ABS 2023
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Does Separation Make the Heart Grow Fonder? The Reinforcing Properties of Social Mates in Zebra Finches
Martin R Kim, Nora Prior. Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States

Zebra Finches are characterized as monogamous. However, these pair bonds can be dynamic and zebra finches also maintain multiple social relationships. Because of this, further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of how social relationships change over time. The goal of our study was to investigate the relative strength of zebra finch bonds during courtship and pair bonding across social contexts. We used Conditioned Place Preference (CPP) tests. First, we found that the reinforcing properties of a courting bird was stronger for female subjects, while pair bonding was not reinforcing for either sex. Importantly, courting dyads displayed more copulations and male song, while pair bonds displayed more clumping. Now, we are combining a separation-reunion test with CPP to further investigate how the strength of social bonds in zebra finches change over time. Zebra Finches will undergo either complete isolation from their partner or visual isolation. We predict that the separation period will be a stressor, making the reintroduction of their partner a reinforcing property. Altogether this work will contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms of pair bond maintenance.