwabl, H. 1999. Developmental changes and among-sibling variation of corticosterone levels on an altricial avian species. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol., 116, 403-408. Jarvis, E.D., H. Schwabl, S. Ribeiro & C. Mello. 1997. Brain gene regulation by territorial singing in a free-living songbird. NeuroReport 8: 2073-2077. Kirn, J. R. & H. Schwabl. 1997. Photoperiod regulation of neuron death in the adult canary. J. Neurobiol . 33: 223-231. Schwabl, H. 1997. The contents of maternal testosterone in house sparrow Passer domesticus eggs vary with breeding conditions. Naturwissenschaften, 84: 1-3. Schwabl, H., D. Mock, and J. Gieg (1997). A hormonal mechanism of parental favouritism. Nature 386:231. Schwabl, H. 1997. Control of offspring fitness by maternal hormones. In: Advances in Comparative Endocrinology. (S. Kawashima, S. Kikuyama eds), pp1677-1682. Monduzzi Editore, Bologna. Schwabl, H. 1997. Maternal Steroid Hormones in the Egg. In: Perspectives in Avian Endocrinology (Eds. R. Etches and S. Harvey), J. Endocrinol.. Limited , Bristol UK, 3-13. Schwabl, H. (1996). Maternal testosterone in the avian egg enhances postnatal growth. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 114A:271-276. Schwabl, H. (1996). The environment modifies the testosterone levels of a female bird and of its eggs. J. Exp. Zool. 276:157-163. Schwabl, H. (1993). Yolk is a source of maternal testosterone for developing birds. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:11439-11441.