{"id":5152,"date":"2025-10-30T21:46:58","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T21:46:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/wrigley\/?p=5152"},"modified":"2025-10-30T22:03:29","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T22:03:29","slug":"studying-sex-change-parental-care-blue-banded-goby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/wrigley\/2025\/10\/30\/studying-sex-change-parental-care-blue-banded-goby\/","title":{"rendered":"Studying sex change and parental care in the blue-banded goby"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-hero \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-hero\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n<div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img\n                            data-src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/wrigley\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/116\/2025\/10\/USC_WIES_REU_Jesus_20250717.JPG-2-1-768x432.jpeg\"\n          data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/wrigley\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/116\/2025\/10\/USC_WIES_REU_Jesus_20250717.JPG-2-1-1920x1080.jpeg 1920w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/wrigley\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/116\/2025\/10\/USC_WIES_REU_Jesus_20250717.JPG-2-1-1280x720.jpeg 1280w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/wrigley\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/116\/2025\/10\/USC_WIES_REU_Jesus_20250717.JPG-2-1-768x432.jpeg 768w\"          data-sizes=\"(min-width:1200px) 75vw, (min-width:768px) 83vw, 100vw\"          class=\"lazyload\"\n        \n                  role=\"none\"\n        \n        \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n  \n      <div class=\"image-caption\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  <p>2025 Zinsmeyer Summer Research Program Intern Jesus Israel Venegas spent his summer working with Idahlo State University Professor Devaleena S. Pradhan, examining the behavior of bluebanded goby, a fish capable of bidirectional sex change (Anya Jim\u00e9nez\/USC Wrigley Institute). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  \n  <div class=\"text-wrapper\">\n    \n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--page-title\">\n\n    \n  <h1>Studying sex change and parental care in the blue-banded goby<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n    \n          <strong class=\"author-field\"><span >By<\/span>Jesus Venegas<\/strong>\n    \n          <span class=\"post-date-field\">October 30, 2025<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--social-share \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--social-share\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n    <span class=\"a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list\" style=\"line-height: 32px;\">\n      <span class=\"title\">\n        Share\n      <\/span>\n                        <a 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 <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">Bluesky<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                                <a class=\"a2a_button_email\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#email\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"E-mail\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_print\">\n              <svg height=\"12\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 12\" width=\"18\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m8.14285714 9.42857143c-.17142857 0-.34285714 0-.51428571.08571428l7.28571427 6.34285719c.3428572.2571428.6857143.2571428.9428572 0l7.2857142-6.34285719c-.0857142-.08571428-.2571428-.08571428-.4285714-.08571428zm-1.28571428 1.11428567v.1714286 8.5714286c0 .6857143.6 1.2857143 1.28571428 1.2857143h14.57142856c.6857143 0 1.2857143-.6 1.2857143-1.2857143v-8.5714286c0-.0857143 0-.0857143 0-.1714286l-7.2 6.3428572c-.7714286.6857143-1.8857143.6857143-2.6571429 0z\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" transform=\"translate(-6 -9)\"\/><\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">Email<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                  <\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n \n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My name is Jesus Israel Venegas, and I am a biological sciences major at the University of Southern California with an emphasis in ecology, evolution, and environment. This summer, I had the privilege of participating in the <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/wrigley\/education\/undergraduate-internships\/summer-research-internships\/\">Zinsmeyer Summer Research Program<\/a>, based at the Wrigley Marine Science Center on Catalina Island. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under the mentorship of <a href=\"https:\/\/inbre.uidaho.edu\/faculty\/events\/devaleena-pradhan-ph-d\/\">Dr. Devaleena S. Pradhan<\/a> from Idaho State University and graduate student Abbie Symanietz, I spent ten weeks studying the parental behavior of the blue-banded goby (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lythrypnus dalli<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), a small reef fish capable of bidirectional sex change. I am deeply grateful to the USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability, the National Science Foundation CAREER Award (#2145398), and the Zinsmeyer Fellowship for making this opportunity possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> I have always been fascinated by animal ecology, particularly the ways in which species interact with each other and their environments. Going into this summer, I knew I wanted to pursue graduate school and eventually work in wildlife ecology and conservation. I felt this program would be an ideal way to strengthen my research skills, gain hands-on experience, and prepare myself for the rigor of a graduate program.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5154\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5154\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5154 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/wrigley\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/116\/2025\/10\/USC_WIES_REU_Gobies_20250704-5-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/wrigley\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/116\/2025\/10\/USC_WIES_REU_Gobies_20250704-5-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/wrigley\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/116\/2025\/10\/USC_WIES_REU_Gobies_20250704-5-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/wrigley\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/116\/2025\/10\/USC_WIES_REU_Gobies_20250704-5-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/wrigley\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/116\/2025\/10\/USC_WIES_REU_Gobies_20250704-5-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/wrigley\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/116\/2025\/10\/USC_WIES_REU_Gobies_20250704-5-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/wrigley\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/116\/2025\/10\/USC_WIES_REU_Gobies_20250704-5-900x600.jpeg 900w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/wrigley\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/116\/2025\/10\/USC_WIES_REU_Gobies_20250704-5-1200x800.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5154\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Blue-banded gobies are bright colored fish that are endemic to Catalina Island (Anya Jim\u00e9nez, USC Wrigley Institute).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My project focused on comparing parental behaviors between newly sex-changed males and stable males, particularly in relation to the developmental stage of embryos in their nests. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lythrypnus dalli <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">males are solely responsible for parental care, which includes guarding nests and fanning embryos. In social groups, if the dominant male is absent, the largest female undergoes sex change and assumes male reproductive and parenting duties. I wanted to investigate whether these \u201cnew males\u201d showed differences in their parental care patterns compared to males that had been established in the role. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over the course of the summer, I learned a wide range of research techniques. I conducted behavioral observations using ethograms, recording specific actions such as fanning, guarding, and social interactions. I also processed fish for morphological measurements, learning how to handle live specimens safely and efficiently. One of the most engaging parts of the project was photographing embryos daily to track their development, which allowed me to visually connect parental behavior to offspring growth. This meticulous, detail-oriented work taught me the importance of consistency and precision in research. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Living at the Wrigley Institute meant that my work was not confined to a single lab bench. I was surrounded by a diverse community of scientists and other fellow researchers, all working on different projects. The collaborative environment fostered daily conversations about science, experimental design, workshops, and career paths. I learned as much from my peers as I did from my own research, and I was constantly inspired by the dedication and creativity of those around me. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most surprising aspects of my research was seeing how quickly newly transitioned males could adopt parental behaviors. In some cases, these individuals began caring for nests almost immediately after assuming their new role, while in others, their behavior was more tentative at first. Observing these variations in real time gave me a deeper appreciation for the complexity of animal behavior and the flexibility of social roles in nature. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-quote \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-quote\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n<div class=\"quote-container\">\n  <svg height=\"29\" viewBox=\"0 0 36 29\" width=\"36\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m19.7 28.6h16.2v-15.5h-6.7l6.7-13.1h-7.5l-8.7 14zm-19.7 0h16.3v-15.5h-6.8l6.8-13.1h-7.7l-8.6 14z\" fill=\"#fc0\"\/><\/svg>\n            \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  <p>I have always been drawn to asking questions about the natural world, and this summer showed me not only how fulfilling that process can be, but also how my contributions can fit into a broader scientific understanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n  \n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This experience has reinforced my passion for research and confirmed my desire to pursue a long-term career in academia. I have always been drawn to asking questions about the natural world, and this summer showed me not only how fulfilling that process can be, but also how my contributions can fit into a broader scientific understanding. The skills I developed such as behavioral observation, data collection, morphological analysis, lab etiquette and embryo tracking, are all tools I will carry forward into my graduate studies and beyond. My <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">time here has solidified my commitment to research, strengthened my preparation for graduate school, and deepened my appreciation for science. I am grateful for the mentorship, support, and friendships that made this summer both academically rewarding and personally unforgettable.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5155\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5155\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5155 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/wrigley\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/116\/2025\/10\/USC_WIES_REU_Gobies_20250623.JPG-5-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/wrigley\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/116\/2025\/10\/USC_WIES_REU_Gobies_20250623.JPG-5-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/wrigley\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/116\/2025\/10\/USC_WIES_REU_Gobies_20250623.JPG-5-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/wrigley\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/116\/2025\/10\/USC_WIES_REU_Gobies_20250623.JPG-5-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/wrigley\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/116\/2025\/10\/USC_WIES_REU_Gobies_20250623.JPG-5-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/wrigley\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/116\/2025\/10\/USC_WIES_REU_Gobies_20250623.JPG-5-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/wrigley\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/116\/2025\/10\/USC_WIES_REU_Gobies_20250623.JPG-5-900x600.jpeg 900w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/wrigley\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/116\/2025\/10\/USC_WIES_REU_Gobies_20250623.JPG-5-1200x800.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5155\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jesus Venegas (left) and fellow student researcher Veronica Britton process a blue-banded goby in the labs at the Wrigley Marine Science Center (Anya Jim\u00e9nez\/USC Wrigley Institute).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":617,"featured_media":5153,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[19,10],"class_list":["post-5152","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","tag-reu","tag-undergraduate"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - 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