Prof. Dr. Sylvia Kaiser (apl.)
Tel: (+49)-(0)251-83-24676
Fax: (+49)-(0)251-83-23896
Room 151
Office hours: upon consultation
Research Foci
- behavioural biology
- Stress, stress avoidance and welfare
- Environment, genes and the development of unique animal personalities
- Hormones and behaviour
CV
Academic Education
- Dr. rer. nat. (zoology, behavioural biology), Unversity of Münster
- Study of biology, Universities of Bayreuth and Münster
Positions
- Adjunct professor, Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster
- Substitute professor, Department of Behavioural Biology, WWU Münster
- Adjunct professor, Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster
- Associate professor, Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster
- Assistant professor, Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster
- Postdoctoral fellow, Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Assistant Professor, Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster
External Functions
- Member of the steering committee of the Münster Graduate School of Evolution (MGSE), University of Münster
- Member of the extended editorial board of the Ethological Society
- Member of the University Animal Experimentation Committee, University of Münster
- Member of the Animal Welfare Committee, University of Münster
- Manager of the Ethological Society
- Member of the steering committee of the Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience (OCC), University of Münster
- Equal opportunity commissioner of the school of Biology
- Member of the "Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology"
- Editorial board: Behaviour
- Co-organization first european conference on behavioural biology (ECBB) / foundation of a conference tradition
- Young German scientist at the Dahlem conference on coping with challenge
- Member of the "Deutsche Zoologische Gesellschaft" (German Zoological Society)
- Member of the "Verband Deutscher Biologen" (Association of German Biolgists)
- Speaker of the section „Behavioural Biology“ of the German Zoological Society
- Member of the "Ethologische Gesellschaft" (Ethological Society)
Projects
In Process
- Animal Personality Meets Personality Psychology ()
Internally at the University of Münster Funded Project: Universität Münster-interne Förderung - Topical Programmes - CRC TRR 212 - B01: Social niche conformance and social niche transition during adolescence and beyond: effects on biobehavioural profiles and fitness ()
Subproject in DFG-Joint Project Hosted outside University of Münster: DFG - Sonderforschungsbereich | Project Number: TRR 212/2 B01 - CRC TRR 212 - S: Technology Service Platforms ()
Subproject in DFG-Joint Project Hosted outside University of Münster: DFG - Sonderforschungsbereich | Project Number: TRR 212/2 S - Stress, Stress Avoidance and Animal Welfare ()
Own Resources Project
Finished
- Individualisierung in sich ändernden Umwelten – InChangE ()
Participation in other joint Project: MKW - Förderlinie "Profilbildung" | Project Number: PROFILNRW-2020-143-B - 3T: Animal Protection, Animal Welfare, Animal Ethics ()
Internally at the University of Münster Funded Project: Universität Münster-interne Förderung - Topical Programmes - The Individual in the Focus of Life Sciences ()
Internally at the University of Münster Funded Project: Universität Münster-interne Förderung - Topical Programmes - CRC TRR 212 - B01: Social niche conformance and social niche transition during adolescence and beyond: effects on biobehavioural profile and fitness ()
Subproject in DFG-Joint Project Hosted outside University of Münster: DFG - Sonderforschungsbereich | Project Number: TRR 212/1 B01 - CRC TRR 212 - S: Technology Service Platforms ()
Subproject in DFG-Joint Project Hosted outside University of Münster: DFG - Sonderforschungsbereich | Project Number: TRR 212/1 S - Kastration oder Sterilisation? Eine grundlagenorientierte Studie zu den Auswirkungen auf Wohlergehen und Partnerwahl von Hausmeerschweinchen ()
Individual Granted Project: DFG - Sachbeihilfe/Einzelförderung | Project Number: KA 1546/10-1 - Münster Graduate School of Evolution - Unterstützung des Evolution Think Tank – MGSE ()
Individual Granted Project: Santander Consumer Bank AG - FOR 1232 TPZ - Administration of the Research Unit and central platforms for "Genetic paternity determination" and "Endocrinological determination" ()
Subproject in DFG-Joint Project Hosted outside University of Münster: DFG - Forschungsgruppe | Project Number: KA 1546/9-1 - FOR 1232 WP03 - The social modulation of behaviour, cognition and stress reactivity during pregnancy and lactation ()
Subproject in DFG-Joint Project Hosted outside University of Münster: DFG - Forschungsgruppe | Project Number: KA 1546/6-2; 597926 - FOR 1232 WP03 - Social Environmental during Pregnancy Shapes Behavioural Profile in Adulthood: Constraint or Adaption? ()
Subproject in DFG-Joint Project Hosted outside University of Münster: DFG - Forschungsgruppe | Project Number: KA 1546/6-1:1 - FOR 1232 TPZ - Administration of the Research Unit and central platforms for "Genetic paternity determination" and "Endocrinological determination" ()
Subproject in DFG-Joint Project Hosted outside University of Münster: DFG - Forschungsgruppe | Project Number: KA 1546/7-1:1
Publications
- Krüger, O, Anaya-Rojas, J, Back, M, Caspers, B, Chakarov, N, Dammhahn, M, Elliott-Graves, A, Fricke, C, Gadau, J, Hoffman, JI, Kaiser, MI, Kaiser, S, Korsten, P, Krohs, U, Kurtz, J, Langrock, R, Müller, C, Peuß, R, Reinhold, K, Richter, H, Sachser, N, Schielzeth, H, Schmoll, T, Stanewsky, R, Szekely, T, Weissing, FJ, Wittmann, M, and Xu, S. . “Individualised niches: an integrative conceptual framework across behaviour, ecology, and evolution.” Preprint. Biological reviews 101: 1793–1804. doi: 10.1002/brv.70147.
- Quante, SM, Groneberg, E, Kaiser, S, and Richter, SH. . “The sound of silence: sex and individual differences in rat ultrasonic vocalization.” Behavioural Brain Research 496 115823. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2025.115823.
- Gleske, M, Mundinger, C, Richter, SH, and Kaiser, S. . “Shaped from an early age: Hormonal and behavioural phenotypes in juvenile male guinea pigs living in distinct social environments.” Physiology and Behavior 305 115210. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115210.
- Siewert, V, Bierbaum, L, Gleske, M, Mundinger, C, Palme, R, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, and Richter, SH. . “Effects of enrichment removal on cognitive judgement bias of mice: a comparison of two paradigms.” Frontiers in Veterinary Science 13 1813283. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1813283.
- Quante, SM, Zhao, D, Palme, R, Kaiser, S, and Richter, SH. . “Personality tips the scale: how individual differences in exploration shape behavioural and hormonal adjustment to different environments.” Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 14 1769757. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2026.1769757.
- Maiser, MI, Killin, A, Caspers, BA, Gadau, J, Kaiser, S, Kurtz, J, Müller, C, and Richter, SH. . “Reflective interdisciplinarity in practice: integrating biology and philosophy in studies of individualization.” Humanities and Social Sciences Communications 13 1247. doi: 10.1057/s41599-026-08458-4.
- Bauhus, Marc B., Wander, Luise, Boy, David, Santacruz, Ana, Maldonado, Ernesto, Kurtz, Joachim, Kaiser, Sylvia, and Peuß, Robert. . “Environmental dynamics influence scale cortisol levels in Mexican cavefish.” Preprint. bioRxiv doi: 10.1101/2025.03.09.642216.
- Liebermann-Lilie, ND, Schniedermeyer, B, Kröhnert, A, Riyahi, S, Kaiser, S, Schmoll, T, and Korsten, P. . “Adjustment of paternal care in response to experimental variation in extra-pair mating opportunity in male zebra finches.” Hormones and Behavior 176: 105834–105834. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2025.105834.
- Richter, SH, Caspers, B, Dammhahn, M, and Kaiser, S. . “Animal research revisited - the case of behavioural studies.” Trends in Ecology & Evolution 40 (2): 99–103. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2024.11.014.
- Bračić, M, Bierbaum, L, Peng, M, Nimalavachchlan, L, Siewert, V, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, and Richter, SH. . “The behavioural ecology of optimism: judgement bias and foraging under predation risk in mice.” Animal Behaviour 219 122991. doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2024.10.005.
- Siewert, V, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, and Richter, SH. . “Optimism and pessimism: a concept for behavioural ecology.” Biological reviews 100: 1152–1162. doi: 10.1111/brv.13178.
- Groneberg, E, Richter, SH, and Kaiser, S. . “Task complexity matters: investigating behavioural lateralization in rats.” Animal Behaviour 123118. doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123118.
- Quante, SM, Mundinger, C, Palme, R, Kaiser, S, and Richter, SH. . “What it is like to be an optimist: temporal stability of cognitive bias in rats and its link to other individual traits.” Animal Behaviour 224 123202. doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123202.
- Groneberg, E, Richter, SH, and Kaiser, S. . “Is Paw Preference in Rats Influenced by Environmental Novelty?” Ethology 131: 77–93. doi: 10.1111/eth.13580.
- Bierbaum, L, Mundinger, C, Siewert, S, Kaiser, S, and Richter, SH. . “Forever an optimist? Investigating the temporal consistency of optimism within and across life phases in rats.” Animal Behaviour 229 123334. doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2025.123334.
- Groneberg, E, Hoppe, LN, Richter, SH, and Kaiser, S. . “The influence of regularly changing enrichment on the cognitive judgement bias of laboratory rats.” Scientific Reports 15 35049. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-22088-x.
- Schulte, L, Oswald, P, Mühlenhaupt, M, Ossendorf, E, Kruse, S, Kaiser, S, and Caspers, BA. . “Stress response of fire salamander larvae differs between habitat types.” Royal Society Open Science 11 (4) 231304. doi: 10.1098/rsos.231304.
- Rystrom, TL, Wesseler, Y, Richter, SH, Sachser, N, and Kaiser, S. . “Shaped by you: The effect of social partner on cortisol and behavior during adolescence in a female rodent.” Ethology 130 e13414. doi: 10.1111/eth.13414.
- Kaiser, M, Gadau, J, Kaiser, S, Müller, C, and Richter, SH. . “Individualized social niches in animals: Theoretical clarifications and processes of niche change.” BioScience 74: 146–158. doi: 10.1093/biosci/biad122.
- Rystrom, TL, Richter, SH, Sachser, N, and Kaiser, S. . “Social niche shapes social behavior and cortisol concentrations during adolescence in female guinea pigs.” Hormones and Behavior 162 (105539). doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105539.
- Kaiser, M.I., Killin, A., Abendroth, A.-K., Back, M.D., Baune, B.T., Bilstein, N., Breitmoser, Y., Caspers, B.A., Gadau, J., Gossmann, T.I., Kaiser, S., Krüger, O., Kurtz, J.Lengersdorf, D., Malsch, A., K. FMüller, C., Rauthmann J.F., Reinhold, K., Richter, S.H., Stummer, C., Trappes, R., Voelcker-Rehage, C., and Wittmann, M.J. . “Individualisation and individualised science across disciplinary perspectives.” European Journal for Philosophy of Science 14 (41) 41. doi: 10.1007/s13194-024-00602-8.
- Kaiser, S, Krüger, C, and Sachser, N. . “The guinea pig.” in The UFAW handbook on the care and management of laboratory and other research animals, edited by H Golledge and C Richardson. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.
- Sroka, MGU, Ambree, O, Dohmen, C, Palme, R, Kaiser, S, and Richter, SH. . “Personality matters – The interplay between consistent individual differences and mouse welfare in female C57BL6/J mice.” Frontiers in Animal Science 5 (14238). doi: 10.3389/fanim.2024.1423814.
- Göbel, M., Kaiser, S., Richter, S.H., Wagner, P., and Wehrenberg, G. . “Specifically Unspecific – Simple Devices as Feasible and Effective Enrichment for Small Mammals.” Animal Behavior and Cognition 11 (3): 305–329. doi: 10.26451/abc.11.03.05.2024.
- Pereira, H, Hoffman, JI, Krüger, O, Czirják, GA, Rinaud, T, Ottensmann, M, Gladow, K-P, . Caspers, BA, Maraci, Ö, Kaiser, S, and Chakarov, N. . “The gut microbiota-immune-brain axis in a wild vertebrate: dynamic interactions and health impacts.” Frontiers in Microbiology 15. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1413976.
- Stieger, B, Wesseler, Y, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, and Richter, SH. . “Behavioral lateralization of mice varying in serotonin transporter genotype.” Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 16 1095567. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.1095567.
- Kaiser, S, Korte, A, Wistuba, J, Baldy, M, Wissmann, A, Dubičanac, A, Richter, SH, and Sachser, N. . “Effects of castration and sterilization on cortisol responsiveness – a case study in male guinea pigs.” Frontiers in Veterinary Science 9 (1093157). doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1093157.
- Quante, SM, Siewert, V, Palme, R, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, and Richter, SH. . “The power of a touch: Regular touchscreen training but not its termination affects hormones and behavior in mice.” Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 17. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1112780.
- Mutwill, AM, Schielzeth, H, Richter, SH, Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. . “Conditional on the social environment? Roots of repeatability in hormone concentrations of male guinea pigs.” Hormones and Behavior 155 105423.
- Bohn, L, Bierbaum, L, Kästner, N, von, Kortzfleisch VT, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, and Richter, SH. . “Structural enrichment for laboratory mice: exploring the effects of novelty and complexity.” Frontiers in Veterinary Science 10 1207332. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1207332.
- Lilie, ND, Riyahi, S, Kalinowski, A, Salazar, SM, Kaiser, S, Schmoll, T, and Korsten, P. . “Male social niche conformance? Effects of manipulated opportunity for extra-pair mating on behavior and hormones of male zebra finches.” Hormones and Behavior 146: 105243–105243. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105243.
- Kaiser, S, and Richter, SH. . “Don’t worry, be happy? Ein verhaltensbiologischer Blick auf das Gefühlsleben der Tiere.” in Das unterschätzte Tier, edited by N Sachser, N Kästner and T Zimmermann. Hamburg: Rowohlt Taschenbuch Verlag.
- Stieger, B, Palme, R, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, and Richter, SH. . “When left is right: The effects of paw preference training on behaviour in mice.” Behavioural Brain Research 430 (113929).
- Von, Kortzfleisch VT, Ambrée, O, Karp, NA, Meyer, N, Novak, J, Palme, R, Rosso, M, Touma, C, Würbel, H, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, and Richter, SH. . “Do multiple experimenters improve the reproducibility of animal studies?” PLoS Biology 20(3) (e3001564). doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001564.
- Rystrom, TL, Prawitt, RC, Richter, SH, Sachser, N, and Kaiser, S. . “Repeatability of endocrine traits and dominance rank in female guinea pigs.” Frontiers in Zoology 19 (1): 4.. doi: 10.1186/s12983-021-00449-2.
- Feige-Diller, J, Herrera-Rivero, M, Witten, A, Stoll, M, Kaiser, S, Richter, SH, and Sachser, N. . “The impact of varying food availability on gene expression in the liver: Testing the Match-Mismatch hypothesis.” Frontiers in Nutrition 9 (910762).
- Bračić, M, Bohn, L, Siewert, V, von, Kortzfleisch V, Schielzeth, H, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, and Richter, SH. . “Once an Optimist, Always an Optimist? Studying Cognitive Judgment Bias in Mice.” Behavioral Ecology 33: 775–788.
- Nagel, R., Kaiser, S., Stainfield, C., Toscani, C., Fox-Clarke, C., Paijmans, A.J., Costa, Castro C., Vendrami, D.L.J., Forcada, J., and Hoffman, J.I. . “Low heritability and high phenotypic plasticity of salivary cortisol in response to environmental heterogeneity in a wild pinniped.” Ecology and Evolution 12 (3). doi: 10.1002/ece3.8757.
- Herrera-Rivero, M, Bohn, L, Witten, A, Jüngling, K, Kaiser, S, Richter, SH, Stoll, M, and Sachser, N. . “Transcriptional profiles in the mouse amygdala after a cognitive judgment bias test largely depend on the genotype.” Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience 15 1025389. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1025389.
- Kappeler, Peter M., Benhaiem, Sarah, Fichtel, Claudia, Fromhage, Lutz, Hoener, Oliver P., Jennions, Michael D., Kaiser, Sylvia, Krueger, Oliver, Schneider, Jutta M., Tuni, Cristina, van Schaik, Jaap, and Goymann, Wolfgang. . “Sex roles and sex ratios in animals.” Biological reviews 98 (2). doi: 10.1111/brv.12915.
- Feige-Diller, J, Palme, R, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, and Richter, SH. . “The impact of varying food availability on health and welfare in mice: Testing the Match-Mismatch hypothesis.” Physiology and Behavior 228 (113193). doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.113193.
- Mutwill, AM, Schielzeth, H, Zimmermann, TD, Richter, SH, Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. . “Individuality meets plasticity: Endocrine phenotypes across male dominance rank acquisition in guinea pigs living in a complex social environment.” Hormones and Behavior 131 104967. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2021.104967.
- Stieger, B, Melotti, L, Quante, SM, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, and Richter, SH. . “A step in the right direction: the effect of context, strain and sex on paw preference in mice.” Animal Behaviour 174: 21–30. doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.01.012.
- Krakenberg, V, Wewer, M, Palme, R, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, and Richter, SH. . “Regular touchscreen training affects faecal corticosterone metabolites and anxiety-like behaviour in mice.” Behavioural Brain Research 401: 113080. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.113080.
- Bodden, C, Wewer, M, Kästner, N, Palme, R, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, and Richter, SH. . “Not all mice are alike: Mixed-strain housing alters social behaviour.” Physiology and Behavior 228 (113220). doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.113220.
- Melotti, L, Siestrup, S, Peng, M, Vitali, V, Dowling, D, von, Kortzfleisch VT, Bracic, M, Sachser, N, Kaiser, S, and Richter, SH. . “Individuality, as well as genetic background, affects syntactical features of courtship songs in male mice.” Animal Behaviour 180: 179–196.
- Lihoreau, Mathieu, Kaiser, Sylvia, Resende, Briseida, Rodel, Heiko G., and Chaline, Nicolas. . “Editorial: Context-Dependent Plasticity in Social Species: Feedback Loops Between Individual and Social Environment.” Frontiers in Psychology 12: 64519. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.645191.
- Feige-Diller, J, Krakenberg, V, Bierbaum, L, Seifert, L, Palme, R, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, and Richter, SH. . “The effects of different feeding routines on welfare in laboratory mice.” Frontiers in Veterinary Science 6: 479.
- Von, Kortzfleisch VT, Karp, NA, Palme, R, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, and Richter, SH. . “Improving reproducibility in animal research by splitting the study population into several ‘mini-experiments’.” Scientific Reports 10 (16579). doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-73503-4.
- Müller, C, Caspers, BA, Gadau, J, and Kaiser, S. . “The Power of Infochemicals in Mediating Individualized Niches.” Trends in Ecology & Evolution 35: 981–989. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2020.07.001.
- Mutwill, AM, Zimmermann, TD, Hennicke, A, Richter, SH, Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. . “Adaptive reshaping of the hormonal phenotype after social niche transition in adulthood.” Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 287 20200667. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2020.0667.
- Sachser, N, Zimmermann, TD, Hennessy, MB, and Kaiser, S. . “Sensitive phases in the development of rodent social behavior.” Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences 36: 63–70. doi: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2020.07.014.
- Krakenberg, Viktoria, Siestrup, Sophie, Palme, Rupert, Kaiser, Sylvia, Sachser, Norbert, and Richter, Sophie Helene. . “Effects of different social experiences on emotional state in mice.” Scientific Reports 10 (15255). doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-71994-9.
- Mutwill, AM, Zimmermann, TD, Reuland, C, Fuchs, S, Kunert, J, Richter, SH, Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. . “High reproductive success despite queuing – Socio-sexual development of males in a complex social environment.” Frontiers in Psychology 10 2810. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02810.
- Krakenberg, V, von, Kortzfleisch V, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, and Richter, SH. . “Differential effects of serotonin transporter genotype on anxiety-like behavior and cognitive judgment bias in mice.” Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 13: 263.
- Bodden, C, von, Kortzfleisch V, Karwinkel, F, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, and Richter, SH. . “Heterogenising study samples across testing time improves reproducibility of behavioural data.” Scientific Reports 9: 8247..
- Von, Kortzfleisch V, Kästner, N, Prange, L, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, and Richter, SH. . “Have I been here before? Effects of repeated testing and age on the results of behavioural tests.” Behavioural Brain Research 367: 143–148.
- Melotti, L, Kästner, N, Eick, AK, Schnelle, AL, Palme, R, Sachser, N, Kaiser, S, and Richter, SH. . “Can live with ‘em, can live without ‘em: pair housed male C57BL/6J mice show low aggression and increasing sociopositive interactions with age, but can adapt to single housing if separated.” Applied Animal Behaviour Science 214: 79–88.
- Kästner, N, Richter, SH, Urbanik, S, Kunert, J, Waider, J, Lesch, K-P, Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. . “Brain serotonin deficiency affects female aggression.” Scientific Reports 9 (1366).
- Krakenberg, V, Woigk, I, Garcia, Rodriguez L, Kästner, N, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, and Richter, SH. . “Technology or ecology? New tools to assess cognitive judgement bias in mice.” Behavioural Brain Research 362: 279–287. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.01.021.
- Bodden, C, Siestrup, S, Palme, R, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, and Richter, SH. . “Evidence-based severity assessment: Impact of repeated versus single open-field testing on welfare in C57BL/6J mice.” Behavioural Brain Research 336: 261–268.
- Sangenstedt, S, Szardenings, C, Sachser, N, and Kaiser, S. . “Does the early social environment prepare individuals for the future? A match-mismatch experiment in female wild cavies.” Frontiers in Zoology 15:13. doi: 10.1186/s12983-018-0261-1.
- Kästner, N, Richter, SH, Bodden, C, Palme, R, Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. . “Varying social experiences in adulthood do not differentially affect anxiety-like behavior but stress hormone levels.” Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 12: 72..
- Sachser, N, Hennessy, MB, and Kaiser, S. . “The adaptive shaping of social behavioural phenotypes during adolescence.” Biology Letters 14. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2018.0536.
- Sachser, N, Richter, SH, and Kaiser, S. . “Artgerecht/tiergerecht.” in Handbuch Tierethik, edited by JS Ach and D Borchers. Stuttgart: J.B. Metzler Verlag.
- Richter, SH, Sachser, N, and Kaiser, S. . “Emotionen.” in Handbuch Tierethik, edited by JS Ach and D Borchers. Stuttgart: J.B. Metzler Verlag.
- Sangenstedt, S., Jaljuli, I., Sachser, N., and Kaiser, S. . “Stress responsiveness and anxiety-like behavior: The early social environment differentially shapes stability over time in a small rodent.” Hormones and Behavior 90 (null): 90–97. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.02.010.
- Zimmermann, TD, Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. . “The adaptiveness of a queuing strategy shaped by social experiences during adolescence.” Physiology and Behavior 181: 29–37. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.08.025.
- Meyer, N, Jenikejew, J, Richter, SH, Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. . “Social experiences during adolescence affect anxiety-like behavior but not aggressiveness in male mice.” Behavioural Brain Research 326: 147–153. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.03.017.
- Siegeler, K, Lewejohann, L, Failing, K., Sachser, N, and Kaiser, S. . “Start early! Does social instability during the pre- and early postnatal development prepare male wild cavies for social challenge later in life?” Frontiers in Zoology 14:2.
- Zimmermann, TD, Kaiser, S, Hennessy, MB, and Sachser, N. . “Adaptive shaping of the behavioural and neuroendocrine phenotype during adolescence.” Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 284 (1849). doi: 10.1098/rspb.2016.2784.
- Kästner, N, Richter, SH, Gamer, M, Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. . “What a difference a day makes - female behaviour is less predictable near ovulation.” Royal Society Open Science 4. doi: 10.1098/rsos.160998.
- Graulich, DM, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, and Richter, SH. . “Looking on the bright side of bias - validation of an affective bias test for laboratory mice.” Applied Animal Behaviour Science 181: 173–181.
- Meyer, N, Richter, SH, Schreiber, RS, Kloke, V, Kaiser, S, Lesch, KP, and Sachser, N. . “The Unexpected Effects of Beneficial and Adverse Social Experiences during Adolescence on Anxiety and Aggression and Their Modulation by Genotype.” Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 10 (97). doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00097.
- Richter, SH, Kästner, N, Loddenkemper, DH, Kaiser, S, Sachser, and N. . “A time to wean? Impact of weaning age on anxiety-like behaviour and stability of behavioural traits in full adulthood.” PloS one 11(12): e0167652.. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167652.
- Richter, SH, Kästner, N, Kriwet, M, Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. . “Play matters - the surprising relationship between juvenile playfulness and anxiety in later life.” Animal Behaviour 114: 261–271. doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.02.003.
- Kaiser, S, Hennessy, MB, and Sachser, N. . “Domestication affects the structure, development and stability of biobehavioural profiles.” Frontiers in Zoology 12 (Suppl1): 19.
- Kaiser, S, Siegeler, K, Schwerdt, B, and Sachser, N. . “Social instability during pregnancy and lactation alters female wild cavy offsprings endocrine status and behaviour later in life.” Behaviour 152 (7-8): 837–859.
- Bodden, C, Richter, SH, Schreiber, RS, Kloke, V, Gerss, J, Palme, R, Lesch, KP, Lewejohann, L, Kaiser, S, and Sacher, N. . “Benefits of adversity?! How life history affects the behavioral profile of mice varying in serotonin transporter genotype.” Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 9 (47). doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00047.
- Kästner, N., Richter, S.H., Lesch, K.P., Schreiber, R.S., Kaiser, S., and Sachser, N. . “Benefits of a "vulnerability gene"? A study in serotonin transporter knockout mice.” Behavioural Brain Research 283. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.01.031.
- Hennessy, MB, Kaiser, S, Tiedtke, T, and Sachser, N. . “Stability and change: Stress responses and the shaping of behavioral phenotypes over the life span.” Frontiers in Zoology 12 (Suppl 1): 18.. doi: 10.1186/1742-9994-12-S1_S18.
- Guenther, A, Palme, R, Dersen, M, Kaiser, S, and Trillmich, F. . “Photoperiodic effects on reproductive development in male cavies (Cavia aperea).” Physiology and Behaviour 123: 142–147.
- Kloke, V., Schreiber, R., Bodden, C., Möllers, J., Ruhmann, H., Kaiser, S., Lesch, K., Sachser, N., and Lewejohann, L. . “Hope for the best or prepare for the worst? Towards a spatial cognitive bias test for mice.” PloS one 9 (8). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105431.
- Zipser, B, Schleking, A, Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. . “Effects of domestication on biobehavioural profiles: a comparison of domestic guinea pigs and wild cavies from early to late adolescence.” Frontiers in Zoology 11.
- Sachser, N, Kaiser, S, and Hennessy, MB. . “Behavioural profiles are shaped by social experience: when, how and why.” Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 368 (1618): 20120344.. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2012.0344.
- Siegeler, K, Wistuba, J, Damm, OS, von, Engelhardt N, Sachser, N, and Kaiser, S. . “Early social instability affects plasma testosterone during adolescence but does not alter reproductive capacity or measures of stress later in life.” Physiology and Behavior 120C: 143–149. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2013.08.008.
- Kloke, V, Heiming, RS, Bölting, S, Kaiser, S, Lewejohann, L, Lesch, KP, and Sachser, N. . “Unexpected effects of early-life adversity and social enrichment on the anxiety profile of mice varying in serotonin transporter genotype.” Behavioural Brain Research 247C: 248–258. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2013.03.039.
- Karabeg, MM, Grauthoff, S, Kollert, SY, Weidner, M, Heiming, RS, Jansen, F, Popp, S, Kaiser, S, Lesch, KP, Sachser, N, Schmitt, AG, and Lewejohann, L. . “5-HTT Deficiency Affects Neuroplasticity and Increases Stress Sensitivity Resulting in Altered Spatial Learning Performance in the Morris Water Maze but Not in the Barnes Maze.” PloS one 8 (10): e78238..
- Hohoff, C, Gorji, A, Kaiser, S, Willscher, E, Korsching, E, Ambree, O, Arolt, V, Lesch, KP, Sachser, N, Deckert, J, and Lewejohann, L. . “Effect of acute stressor and serotonin transporter genotype on amygdala first wave transcriptome in mice.” PloS one 8 (3): e58880..
- Zipser, B, Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. . “Dimensions of Animal Personalities in Guinea Pigs.” Ethology 119 (11): 970–982.
- Stock, C, and Kaiser, S. . “Humanbiologische Grundlagen der Gesundheitswissenschaften.” in Handbuch Gesundheitswissenschaften., edited by K Hurrelmann and O Razum. Weinheim, München: Beltz Juventa.
- Albert, FW, Somel, M, Carneiro, M, Aximu-Petri, A, Halbwax, M, Thalmann, O, Blanco-Aguiar, JA, Plyusnina, IZ, Trut, L, Villafuerte, R, Ferrand, N, Kaiser, S, Jensen, P, and Pääbo, S. . “A Comparison of Brain Gene Expression Levels in Domesticated and Wild Animals.” PLOS Genetics 8(9): e1002962..
- Lürzel, S, Kaiser, S, Krüger, C., and Sachser, N. . “Inhibiting influence of testosterone on stress responsiveness during adolescence.” Hormones and Behavior 60 (5): 691–698.
- Lürzel, S, Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. . “Social interaction decreases stress responsiveness during adolescence.” Psychoneuroendocrinology 36 (9): 1370–7. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.03.010.
- Jansen, F, Heiming, RS, Kloke, V, Kaiser, S, Palme, R, Lesch, KP, and Sachser, N. . “Away game or home match: The influence of venue and serotonin transporter genotype on the display of offensive aggression.” Behavioural Brain Research 219 (2): 291–301. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2011.01.029.
- Sachser, N, Hennessy, MB, and Kaiser, S. . “Adaptive Modulation of Behavioural Profiles by Social Stress During Early Phase of Life and Adolescence.” Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 35 (7): 1518–1533. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2010.09.002.
- Heiming, RS, Bodden, C, Jansen, F, Lewejohann, L, Kaiser, S, Lesch, KP, Palme, R, and Sachser, N. . “Living in a dangerous world decreases maternal care: A study in serotonin transporter knockout mice.” Hormones and Behavior Volume 60 (4): 397–407.. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2011.07.006.
- Siegeler, K, Sachser, N, and Kaiser, S. . “The social environment during pregnancy and lactation shapes the behavioural and hormonal profile of male offspring in wild cavies.” Developmental Psychobiology 53: 575–584.
- Lewejohann, L, Kloke, V, Heiming, RS, Jansen, F, Kaiser, S, Schmitt, A, Lesch, KP, and Sachser, N. . “Social Status and Day-to-Day Behaviour of Male Serotonin Transporter Knockout Mice.” Behavioural Brain Research 211 (2): 220–228. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2010.03.035.
- Lurzel, S, Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. . “Social Interaction, Testosterone, and Stress Responsiveness During Adolescence.” Physiology and Behavior 99 (1): 40–46. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2009.10.005.
- Kaiser, S, Krüger, C, and Sachser, N. . “The guinea pig.” in The care and management of laboratory and other research animals, edited by R Hubrecht and J. Kirkwood. Chichester UK: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1002/9781444318777.ch27.
- Sachser, N., and Kaiser, S. . “The social modulation of behavioural development.” in Animal Behaviour: Evolution and Mechanisms, edited by P. Kappeler. Springer VDI Verlag. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-02624-9_17.
- Kaiser, S., and Sachser, N. . “Sex-Specific Effects of Early Social Stress in Mammals: A Study in Guinea Pigs.” in Encyclopedia of Stress, Vol. null , edited by G Fink. Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-012373947-6.00478-5.
- Lewejohann, L., Pickel, T., Sachser, N., and Kaiser, S. . “Wild genius - domestic fool? Spatial learning abilities of wild and domestic guinea pigs.” Frontiers in Zoology 7 (null). doi: 10.1186/1742-9994-7-9.
- Kemme, K, Kaiser, S, von, Engelhardt N, Wewers, D, Groothuis, T, and Sachser, N. . “An Unstable Social Environment Affects Sex Ratio in Guinea Pigs: An Adaptive Maternal Effect?” Behaviour 146 (11): 1513–1529. doi: 10.1163/156853909X445579.
- Hennessy, MB, Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. . “Social Buffering of the Stress Response: Diversity, Mechanisms, and Functions.” Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology 30 (4): 470–482. doi: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2009.06.001.
- Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. . “Effects of Prenatal Social Stress on Offspring Development: Pathology or Adaptation?” Current Directions in Psychological Science 18 (2): 118–121. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8721.2009.01620.x.
- Heiming, RS, Jansen, F, Lewejohann, L, Kaiser, S, Schmitt, A, and Lesch, KPand Sachser N. . “Living in a dangerous world: the shaping of behavioral profile by early environment and 5-HTT genotype.” Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 3 (26). doi: 10.3389/neuro.08.026.2009.
- Trillmich, F, Mueller, B, Kaiser, S, and Krause, J. . “Puberty in female cavies (Cavia aperea) is affected by photoperiod and social conditions.” Physiology and Behavior 96 (3): 476–480. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2008.11.014.
- Adrian, O, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, Jandewerth, P, Lottker, P, Epplen, JT, and Hennessy, MB. . “Female Influences on Pair Formation, Reproduction and Male Stress Responses in a Monogamous Cavy (Galea Monasteriensis).” Hormones and Behavior 53 (3): 403–412. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2007.11.009.
- Kemme, K, Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. . “Prenatal Stress Does Not Impair Coping with Challenge Later in Life.” Physiology and Behavior 93 (1-2): 68–75. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.07.013.
- Kaiser, S, Touma, C, Galert, T, and Würbel, H. . “Animal Suffering - Fact or Fiction?” in Theology meets biology. Anthropological perspectives on animals and human beings, edited by K Müller and N. Sachser. Regensburg: Verlag Anton Pustet.
- Kemme, K, Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. . “Prenatal Maternal Programming Determines Testosterone Response During Social Challenge.” Hormones and Behavior 51 (3): 387–394. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2006.12.009.
- Kaiser, S, Harderthauer, S, Sachser, N, and Hennessy, MB. . “Social Housing Conditions Around Puberty Determine Later Changes in Plasma Cortisol Levels and Behavior.” Physiology and Behavior 90 (2-3): 405–411. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2006.10.002.
- Hennessy, MB, Hornschuh, G, Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. . “Cortisol Responses and Social Buffering: A Study Throughout the Life Span.” Hormones and Behavior 49 (3): 383–390. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2005.08.006.
- Hennessy, MB, Bullinger, KL, Neisen, G, Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. . “Social Organization Predicts Nature of Infant-Adult Interactions in Two Species of Wild Guinea Pigs (Cavia aperea and Galea Monasteriensis).” Journal of Comparative Psychology 120 (1): 12–18. doi: 10.1037/0735-7036.120.1.12.
- Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. . “The Effects of Prenatal Social Stress on Behaviour: Mechanisms and Function.” Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 29 (2): 283–294. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2004.09.015.
- Wewers, D, Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. . “Application of an Antiandrogen During Pregnancy Infantilizes the Male Offsprings' Behaviour.” Behavioural Brain Research 158 (1): 89–95. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2004.08.009.
- Sachser, N, Künzl, C, and Kaiser, S. . “The welfare of laboratory guinea pigs.” in The welfare of laboratory animals, edited by E Kalista. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic.
- Kaiser, S, Nübold, T, Rohlmann, I, and Sachser, N. . “Pregnant female guinea pigs adapt easily to a new social environment irrespective of their rearing conditions.” Physiology and Behavior 80 (1): 147–53. doi: 10.1016/S0031-9384(03)00228-2.
- Kaiser, S, Kruijver, FPM, Swaab, DF, and Sachser, N. . “Early Social Stress in Female Guinea Pigs Induces a Masculinization of Adult Behavior and Corresponding Changes in Brain and Neuroendocrine Function.” Behavioural Brain Research 144 (1-2): 199–210. doi: 10.1016/S0166-4328(03)00077-9.
- Kaiser, S, Kruijver, FPM, Straub, RH, Sachser, N, and Swaab, DF. . “Early Social Stress in Male Guinea-Pigs Changes Social Behaviour, and Autonomic and Neuroendocrine Functions.” Journal of Neuroendocrinology 15 (8): 761–769. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2826.2003.01055.x.
- Kaiser, S, Kirtzeck, M, Hornschuh, G, and Sachser, N. . “Sex-Specific Difference in Social Support - a Study in Female Guinea Pigs.” Physiology and Behavior 79 (2): 297–303. doi: 10.1016/S0031-9384(03)00091-X.
- Wewers, D, Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. . “Maternal Separation in Guinea-Pigs: A Study in Behavioural Endocrinology.” Ethology 109 (5): 443–453. doi: 10.1046/j.1439-0310.2003.00888.x.
- Kunzl, C, Kaiser, S, Meier, E, and Sachser, N. . “Is A Wild Mammal Kept and Reared in Captivity Still a Wild Animal?” Hormones and Behavior 43 (1): 187–196. doi: 10.1016/S0018-506X(02)00017-X.
- Kaiser, S, Heemann, K, Straub, RH, and Sachser, N. . “The Social Environment Affects Behaviour and Androgens, But Not Cortisol in Pregnant Female Guinea Pigs.” Psychoneuroendocrinology 28 (1): 67–83. doi: 10.1016/S0306-4530(02)00010-0.
- Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. . “Social Stress During Pregnancy and Lactation Affects in Guinea Pigs the Male Offsprings' Endocrine Status and Infantilizes their Behaviour.” Psychoneuroendocrinology 26 (5): 503–519. doi: 10.1016/S0306-4530(01)00009-9.
- Forkmann, B, Blokhuis, HJ, Broom, DM, Kaiser, S, Koolhaas, JM, Levine, S, Mendl, M, Plotsky, PM, and Schedlowski, M. . “Key sources of variability in coping.” in Coping with challenge: welfare in animals including humans, edited by DM. Broom. Berlin: Selbstverlag / Eigenverlag.
- Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. . “Stress und Wohlergehen.” Praxis der Naturwissenschaften: Biologie in der Schule 50 (5): 15–20.
- Kaiser, S, Brendel, H, and Sachser, N. . “Effects of ACTH Applications During Pregnancy on the Female Offsprings' Endocrine Status and Behavior in Guinea Pigs.” Physiology and Behavior 70 (1-2): 157–162. doi: 10.1016/S0031-9384(00)00248-1.
- Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. . “The Social Environment During Pregnancy and Lactation Affects the Female Offsprings' Endocrine Status and Behaviour in Guinea Pigs.” Physiology and Behavior 63 (3): 361–6. doi: 10.1016/S0031-9384(97)00435-6.
- Sachser, N, and Kaiser, S. . “The Social Environment, Behaviour and Stress - a Case Study in Guinea Pigs.” Acta physiologica Scandinavica. Supplementum 161: 83–87.
- Sachser, N, and Kaiser, S. . “Prenatal Social Stress Masculinizes the Females' Behaviour in Guinea Pigs.” Physiology and Behavior 60 (2): 589–94. doi: 10.1016/S0031-9384(96)80036-9.