Dijkstra, Peter

• Sawecki, J & Dijkstra, P.D. 2022. Mothers reduce the cost of reproduction by dynamic changes in antioxidant function and filial cannibalism. Biology Letters. In press 
• Dijkstra, P.D., Piefke, T.J. & Bonnell, T.R. 2022. Behavioral changes during social ascent and descent in replicate social networks of an African cichlid fish. Hydrobiologia. In press  
• Fialkowski, R., Border, S.E., Bolitho, I., Dijkstra, P.D. 2022. Social dominance and reproduction result in increased integration of oxidative state in males of an African cichlid fish. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A 269:111216  
• Culbert, B.M., Dijkstra, P.D., Gilmour, K.M. & Balshine, S. 2022. Social ascension elicits tissue-specific antioxidant adjustments in a group-living fish. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A 265:111126  
• Funnell, T., Fialkowski, R. & Dijkstra, P.D. 2022. Social dominance does not increase oxidative stress in a female dominance hierarchy of an African cichlid fish. Ethology 128: 15-22  
• Wasserman, MD, Wing, Boswell, Bickford, N., Hobbs, K. Dijkstra, P.D. & Carr, J. 2021. A universal theory of biological stress. Integrative and Comparative Biology 61:2109-2118  
• Border, S.E., Piefke, T., Funnell, T., Fialkowski, R., Sawecki, J. & Dijkstra, P.D. 2021. Social instability influences rank-specific patterns of oxidative stress in a cichlid fish. Journal of Experimental Biology 224: jeb237172  
• Maguire, S.M., DeAngelis, R.S., Dijkstra, P.D., Jordan, A. & Hofmann, H.A. 2021. Social network dynamics predict hormone levels and behavior in a highly social cichlid fish. Hormones and Behavior 132: 104994  
• Piefke, T., Bonnell, T.R., DeOliveira, G., Border, S.E. & Dijkstra, P.D. 2021. Social network stability is impacted by removing a dominant male in replicate dominance hierarchies of a cichlid fish. Animal Behaviour 175: 7-20  
• Fialkowski, R., Aufdemberge, P, Wright, V.D. & Dijkstra, P.D. Radical change: 2021. Radical change: temporal patterns of oxidative stress during social ascent in a dominance hierarchy. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 75, Article number: 43  
• Sawecki, J., Miros, E., Border, S.E. & Dijkstra, P.D. 2019. Reproduction and maternal care increase oxidative stress in a mouthbrooding cichlid. Behavioral Ecology 30: 1662-1671  
• Border, S.E., DeOliveira, G., Janeski, H., Piefke, T., Brown, T. & Dijkstra, P.D. 2019. Social rank, body coloration and agonistic social networks predict oxidative stress in a cichlid fish. Behavioral Ecology 30:490-499  
• Border, S.E., Piefke, T., Fialkowski, R., Tryc, M., Funnell, T., DeOliveira, G. & Dijkstra, P.D. 2019. Color change and pigmentation in a color polymorphic cichlid fish. Hydrobiologia 832:175-191  
• Dijkstra, P.D., Preenen, P.T.Y., van Essen, H. 2018. Does blue enhance winning probability in Judo contests? Frontiers in Psychology 9:45  
• Dijkstra, P.D. & Border, S.E. 2018. How does male-male competition generate negative frequency-dependent selection and disruptive selection during speciation? Current Zoology 64:89-99  
• Tinghitella, R.M., Lackey, A.C.R., Martin, M., Dijkstra, P.D., Drury, J.P., Heathcote, R., Keagy, J., Scordato, E.S.C. & Tyers, A.M. (Reply). 2018. A major player need not be the only player in speciation: a response to comments on Tinghitella et al. Behavioral Ecology 29:802–803  
• Tinghitella, R.M, Lackey, A.C.R., Martin, M., Dijkstra, P.D., Drury, J.P., Heathcote, R., Keagy, J., Scordato, E.S.C., & Tyers, A.M. (Invited). 2018. On the role of male competition in speciation: A review and research agenda. Behavioral Ecology 29:783–797  
• Dijkstra, P.D., Maguire, S., Harris, R.M., Rodriguez, A., DeAngelis, R., Flores, S. & Hofmann, H.A. 2017. The melanocortin system regulates body pigmentation and social behaviour in the cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Biological Sciences 284:20162838  
• Dijkstra, P.D., Pierotti, M.E.R, Seehausen, O. & Metcalfe, N.B. 2016. Metabolism, oxidative stress and territorial behaviour in a female colour polymorphic cichlid fish. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 70:99–109  

• Postdoctoral Researcher, the University of Texas at Austin, 2009-2012
• Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Glasgow, Scotland, 2007-2009
• Ph.D., University of Groningen, the Netherlands, 2006
• B.S. & M.S., Wageningen University, the Netherlands, 2000

We are interested in the evolution of phenotypic diversity. More specifically, we study the role of physiology in color signaling, competition, and speciation. As the most diverse group of vertebrates, cichlids are an important model system in evolutionary biology. Furthermore, their complex yet tractable social behavior has also led to their widespread use as a model system in neuroethology. We are currently studying how stress during development influences to expression of fitness-related traits such as body pigmentation and aggressive behavior.

Specific areas of research interest include:

• Behavioral Ecology
• Animal Physiology
• Endocrinology
• Evolution