EMBRYONIC SENSORY ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMMING IN ZEBRAFISH

The environment influences embryonic development and can have lasting neurological consequences. This is particularly relevant for egg-laying species, whose embryos are directly exposed to the surrounding environment throughout development. The idea that embryos can sense features of this environment and adjust neural development accordingly is referred to as prenatal programming. The mechanisms that mediate this adaptive behaviour are still largely unknown. Due to their embryonic transparency and rapid development, zebrafish provide an excellent model in which to explore these concepts. This project examines whether variation in the embryonic sensory environment, including exposure to cues derived from conspecifics, influences early developmental outcomes such as hatching timing, and how such early experiences are associated with downstream effects on neural function and fitness. In addition, it identifies developmental periods during which sensory stimuli exert the greatest influence on these outcomes.