B.Sc., M.A. Manitoba, Ph.D. Rutgers Professor Emeritus

Office: SN1076

Phone: (709) 864-6771

Email: astorey@mun.ca

Affiliations: Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology

 

Research Interests

I study parental behaviour and mating strategies in birds (both parents typically provide care) and mammals (fathers help in only a few species). My students and I examine parental investment in two long-lived seabirds that differ in the chick-rearing periods, the Common Murre (short period) and the Atlantic Puffin (long period). In years with food shortages, Common Murres that worked harder to feed their chicks had increased levels of corticosterone (stress hormone, Doody et al., 2008). In contrast, Atlantic Puffin parents do not have higher corticosterone levels in years with poor feeding conditions (Rector et al., 2012), apparently because they have more time during chick rearing for feeding conditions to improve. These species differences suggest that constraints on the duration of chick rearing determine whether corticosterone-induced increases in parental foraging effort are necessary for successful breeding.

My mammalian research focuses on the role of fathers (reviewed in Storey & Walsh, 2010, 2012). We examine how social cues from mates and young make males become more parental around the time young are born. Following from my earlier research on paternal behavior in voles (rodents), we tested expectant and new human fathers. We published the first study showing that men have a similar pattern of hormonal change near the birth of their babies as new mothers. We then followed the same couples during the toddlerhood of their first children and the birth of their second babies. We found that social context (e.g., recent time together) and experience affects father's hormonal responses to their infants (Delahunty et al., 2007) and toddlers (Storey et al., 2011).

Invited Book Chapters and Reviews

Storey, A. E. & Walsh, C.J. (2012). The biological basis of mammalian paternal behavior. In: Cabrera, N. J & Tamis-Lemonda, C. S. (Eds.) Handbook of Father Involvement: Multidisciplinary Perspectives, Taylor and Francis, NY.

Storey, A.E. & Walsh, C. J. (2010). How fathers evolve: a functional analysis. In: Booth, A., McHale, S. and Landale, N. (Eds.) Biosocial Research Contributions to Understanding Family Processes and Problems. Springer, NY.

Storey, A. E., Delahunty, K. M., McKay, D. M., Walsh, C. J., & Wilhelm, S. I. (2006). Social and hormonal bases for individual differences in the parental behaviour of birds and mammals. Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology, 60, 237-245.

Refereed Publications

Kouwenberg, A.L., J., Hipfner, M. J., McKay, D. W. & Storey, A. E. (in press). Corticosterone and stable isotopes in feathers predict egg size in Atlantic puffins. Ibis.

Rector, M. E., Kouwenberg, A.L., Wilhelm, S. I., Robertson, G. J., McKay, D. W., Walsh, C. J., Fitzsimmons, M. G., C. R. Baker, M. L. Cameron-MacMillan & Storey, A.E. (2012). Corticosterone levels of Atlantic puffins vary with breeding stage and sex but are not elevated in poor foraging years. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 178, 408-416.

Storey, A. E., Noseworthy, D. N., Delahunty, K. M., Halfyard, S. J., & McKay, D. W. (2011). The effects of social context on the hormonal and behavioral responsiveness of human fathers. Hormones and Behavior, 60, 353-361.

Walsh, C. J., Ralph, T., & Storey, A. E. (2009). Enclosure size and hormonal state affect alternation between pup attendance and foraging bouts in meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus). Journal of Comparative Psychology, 123, 115-124.

Wilhelm, S. I., Walsh, C. J., & Storey, A. E. (2008). Time budgets of Common Murres vary in relation to changes in inshore capelin availability. Condor, 110, 316-324.

Doody, L. M., Wilhelm, S. I., McKay, D. W., Walsh, C. J. & Storey, A. E. (2008). The effects of variable foraging conditions on common murre (Uria aalge) parental behavior and corticosterone concentrations. Hormones and Behavior, 53, 140- 148.

Delahunty, K. M, McKay, D. W., Noseworthy, D. E., & Storey, A. E. (2007). Prolactin responses to infant cues in men and women: effects of parental experience and recent infant contact. Hormones and Behavior, 51, 213-220.

Cameron-MacMillan, M. L., Walsh, C. J., Wilhelm, S. I., & Storey, A. E. (2007; online, Sept 29, 2006). Male chicks are more costly to rear than female chicks in a monogamous seabird, the common murre. Behavioral Ecology, 18, 81-85.

Walsh, C.J., Wilhelm, S. I., & Storey, A. E. (2006). Extra-pair copulations in common murres: A mate attractions strategy? Behaviour, 143, 1241-1262.

Robertson, G. J., Storey, A. E., & Wilhelm, S. I. (2006). Local survival rates of Common Murres breeding in Witless Bay, Newfoundland. Journal of Wildlife Management, 70, 584-587.

Moody, A. T., Wilhelm, S. I., Cameron-MacMillan, M. L., Walsh, C. J., & Storey, A. E. (2005). Divorce in common murres (Uria aalge): relationship to parental quality. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 57, 224-230.

Wilhelm, S. I. & Storey, A. E. (2004) Temporal Comparisons in feeding ecology and growth of young Common Guillemots (Uria aalge). Atlantic Seabirds, 6, 47-64.

Hipfner, J.M., Gaston, A. J., Herzberg, G. R., Brosnan, J. T., & Storey, A. E. (2003). Egg composition in relation to female age and relaying: constraints on egg production in thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia). Auk, 120, 645-657.

Invited Symposium Presentations

Storey, A.E. & Walsh, C. J. (2009). How fathers evolve: a functional analysis. Biosocial Research Contributions to Understanding Family Processes and Problems Conference, Pennsylvania State University, PA.

Storey, A, E. (2006). Is there a biological basis of human fatherhood? Symposium presentation at the Cornell Evolving Family Conference: An Examinationof Recent Trends in Fatherhood and Father Involvement, Ithaca, NY.

Conference Presentations

Kouwenberg, A.L., J., Hipfner, M. J., McKay, D. W. & Storey, A. E. (2012). Corticosterone and stable isotopes in feathers identify carry-over effects in Atlantic puffins. North American Ornithological Conference, Vancouver, BC.

Rector, M. E., Walsh, C. J., & Storey, A. E. (2012). Begging and Boasting: Atlantic puffin chick calls signal need and quality. North American Ornithological Conference, Vancouver, BC.

Fitzsimmons, M. F., Storey, A. E., McKay, D. W., & Herzberg, G. R. (2012). The effects of supplementary feeding on the physiology of Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) parents. Pacific Seabird Group Meeting, HI.

Storey, A. E., Halfyard, S. J., Kennedy, A. V., Doody, L. M., & McKay, D. W. (2010). Effects of time between nursing bouts on prolactin reactivity and milk ingestions. Research Conference: New Directions in Breast-feeding, St. John's NL.

Kouwenberg, A. L, McKay, D. W. & Storey, A. E. (2010). Measuring corticosterone in alcid feathers: A tool for assessing long-term stress. 1st World Seabird Conference, Victoria, BC.

Kouwenberg, A. L., Rector, M. E., McKay, D. W. & Storey, A. E. (2010). Variation in baseline corticosterone levels of breeding Atlantic Puffins (Fratercula arctica). Pacific Seabird Group Meeting, Long Beach, CA.

Rector, M. E., Walsh, C, J & Storey, A. E. (2010). Prey distribution of chick provisioning Atlantic Puffins (Fratercula arctica). Pacific Seabird Group Conference, Long Beach, CA.

Rector, M. E., Walsh, C, & Storey, A. E. (2010). Singing for your supper: Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) chick begging call types and parental provisioning behaviour. 1st World Seabird Conference, Victoria, BC.

Takahashi, L. S., Storey, A. E. & Walsh, C. J. (2010). Behavioural interactions between breeding Common Murres in relation to corticosterone during co-attendance. 1st World Seabird Conference, Victoria, BC.

Takahashi, L. S., Storey, A.E., &Walsh, C. J. (2010). Negotiation strategies of breeding Common Murres (Uria aalge). Pacific Seabird Group Meeting, Long Beach, CA.

Rector, M.E., Walsh, C.J., McKay, D.W. & Storey, A.E. (2009). Sex differences in corticosterone levels of Atlantic Puffins. Cooper Ornithological Society Conference, Tuscon, AZ.

Storey, A.E., Wilhelm, S.I., McKay, D.W., Takahashi, L.S. & Walsh, C.J. (2009). Corticosterone elevation in breeding Common Murres (Uria aalge): stress or adaptive response? Cooper Ornithological Society Conference, Tuscon, AZ.

Storey, A. E., Walsh, C. J., Doody, L. M., & Wilhelm, S. I. (2007). Negotiation: How Common murres 'ask' their mates to provide more parental care. Animal Behavior Society Meeting, Burlington, VT.

Storey, A. E., Delahunty, K. M., & McKay, D. W. (2007). Are elevated cortisol levels associated with enhanced or reduced parental responsiveness? Parental Brain Conference, Boston, MA.

Storey, A, E. (2006). Is there a biological basis of human fatherhood? Symposium presentation at the Cornell Evolving Family Conference: An Examination of Recent Trends in Fatherhood and Father Involvement, Ithaca: September. (Invited Symposium participant).

Delahunty, K. D., Noseworthy, D.E., McKay, D. W., & Storey, A. E. (2005). Development of prolactin responsiveness to infant cues: differences between men and women. Poster presented at the meeting of the Canadian Society for Brain Behaviour and Cognitive Sciences, Montreal, Canada, July.

Walsh, C. J., Wilhelm, S. I., & Storey, A. E. (2005). Getting to Know You: Extra-pair Copulation as a Mate Attraction Strategy. Poster presented at the meeting of the Canadian Society for Brain Behavior and Cognitive Sciences, Montreal, Canada, July.

Storey, A. E., Delahunty, K. M., Noseworthy, D. E., & McKay, D. W. (2004). Does prenatal variation in paternal responsiveness predict how men will be affected by later interactions with their children? Poster presented at the International Psychology Congress, Beijing, August.

Storey, A. E., Wilhelm, S. I., & Walsh, C. J. (2004). Evolution of parental care in Common Murres. Poster presented at the meeting of the Canadian Society for Brain Behavior and Cognitive Sciences, St. John’s, Canada, June.

Storey, A. E., Cameron- MacMillan, M. L., Walsh, C. J., & Wilhelm, S. I. (2004). Pre-lay attendance in Common Murres: A sexually selected trait? Paper presented at the Pacific Seabird Group Meeting, La Paz, Mexico, January.

Robertson, G. J., Storey, A. E., & Wilhelm, S. I. (2004). Evidence for male-biased mortality in breeding Common Murres. Poster presented at the meeting of the American Ornithological Union, Quebec City, August.

Noseworthy, D., Delahunty, K., McKay, D., & Storey, A. E. (2004). Hormonal changes in first-time fathers: how important is paternal experience in the development of paternal responsiveness. Poster presented at the meeting of the Canadian Society for Brain Behavior and Cognitive Sciences, St. John’s, Canada, June.

Cameron-MacMillan, M. L., Wilhelm, S. I., Walsh, C. J., Storey, A. E., Robertson, G. J., & Innes, D. J. (2003). Pre- and post-hatching sex allocation biases in Common Murres (Uria aalge). Poster presented at the ACWERN conference, Wolfville, NS, November