J. L. Houtz

Joint effects of social interactions and environmental challenges on physiology, internal microbiome, and reproductive performance in tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor).

The paper manipulates social interactions and ecological challenges in tree swallows to assess their joint effects on physiology, microbiome, and reproductive success, finding limited interaction between the two treatment types.

Developmental stage-dependent effects of perceived predation risk on physiology and fledging success of tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor)

This study shows that simulated predation during the early nestling period negatively affects tree swallow nestlings' condition, telomere length, and fledging success, with social environment manipulations affecting nestling size but not stress responses.

Neurogenomic landscape associated with status-dependent cooperative behavior

The paper investigates the neurogenomic mechanisms linking social status, testosterone phenotype, and cooperative behavior in a neotropical bird using transcriptomic and behavioral data.

Investigating a trade-off between the quality of nest grown feathers and pace of development in an altricial bird.

The paper investigates a trade-off between nest-grown feather quality and developmental speed in tree swallows, finding no evidence for a negative association between the two traits.

Plumage manipulation alters the integration of social behavior, physiology, internal microbiome, and fitness.

The paper manipulates plumage in female tree swallows to show that signal variation independently affects social behavior, physiology, microbiome, and reproductive fitness.