Data from: The role of neuropeptide F in a transition to parental care

The genetics of complex social behaviour can be dissected by examining the
genetic influences of component pathways, which can be predicted based on
expected evolutionary precursors. Here, we examine how gene expression in
a pathway that influences the motivation to eat is altered during parental
care that involves direct feeding of larvae. We examine the expression of
neuropeptide F, and its receptor, in the burying beetle Nicrophorus
vespilloides, which feeds pre-digested carrion to its begging larvae. We
found that the npf receptor was greatly reduced during active care. Our
research provides evidence that feeding behaviour was a likely target
during the evolution of parental care in N. vespilloides. Moreover,
dissecting complex behaviours into ethologically distinct sub-behaviours
is a productive way to begin to target the genetic mechanisms involved in
the evolution of complex behaviours.