Research interests
My research focuses on the importance of social selection and acoustic communication for the evolution of parental care and cooperation. In particular, I am interested in the role of acoustic communication in regulating cooperation and conflicts within the family, and the effects of early environment on development and individual life history strategies.
PhD POSITION AVAILABLE in our lab, deadline for applying 30/04/2018: https://www.ecolsoc.org.au/files/files/ad Incubation Behaviour Deakin studentship 2018.pdf
Currently, I am working on:
- Prenatal communication in birds: I am investigating the potential for parents to program the development of their offspring using acoustic signals before hatching, and the role this may play in species adaptation to unpredictable environments. (full text: Mariette & Buchanan 2016 Science; video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDg67kUPAcc)
- Social network and reproductive strategies: I am studying how position in a social network affects reproductive and foraging tactics, as well as the information transfer between colony members in wild zebra finches.
- Coordination of parental care: I test the fitness advantages of behavioural coordination between breeding partners in provisioning and foraging, and their implications for the evolution of bi-parental care.
Recently I have also worked on:
- the effect of sociality and coloniality on parental care, reproductive success and foraging behaviour
- social influences on mate choice, including the rare male effect, and the loser effect (traditionally applied to a fighting context)
- the development of social phenotypes and their relevance for mating strategies and parental care.
I mostly conduct large-scale experiments in the wild or in captivity. The iconic zebra finch has inspired a lot of my research questions, together with the unpredictable arid landscapes that it inhabits.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Mariette M.M. & Buchanan K.L., 2016. Prenatal acoustic communication programs offspring for high posthatching temperatures in a songbird. Science. 353: 812-814. link full text
Boucaud I.C.A., Mariette M.M. Villain A.S & Vignal C. 2015. Vocal negotiation over parental care? Acoustic communication at the nest predicts partners´ incubation share. J. Linnean Soc. 117:322-336.
Mariette M.M., Buchanan K.L., Buttemer W.A. & Careau V. 2015. Tough decisions: reproductive timing and output vary with individuals’ physiology, behavior and past success in a social opportunistic breeder. Hormone & Behavior. 76: SI23-33.
Mariette M.M. & Griffith S.C. 2015. The adaptive significance of provisioning and foraging coordination between breeding partners. American Naturalist. 185:270-280. “highly cited paper” in Web of Science
Mariette M.M., Cathaud C., Chambon R. & Vignal C. 2013. Juvenile social experience affects pairing success at adulthood: congruence with the loser effect? Proc. Roy. B. 280: 20131514.
Full list at: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mylene_Mariette/contributions
Publications
Prenatal sound experience affects song preferences in male zebra finches
Andrew Katsis, Andrew Bennett, Katherine Buchanan, Sonia Kleindorfer, Mylene Mariette
(2023), Vol. 199, pp. 1-9, Animal Behaviour, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
E Udino, M Mariette
(2022), Vol. 10, pp. 1-13, Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Lausanne, Switzerland, C1
A Pessato, A McKechnie, M Mariette
(2022), Vol. 12, pp. 1-11, Scientific Reports, Berlin, Germany, C1
L Galletta, M Craven, A Meillère, T Crowley, K Buchanan, M Mariette
(2022), Vol. 110, pp. 1-7, Journal of Thermal Biology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
M Mariette
(2021), Vol. 24, pp. 71-77, Acta ethologica, Heidelberg, Germany, C1
Integrating mitochondrial aerobic metabolism into ecology and evolution
Rebecca Koch, Katherine Buchanan, Stefania Casagrande, Ondi Crino, Damian Dowling, Geoffrey Hill, Wendy Hood, Matthew McKenzie, Mylene Mariette, Daniel Noble, Alexandra Pavlova, Frank Seebacher, Paul Sunnucks, Eve Udino, Craig White, Karine Salin, Antoine Stier
(2021), Vol. 36, pp. 321-332, Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Oxford, Eng., C1
A Katsis, K Buchanan, S Kleindorfer, M Mariette
(2021), Vol. 75, Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, C1
Acoustic developmental programming: a mechanistic and evolutionary framework
M Mariette, D Clayton, K Buchanan
(2021), Vol. 36, pp. 722-736, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, England, C1
PAX2⁺ Mesenchymal Origin of Gonadal Supporting Cells Is Conserved in Birds
M Estermann, M Mariette, J Moreau, A Combes, C Smith
(2021), Vol. 9, pp. 1-13, Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, Lausanne, Switzerland, C1
E Udino, J George, M McKenzie, A Pessato, O Crino, K Buchanan, M Mariette
(2021), Vol. 288, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, England, C1
Repeatability of behavior and physiology: No impact of reproductive investment
V Careau, M Mariette, O Crino, W Buttemer, K Buchanan
(2020), Vol. 290, General and Comparative Endocrinology, United States, C1
Egg size is unrelated to ambient temperature in the opportunistically breeding zebra finch
S Griffith, S Andrew, L McCowan, L Hurley, D Englert Duursma, K Buchanan, M Mariette
(2020), Vol. 51, Journal of Avian Biology, C1
Shannon Conradie, Stephan Woodborne, Blair Wolf, Anaïs Pessato, Mylene Mariette, Andrew McKechnie
(2020), Vol. 8, pp. 1-14, Conservation Physiology, Oxford, England, C1
A Pessato, A McKechnie, K Buchanan, M Mariette
(2020), Vol. 10, Scientific Reports, England, C1
M Mariette
(2020), Vol. 36, pp. 129-134, Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Yolk corticosterone in the Gouldian Finch (Erythrura gouldiae)
A Miltiadous, S Pryke, M Mariette, K Buchanan
(2019), Vol. 119, pp. 97-105, Emu - Austral ornithology, Abingdon, Eng., C1
Acoustic cooperation: acoustic communication regulates conflict and cooperation within the family
M Mariette
(2019), Vol. 7, pp. 1-8, Frontiers in ecology and evolution, Lausanne, Switzerland, C1
Prenatal exposure to incubation calls affects song learning in the zebra finch
A Katsis, M Davies, K Buchanan, S Kleindorfer, M Hauber, M Mariette
(2018), Vol. 8, Scientific Reports, England, C1
M Mariette, A Pessato, W Buttemer, A McKechnie, E Udino, R Collins, A Meillère, A Bennett, K Buchanan
(2018), Vol. 8, Scientific Reports, England, C1
S Griffith, O Crino, S Andrew, F Nomano, E Adkins-Regan, C Alonso-Alvarez, I Bailey, S Bittner, P Bolton, W Boner, N Boogert, I Boucaud, M Briga, K Buchanan, B Caspers, M Cichoń, D Clayton, S Derégnaucourt, W Forstmeier, L Guillette, I Hartley, S Healy, D Hill, M Holveck, L Hurley, M Ihle, E Tobias Krause, M Mainwaring, V Marasco, M Mariette, M Martin-Wintle, L McCowan, M McMahon, P Monaghan, R Nager, M Naguib, A Nord, D Potvin, N Prior, K Riebel, A Romero-Haro, N Royle, J Rutkowska, W Schuett, J Swaddle, M Tobler, L Trompf, C Varian-Ramos, C Vignal, A Villain, T Williams
(2017), Vol. 123, pp. 1-29, Ethology, C1
Co-option of the cardiac transcription factor Nkx2.5 during development of the emu wing
P Farlie, N Davidson, N Baker, M Raabus, K Roeszler, C Hirst, A Major, M Mariette, D Lambert, A Oshlack, C Smith
(2017), Vol. 8, pp. 1-12, Nature communications, London, Eng., C1
C Hirst, A Major, K Ayers, R Brown, M Mariette, T Sackton, C Smith
(2017), Vol. 158, pp. 2970-2987, Endocrinology, Cary, N.C., C1
S Andrew, L Hurley, M Mariette, S Griffith
(2017), Vol. 30, pp. 2156-2164, Journal of evolutionary biology, Chichester, Eng., C1
I Boucaud, M Mariette, A Villain, C Vignal
(2016), Vol. 117, pp. 322-336, Biological journal of the linnean society, London, Eng., C1
P Boucherie, M Mariette, C Bret, V Dufour
(2016), Vol. 153, pp. 897-925, Behaviour: an international journal of behaviourial biology, Leiden, The Netherlands, C1
Prenatal acoustic communication programs offspring for high posthatching temperatures in a songbird
M Mariette, K Buchanan
(2016), Vol. 353, pp. 812-814, Science, United States, C1
M Fernandez, H Soula, M Mariette, C Vignal
(2016), Vol. 7, pp. 1816-1816, Frontiers in psychology, Lausanne, Switzerland, C1
E Perez, M Mariette, P Cochard, C Soulage, S Griffith, C Vignal
(2016), Vol. 27, pp. 1665-1675, Behavioral ecology, Oxford, Eng., C1-1
The adaptive significance of provisioning and foraging coordination between breeding partners.
M Mariette, S Griffith
(2015), Vol. 185, pp. 270-280, American naturalist, Chicago, IL., C1
M Mariette, K Buchanan, W Buttemer, V Careau
(2015), Vol. 76, pp. 23-33, Hormones and behavior, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
The size and composition of social groups in the wild zebra finch
L McCowan, M Mariette, S Griffith
(2015), Vol. 115, pp. 191-198, Emu, C1-1
M Mariette, S Griffith
(2013), Vol. 94, pp. 325-335, Ecology, Ithaca, N.Y., C1-1
Juvenile social experience affects pairing success at adulthood: Congruence with the loser effect?
M Mariette, C Cathaud, R Chambon, C Vignal
(2013), Vol. 280, pp. 1-9, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: biological sciences, London, England, C1-1
Male song structure predicts reproductive success in a wild zebra finch population
J Woodgate, M Mariette, A Bennett, S Griffith, K Buchanan
(2012), Vol. 83, pp. 773-781, Animal behaviour, Oxford, England, C1
M Mariette, S Griffith
(2012), Vol. 43, pp. 131-140, Journal of Avian Biology, London, England, C1-1
Conspecific attraction and nest site selection in a nomadic species, the zebra finch
M Mariette, S Griffith
(2012), Vol. 121, pp. 823-834, Oikos, London, England, C1-1
M Mariette, E Pariser, A Gilby, M Magrath, S Pryke, S Griffith
(2011), Vol. 128, pp. 26-35, Auk, Berkeley, Calif., C1-1
The effects of familiarity and group size on mating preferences in the guppy, Poecilia reticulata
M Mariette, S Zajitschek, G Macías, R Brooks
(2010), Vol. 23, pp. 1772-1782, Journal of evolutionary biology, Chichester, England, C1-1
Vocal communication at the nest between mates in wild zebra finches : a private vocal duet?
J Elie, M Mariette, H Soula, S Griffith, N Mathevon, C Vignal
(2010), Vol. 80, pp. 597-605, Animal behaviour, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
E Pariser, M Mariette, S Griffith
(2010), Vol. 21, pp. 264-269, Behavioral Ecology, Cary, North Carolina, C1-1
Low level of extrapair parentage in wild zebra finches
S Griffith, C Holleley, M Mariette, N Svedin
(2010), Vol. 79, pp. 261-264, Animal behaviour, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
B Tschirren, A Rutstein, E Postma, M Mariette, S Griffith
(2009), Vol. 22, pp. 387-395, Journal of evolutionary biology, Chichester, England, C1-1
S Griffith, S Pryke, M Mariette
(2008), Vol. 108, pp. 311-319, Emu, Collingwood, Vic., C1-1
The effects of inbreeding on male courtship behaviour and coloration in guppies
M Mariette, J Kelley, R Brooks, J Evans
(2006), Vol. 112, pp. 807-814, Ethology, Berlin, Germany, C1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Australian Competitive Grants
The role of pre-natal communication in adaptation to hot climate
Dr Mylene Mariette
ARC DECRA - Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
- 2019: $132,388
- 2018: $129,919
- 2017: $127,999
Industry and Other Funding
Effect of prenatal communication and early experience on the heat tolerance in zebra finches
Dr Mylene Mariette, Prof Kate Buchanan, Ms Anais Claudia Pessato
ESA - Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment - 20 571 098 795
- 2020: $7,445
- 2019: $6,740
Effects of early life experience on behavioural and stress responses to temperatures extremes in the zebra finch
Dr Mylene Mariette, Miss Eve Udino, Prof Kate Buchanan
ESA - Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment - 20 571 098 795
- 2020: $6,750
Other Funding Sources
The ecological role of parental incubation calling in an Australian arid-adapted bird
Prof Kate Buchanan, Mr Andrew Katsis, Dr Mylene Mariette
BirdLife Travel (CAT8)
- 2018: $895
Physiological bases of adaptation to hot climates via prenatal communication
Dr Mylene Mariette, Ms Anias Pessato, Prof Kate Buchanan
BirdLife Travel (CAT8)
- 2018: $520
Effects of early life experience on individual stress response to high temperature in the zebra finch
Dr Mylene Mariette, Miss Eve Udino
The Society of Experimental Biology - Travel
- 2019: $644
Effects of early life experience on individual stress response to high temperature in the zebra finch
Dr Mylene Mariette, Miss Eve Udino
BirdLife Travel (CAT8)
- 2019: $1,000
Australian and New Zealand Society for Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry conference in Perth
Dr Mylene Mariette, Ms Anais Claudia Pessato
BirdLife Travel (CAT8)
- 2019: $1,000
Prenatal treatment effects on incubation behaviour and its consequences on egg temperature and embryo heat shock response in a desert adapted Australian species.
Dr Mylene Mariette, Prof Kate Buchanan, Mr Lorenzo Galletta
BirdLife Travel (CAT8)
- 2019: $1,000
Transgenerational programing for thermal stress? Evidence from embryonic heat shock proteins
Dr Mylene Mariette, Mr Lorenzo Galletta, Prof Kate Buchanan
BirdLife Travel (CAT8)
- 2021: $1,000
Supervisions
Anais Claudia Pessato
Thesis entitled: Acoustic developmental programming and thermoregulation in the heat
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Andrew Katsis
Thesis entitled: Effects of prenatal acoustic communication on songbird behaviour and cognition
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences