Lynne D. HouckProfessorB.A., U California, Berkeley, M.A. 1975, Ph.D. 1977 |
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E-Mail: houckl@science.oregonstate.edu, Phone: 541-737-4353, FAX: 541-737-0501, Address: Department of Zoology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331-2914.
My research interests encompass many aspects of reproduction in amphibians, particularly salamanders. I work mainly on eastern North American species of terrestrial plethodontid salamanders in the genera Plethodon and Desmognathus. A main focus is on male courtship pheromones, which are chemical signals that affect female receptivity. Working with colleagues and students on behavioral experiments with terrestrial salamanders, we have documented reduced courtship time for pairs in which the female received these pheromones. We have identified the individual components of the whole pheromone extract, and are testing these individual components for effects on female responsiveness. Other areas of interest include the evolutionary history of pheromone-producing glands, and the evolution of delivery behaviors. At a more proximal level, we are examining the female's neurophysiological response to courtship pheromone stimulation. In our most recent work, we have developed a expression system for one of the pheromone constituents (PRF, plethodontid receptivity factor), which has successfully produced recombinant-PRF. Current work is being pursued in the context of an IRCEB grant from the National Science Foundation.
Watts, R.A., C.A. Palmer, R.C. Feldhoff, P.W. Feldhoff, L.D. Houck, A.G. Jones, M.E. Pfrender, S.M. Rollmann and S.J. Arnold. 2004. Stabilizing selection on morphology and behavior masks positive selection on the signal in a salamander pheromone signaling complex. Molecular Biology & Evolution 21: 1032-1041. pdf
Houck, L. D. and Arnold, S. J. 2003. Courtship and mating. Pp. 383-424 In: D. M. Sever (ed), Phylogeny and Reproductive Biology of Urodela (Amphibia). Science Publishers, Enfield, New Hampshire. 627 pp. pdf
Rollmann, S. M., L. D. Houck and R. C. Feldhoff. 2000. Population variation in salamander courtship pheromones. J. Chemical Ecology 26(12):2713-2722.
Rollmann, S.M., Houck, L.D., and Feldhoff, R.C. 1999. Proteinaceous pheromone affecting female receptivity in a terrestrial salamander. Science 285: 1907‑1909. pdf
Houck, L. D. and L. C. Drickamer (eds.). 1996. Foundations of Animal Behavior: Classic papers with commentaries. University of Chicago Press.
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