Prof. Dr. Sylvia Kaiser (apl.)

• behavioural biology
• Stress, stress avoidance and welfare
• Environment, genes and the development of unique animal personalities
• Hormones and behaviour

Academic Education

since 1997

Dr. rer. nat. (zoology, behavioural biology), Unversity of Münster

1987 – 1997

Study of biology, Universities of Bayreuth and Münster

Positions

since 03.2022

Adjunct professor, Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster

08.2020 – 02.2022

Substitute professor, Department of Behavioural Biology, WWU Münster

2010 – 07.2020

Adjunct professor, Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster

2004 – 2010

Associate professor, Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster

2001 – 2003

Assistant professor, Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster

1999 – 2000

Postdoctoral fellow, Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

1998 – 1999

Assistant Professor, Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster

External Functions

since 2020

Member of the steering committee of the Münster Graduate School of Evolution (MGSE), University of Münster

since 2020

Member of the extended editorial board of the Ethological Society

since 2013

Member of the University Animal Experimentation Committee, University of Münster

2013 – 2019

Member of the Animal Welfare Committee, University of Münster

2010 – 2016

Manager of the Ethological Society

2014 – 2016

Member of the steering committee of the Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience (OCC), University of Münster

since 2005

Equal opportunity commissioner of the school of Biology

2003 – 2015

Member of the "Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology"

2007 – 2014

Editorial board: Behaviour

2002

Co-organization first european conference on behavioural biology (ECBB) / foundation of a conference tradition

2000

Young German scientist at the Dahlem conference on coping with challenge

since 1992

Member of the "Deutsche Zoologische Gesellschaft" (German Zoological Society)

1989 – 2010

Member of the "Verband Deutscher Biologen" (Association of German Biolgists)

2000 – 2008

Speaker of the section „Behavioural Biology“ of the German Zoological Society

since 1996

Member of the "Ethologische Gesellschaft" (Ethological Society)

In Process

• Animal Personality Meets Personality Psychology (2025 – 2027)
  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 (2022 – 2026)
  Subproject in DFG-Joint Project Hosted outside the University of Münster: DFG - Sonderforschungsbereich | Project Number: TRR 212/2 B01
• CRC TRR 212 - S: Technology Service Platforms (2022 – 2026)
  Subproject in DFG-Joint Project Hosted outside the University of Münster: DFG - Sonderforschungsbereich | Project Number: TRR 212/2 S
• Stress, Stress Avoidance and Animal Welfare (since 1994)
  Own Resources Project

Finished

• Individualisierung in sich ändernden Umwelten – InChangE (2021 – 2024)
  Participation in other joint Project: MKW - Förderlinie "Profilbildung" | Project Number: PROFILNRW-2020-143-B
• 3T: Animal Protection, Animal Welfare, Animal Ethics (2020 – 2023)
  Internally at the University of Münster Funded Project: Universität Münster-interne Förderung - Topical Programmes
• The Individual in the Focus of Life Sciences (2020 – 2023)
  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 (2018 – 2021)
  Subproject in DFG-Joint Project Hosted outside the University of Münster: DFG - Sonderforschungsbereich | Project Number: TRR 212/1 B01
• CRC TRR 212 - S: Technology Service Platforms (2018 – 2021)
  Subproject in DFG-Joint Project Hosted outside the 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 (2017 – 2020)
  Individual Granted Project: DFG - Sachbeihilfe/Einzelförderung | Project Number: KA 1546/10-1
• Münster Graduate School of Evolution - Unterstützung des Evolution Think Tank – MGSE (2013 – 2018)
  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" (2013 – 2016)
  Subproject in DFG-Joint Project Hosted outside the 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 (2013 – 2016)
  Subproject in DFG-Joint Project Hosted outside the 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? (2009 – 2013)
  Subproject in DFG-Joint Project Hosted outside the 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" (2009 – 2013)
  Subproject in DFG-Joint Project Hosted outside the University of Münster: DFG - Forschungsgruppe | Project Number: KA 1546/7-1:1

• 2026
• 2025
• 2024
• 2023
• 2022
• 2021
• 2020
• 2019
• 2018
• 2017
• 2016
• 2015
• 2014
• 2013
• 2012
• 2011
• 2010
• 2009
• 2008
• 2007
• 2006
• 2005
• 2004
• 2003
• 2001
• 2000
• 1998
• 1997
• 1996

2026

• 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. 2026. “Individualised niches: an integrative conceptual framework across behaviour, ecology, and evolution.” Preprint. Biological reviews. doi: 10.1002/brv.70147.
• Quante, SM, Groneberg, E, Kaiser, S, and Richter, SH. 2026. “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. 2026. “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. 2026. “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. 2026. “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.

2025

• Bauhus, Marc B., Wander, Luise, Boy, David, Santacruz, Ana, Maldonado, Ernesto, Kurtz, Joachim, Kaiser, Sylvia, and Peuß, Robert. 2025. “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. 2025. “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. 2025. “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. 2025. “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. 2025. “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. 2025. “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. 2025. “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. 2025. “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. 2025. “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. 2025. “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.

2024

• Schulte, L, Oswald, P, Mühlenhaupt, M, Ossendorf, E, Kruse, S, Kaiser, S, and Caspers, BA. 2024. “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. 2024. “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. 2024. “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. 2024. “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. 2024. “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. 2024. “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. 2024. “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. 2024. “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. 2024. “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.

2023

• Stieger, B, Wesseler, Y, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, and Richter, SH. 2023. “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. 2023. “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. 2023. “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. 2023. “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. 2023. “Structural enrichment for laboratory mice: exploring the effects of novelty and complexity.” Frontiers in Veterinary Science 10 1207332. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1207332.

2022

• Lilie, ND, Riyahi, S, Kalinowski, A, Salazar, SM, Kaiser, S, Schmoll, T, and Korsten, P. 2022. “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. 2022. “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. 2022. “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. 2022. “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. 2022. “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. 2022. “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. 2022. “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. 2022. “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. 2022. “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. 2022. “Sex roles and sex ratios in animals.” Biological reviews 98 (2). doi: 10.1111/brv.12915.

2021

• Feige-Diller, J, Palme, R, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, and Richter, SH. 2021. “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. 2021. “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. 2021. “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. 2021. “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. 2021. “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. 2021. “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. 2021. “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.

2020

• Feige-Diller, J, Krakenberg, V, Bierbaum, L, Seifert, L, Palme, R, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, and Richter, SH. 2020. “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. 2020. “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. 2020. “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. 2020. “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. 2020. “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. 2020. “Effects of different social experiences on emotional state in mice.” Scientific Reports 10 (15255). doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-71994-9.

2019

• Mutwill, AM, Zimmermann, TD, Reuland, C, Fuchs, S, Kunert, J, Richter, SH, Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. 2019. “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. 2019. “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. 2019. “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. 2019. “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. 2019. “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. 2019. “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. 2019. “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.

2018

• Bodden, C, Siestrup, S, Palme, R, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, and Richter, SH. 2018. “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. 2018. “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. 2018. “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. 2018. “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. 2018. “Artgerecht/tiergerecht.” in Handbuch Tierethik, edited by JS Ach and D Borchers. Stuttgart: J.B. Metzler Verlag.
• Richter, SH, Sachser, N, and Kaiser, S. 2018. “Emotionen.” in Handbuch Tierethik, edited by JS Ach and D Borchers. Stuttgart: J.B. Metzler Verlag.

2017

• Sangenstedt, S., Jaljuli, I., Sachser, N., and Kaiser, S. 2017. “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. 2017. “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. 2017. “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. 2017. “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. 2017. “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. 2017. “What a difference a day makes - female behaviour is less predictable near ovulation.” Royal Society Open Science 4. doi: 10.1098/rsos.160998.

2016

• Graulich, DM, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, and Richter, SH. 2016. “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. 2016. “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. 2016. “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. 2016. “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.

2015

• Kaiser, S, Hennessy, MB, and Sachser, N. 2015. “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. 2015. “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. 2015. “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. 2015. “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. 2015. “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.

2014

• Guenther, A, Palme, R, Dersen, M, Kaiser, S, and Trillmich, F. 2014. “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. 2014. “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. 2014. “Effects of domestication on biobehavioural profiles: a comparison of domestic guinea pigs and wild cavies from early to late adolescence.” Frontiers in Zoology 11.

2013

• Sachser, N, Kaiser, S, and Hennessy, MB. 2013. “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. 2013. “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. 2013. “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. 2013. “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. 2013. “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. 2013. “Dimensions of Animal Personalities in Guinea Pigs.” Ethology 119 (11): 970–982.

2012

• Stock, C, and Kaiser, S. 2012. “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. 2012. “A Comparison of Brain Gene Expression Levels in Domesticated and Wild Animals.” PLOS Genetics 8(9): e1002962..

2011

• Lürzel, S, Kaiser, S, Krüger, C., and Sachser, N. 2011. “Inhibiting influence of testosterone on stress responsiveness during adolescence.” Hormones and Behavior 60 (5): 691–698.
• Lürzel, S, Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. 2011. “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. 2011. “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. 2011. “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. 2011. “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. 2011. “The social environment during pregnancy and lactation shapes the behavioural and hormonal profile of male offspring in wild cavies.” Developmental Psychobiology 53: 575–584.

2010

• Lewejohann, L, Kloke, V, Heiming, RS, Jansen, F, Kaiser, S, Schmitt, A, Lesch, KP, and Sachser, N. 2010. “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. 2010. “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. 2010. “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. 2010. “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. 2010. “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. 2010. “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.

2009

• Kemme, K, Kaiser, S, von, Engelhardt N, Wewers, D, Groothuis, T, and Sachser, N. 2009. “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. 2009. “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. 2009. “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. 2009. “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. 2009. “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.

2008

• Adrian, O, Kaiser, S, Sachser, N, Jandewerth, P, Lottker, P, Epplen, JT, and Hennessy, MB. 2008. “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. 2008. “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. 2008. “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.

2007

• Kemme, K, Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. 2007. “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. 2007. “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.

2006

• Hennessy, MB, Hornschuh, G, Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. 2006. “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. 2006. “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.

2005

• Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. 2005. “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. 2005. “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.

2004

• Sachser, N, Künzl, C, and Kaiser, S. 2004. “The welfare of laboratory guinea pigs.” in The welfare of laboratory animals, edited by E Kalista. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic.

2003

• Kaiser, S, Nübold, T, Rohlmann, I, and Sachser, N. 2003. “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. 2003. “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. 2003. “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. 2003. “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. 2003. “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. 2003. “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. 2003. “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.

2001

• Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. 2001. “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. 2001. “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. 2001. “Stress und Wohlergehen.” Praxis der Naturwissenschaften: Biologie in der Schule 50 (5): 15–20.

2000

• Kaiser, S, Brendel, H, and Sachser, N. 2000. “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.

1998

• Kaiser, S, and Sachser, N. 1998. “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.

1997

• Sachser, N, and Kaiser, S. 1997. “The Social Environment, Behaviour and Stress - a Case Study in Guinea Pigs.” Acta physiologica Scandinavica. Supplementum 161: 83–87.

1996

• Sachser, N, and Kaiser, S. 1996. “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.