Michael C. Moore, Ph.D.

Research Interests

Dr. Moore is an integrative systems biologist working at the interface between behavior, neuroscience, physiology and ecology. He is interested in the reproductive biology of vertebrates, especially the neuroendocrine control of reproductive behavior and aggression. He believes that these processes must be studied in natural populations of free-living animals, especially if we are to understand the neuroendocrine regulation of the complex social interactions that only occur under natural conditions. His research combines elements of behavioral neuroendocrinology and behavioral ecology. He is currently working on these problems in a reptile, the tree lizard, that has multiple reproductive phenotypes. Male tree lizards exhibit different color phenotypes that also differ in a number of other phenotypic traits, including behavior. He is trying to understand how neuroendocrine mechanisms regulate these differences in phenotype and how these different mechanisms arise during development.

Current Projects

Current studies focus on influences of early hormones on development of neuroendocrine mechanisms, neuroanatomical and neurochemical differences underlying differences in behavior and the distribution of binding sites in the brain for various neurochemicals. The specific goals of his research program are to understand (1) the neuroendocrine integration of cues from the social and physical environment regulating reproductive physiology and behavior and (2) the interaction of influences exerted during early development and during adulthood to influence expression of various phenotypic traits associated with reproduction. Ultimately, he expects to contribute to our understanding of the selective forces that have shaped the evolution of neuroendocrine mechanisms that regulate behavior.

Selected Publications

• French SS, DeNardo DF, Moore MC. Trade-offs between the reproductive and immune systems: facultative responses to resources or obligate responses to reproduction. Am Nat. 2007;170(1):79–89.
• Weiss SL, Johnston G, Moore MC. Corticosterone stimulates hatching of late-term tree lizard embryos. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol. 2007;146(3):360–365.
• French SS, Matt KS, Moore MC. The effects of stress on wound healing in male tree lizards (Urosaurus ornatus). Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2006;145(2):128–132.
• Kabelik D, Weiss SL, Moore MC. Steroid hormone mediation of limbic brain plasticity and aggression in free-living tree lizards, Urosaurus ornatus. Horm Behav. 2006;49(5):587–597.
• Crews D, Moore MC. Historical contributions of research on reptiles to behavioral neuroendocrinology. Horm Behav. 2005;48(4):384–394.
• Painter DL, Moore MC. Steroid hormone metabolism by the chorioallantoic placenta of the mountain spiny lizard Sceloporus jarrovi as a possible mechanism for buffering maternal-fetal hormone exchange. Physiol Biochem Zool. 2005;78(3):364–372.
• Jennings DH, Painter DL, Moore MC. Role of the adrenal gland in early post-hatching differentiation of alternative male phenotypes in the tree lezard (Urosaurus ornatus). Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2004;135(1):81–89.
• Weiss SL, Moore MC. Activation of aggressive behavior by progesterone and testosterone in male tree lizards, Urosaurus ornatus. Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2004;136(2):282–288.
• Knapp R, Hews DK, Thompson CW, Ray LE, Moore MC. Environmental and endocrine correlates of tactic switching by nonterritorial male tree lizards (Urosaurus ornatus). Horm Behav. 2003;43(1):83–92.
• Summers CH, Summers TR, Moore MC, et al. Temporal patterns of limbic monoamine and plasma corticosterone response during social stress. Neuroscience. 2003;116(2):553–563.
• Woodley SK, Painter DL, Moore MC, Wikelski M, Romero LM. Effect of tidal cycle and food intake on the baseline plasma corticosterone rhythm in intertidally foraging marine iguanas. Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2003;132(2):216–222.