Androgens, antlers, and sexual selection: testosterone’s relationship to reproductive success and associated morphological characteristics in white-tailed deer

Gomes, Monet A.; Ditchkoff, Stephen S.; Zohdy, Sarah; Gulsby, William D.; Steury, Todd D.; Newbolt, Chad H.

doi:10.1007/s10682-022-10218-0

Evol Ecol

2022

DOI: 10.1007/s10682-022-10218-0

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Androgens, antlers, and sexual selection: testosterone’s relationship to reproductive success and associated morphological characteristics in white-tailed deer

Monet A. Gomes

Stephen S. Ditchkoff

Sarah Zohdy

et al.

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Cited by 6 publications

References 79 publications

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Experimentally Elevated Levels of Testosterone Advance Daily Onset of Activity in Short‐Day Housed Male House Sparrows (Passer domesticus)

Galante,

Lane,

Elderbrock

et al. 2024

J Exp Zool Pt A

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Seasonal changes in sleep/wake cycles and behaviors related to reproduction often co‐occur with seasonal fluctuations in sex hormones. Experimental studies have established that fluctuations in circulating testosterone mediate circadian rhythms. However, most studies are performed under constant lighting conditions and fail to investigate the effects of testosterone on the phenotypic output of circadian rhythms, that is, chronotype (daily activity patterns under light:dark cycles). Here, we experimentally elevated testosterone with implants during short nonbreeding daylengths in male house sparrows (Passer domesticus) to test if observed seasonal changes in chronotype are directly in response to photoperiod or to testosterone. We fitted individuals with accelerometers to track activity across treatment periods. Birds experienced three treatments periods: short day photoperiods before manipulation (SD), followed by testosterone implants while still on short days (SD + T). Implants were then removed. After a decrease in cloacal protuberance size, an indicator of low testosterone levels, birds were then photostimulated on long days (LD). Blood samples were collected at night, when testosterone peaks, to compare testosterone levels to daily onset/offset activity for experimental periods. Our results indicate that experimentally elevated testosterone under short nonbreeding photoperiods significantly advanced daily onset of activity and total daily activity relative to daylength. This suggests that testosterone, independent of photoperiod, is responsible for seasonal shifts in chronotypes and daily activity rhythms. These findings suggest that sex steroid hormone actions regulate timing of daily behaviors, likely coordinating expression of reproductive behaviors to appropriate times of the day.

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Experimentally Elevated Levels of Testosterone Advance Daily Onset of Activity in Short‐Day Housed Male House Sparrows (Passer domesticus)

Galante,

Lane,

Elderbrock

et al. 2024

J Exp Zool Pt A

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show abstract

Influence of maternal characteristics and reproductive history on recruitment in an iteroparous ungulate

et al. 2023

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Phenotypic characteristics of successful parental pairs in white-tailed deer: evidence of non-random mating

Swartout,

Newbolt,

Steury

et al. 2024

Mamm Biol

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Androgens, antlers, and sexual selection: testosterone’s relationship to reproductive success and associated morphological characteristics in white-tailed deer

Cited by 6 publications

References 79 publications

Experimentally Elevated Levels of Testosterone Advance Daily Onset of Activity in Short‐Day Housed Male House Sparrows (Passer domesticus)

Experimentally Elevated Levels of Testosterone Advance Daily Onset of Activity in Short‐Day Housed Male House Sparrows (Passer domesticus)

Influence of maternal characteristics and reproductive history on recruitment in an iteroparous ungulate

Phenotypic characteristics of successful parental pairs in white-tailed deer: evidence of non-random mating

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