2026-10-09T20:18:24Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/33442864 2026-09-30T20:22:49Z category_24418 portal_12 item_type_1 month_year_09_2026

Celeste Walton: The Tale of a Rail Celeste Walton (23227834) Animal physiological ecology Bird Avian Hormones Takahe Pukeko Porphyrio Animal behavior Reproduction <p dir="ltr">Although this image features a takahē (Porphyrio hochstetteri), it represents the broader evolutionary story underlying my research on its close relative, the pūkeko (Porphyrio melanotus). My research explores how reproductive behaviour and physiology interact in pūkeko, a species remarkable for the diversity of its mating and breeding strategies. By examining hormonal profiles and mating systems, I aim to understand the physiological mechanisms that help shape the development of these complex behaviours. The takahē provides a striking reminder that closely related species can follow very different evolutionary paths while sharing a recent common ancestor. What drives this change? Together, New Zealand’s Porphyrio species illustrates this extraordinary behavioural and evolutionary paradox. </p> 2026-09-30T20:22:49Z Image Figure 10.17608/k6.auckland.33442864.v2 https://figshare.com/articles/figure/The_Tale_of_a_Rail/33442864 CC BY 4.0