Latest publications
- 2010 Journal of Avian Biology Eggshell characteristics and yolk composition in the common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus): are they adapted to brood parasitism?
- 2010 Ethology 116: 129-137. Experimental addition of green plants to the nest increases testosterone levels in female spotless starlings
- 2009 Journal of Avian Biology 40: 254-262 Do female spotless starlings (Sturnus unicolor) adjust maternal investment according to male attractiveness?
- 2009 Behavioral Processes 82: 312-318 Elevated testosterone levels affect female breeding success and yolk androgen deposition in a passerine bird
- 2008 Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 62: 1877-1884 Egg pigmentation reflects female and egg quality in the spotless starling Sturnus unicolor
- 2008 Functional Ecology 25: 500-508 Post-fledging recruitment in relation to nestling plasma testosterone and immunocompetence in the spotless starling
- 2008 Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B-Biological Sciences 275: 549-554 Adaptive developmental plasticity in growing nestlings: sibling competition induces differential gape growth
- 2007 Ardeola Clave: A. Volumen: 54. Páginas: 131-134 Spots in starling (Sturnus unicolor) eggs are good indicators of ectoparasite load by Carnus hemapterus (Diptera: Carnidae)
- 2007 Behavioral Ecology 18: 929 - 936 Elevated yolk androgen levels benefit offspring development in a between clutch context
- 2007 Ethology 113: 926-933 Egg colour covaries with female expression of a male ornament in the spotless starling (Sturnus unicolor)
Isabel López-Rull
2010, Universidad Complutense
Research Themes
My current research interests are centered on the understanding of animal behavior in the light of life history strategies and sexual selection. Particularly I am interested in the function and evolution of colorful signals in birds and on the physiological mechanisms underlying sexual behavior.
Curriculum Vitae
As PhD student at the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (Spain) I worked with Diego Gil on two aspects related with maternal effects: yolk androgen deposition and eggshell coloration using the spotless starling as a model species. After that, I did two postdocs at the Instituto de Ecología, UNAM (México), first with Constantino Macías studying the role of uropigial gland secretions in the enhancement of sexual signals in the house finch, and then with Roxana Torres in topics related to the evolution and function of colorful ornaments in seabirds. Currently I have a postdoctoral contract at the University of Tlaxcala (México) with Leticia Nicolás to study the physiological trade-offs of ornamental coloration.
