Testosterone and corticosterone during the breeding cycle of equatorial and European stonechats (Saxicola torquata axillaris and S. t. rubicola)

Goymann, Wolfgang; Geue, Dirk; Schwabl, Ingrid; Flinks, Heiner; Schmidl, Dieter; Schwabl, Hubert; Gwinner, Eberhard

doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2006.07.002

Cited by 65 publications

(48 citation statements)

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“…Specifically, Alaska and Catalina males exhibited different seasonal testosterone profiles and different average testosterone concentrations during the nestling stage. This study adds to the small but growing body of work Moore et al, 2002;Goymann et al, 2006) that addresses variation in seasonal testosterone patterns among conspecific populations with different life history strategies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A particularly powerful approach is to control for phylogeny and compare seasonal variation in testosterone levels among populations of the same species that differ in life table variables such as annual survival and fecundity (Holberton and Dufty, 2005;Hau, 2007). Only a small number of studies, however, have examined population differences in seasonal testosterone patterns among conspecifics, or even congeners, that exhibit substantial life history variation Moore et al, 2002;Van Roo et al, 2003;Goymann et al, 2006). Such efforts can elucidate the evolutionary linkage between testosterone and life history trade-offs (Hau, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seasonal and population variation in male testosterone levels in breeding orange-crowned warblers (Vermivora celata)

Horton

Yoon

Ghalambor

et al. 2010

General and Comparative Endocrinology

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal and population variation in male testosterone levels in breeding orange-crowned warblers (Vermivora celata)

Horton

Yoon

Ghalambor

et al. 2010

General and Comparative Endocrinology

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“…After returning from the field, samples were stored at 2808C. Testosterone concentration was determined by direct radioimmunoassay (RIA) following Goymann et al [33]. For details of the extraction, see the electronic supplementary material.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ignoring the challenge? Male black redstarts ( Phoenicurus ochruros ) do not increase testosterone levels during territorial conflicts but they do so in response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone

Apfelbeck

Goymann

2011

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Competition elevates plasma testosterone in a wide variety of vertebrates, including humans. The 'challenge hypothesis' proposes that seasonal peaks in testosterone during breeding are caused by social challenges from other males. However, during experimentally induced male -male conflicts, testosterone increases only in a minority of songbird species tested so far. Why is this so? Comparative evidence suggests that species with a short breeding season may not elevate testosterone levels during territory defence. These species may even be limited in their physiological capability to increase testosterone levels, which can be tested by injecting birds with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). We studied two populations of black redstarts that differ in breeding altitude, morphology and the length of their breeding season. Unexpectedly, males of neither population increased testosterone in response to a simulated territorial intrusion, but injections with GnRH resulted in a major elevation of testosterone. Thus, black redstarts would have been capable of mounting a testosterone response during the male -male challenge. Our data show, for the first time, that the absence of an androgen response to male -male challenges is not owing to physiological limitations to increase testosterone. Furthermore, in contrast to comparative evidence between species, populations of black redstarts with a long breeding season do not show the expected elevation in testosterone during male -male challenges.

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“…Testosterone concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay after partial purification on diatomaceous earth/glycol columns following Goymann et al (Goymann et al, 2006). A total of 480 samples were analysed in seven assays.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Circannual basis of geographically distinct bird schedules

Helm

Schwabl

Gwinner

2009

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Most environments are to some extent seasonal. Their inhabitants time annual activities like reproduction, germination, pupation, moult, hibernation or migration to match the changing seasons and often anticipate conducive conditions well in advance. Seasonal activities must be accurately timed because mismatches with the environment can have severe fitness consequences; however, the particular timing differs considerably with species ecology, environmental seasonality and year-to-year conditions (Lack, 1950;Bradshaw and Holzapfel, 2007;Newton, 2008;Foster and Kreitzman, 2009). Understanding the intricacies of timing has become of urgent interest in view of the disconcerting rate of global change and its implications for seasonality (Bradshaw and Holzapfel, 2006;Bradshaw and Holzapfel, 2007;Visser, 2008). Birds, as a highly visible group, are regarded as sentinels of change and their scheduling is particularly well documented (e.g. Jonzén et al., 2007;McNamara and Houston, 2008;Wingfield et al., 2008).Avian itineraries differ between species in a given habitat and often also within species, depending on geographical location. With increasing latitude, birds generally have shorter reproductive periods, breed later and moult faster than at lower latitudes. Schedules also differ between habitats at given latitudes, e.g. associated with altitude, urbanisation and climatic gradients (Baker, 1938;Lack, 1950;Curry-Lindhal, 1963;Klein, 1974;Murton and Westwood, 1977;Widmer, 1998;Partecke et al., 2004;Perfito et al., 2004;Moore et al., 2005;Partecke et al., 2005;Newton, 2008). Hence, closely related taxa and populations may show distinct timing.The basis of these distinct schedules is still largely unclear. In general, timing involves an inherited background mechanism that provides a temporal framework. It buffers organisms from misleading information, e.g. warm spells in winter, while integrating reliable, predictive, temporal cues -predominantly photoperiod (i.e. the light fraction of the day) (Murton and Westwood, 1977;Gwinner, 1986;Prendergast et al., 2002;Bradshaw and Holzapfel, 2007). Within this framework, schedules may be further modified by environmental conditions, for instance, temperature or food availability (Wingfield, 1980;Hahn et al., 1992;Hahn et al., 1997;Dawson, 2008). The resulting compromise between rigid preprogrammed timing and environmental flexibility should accommodate the requirements of a given species in its given habitat.Geographical differences could therefore arise from phenotypic plasticity in response to local conditions (Perfito et al., 2004;Dawson, 2008;Hahn and MacDougall-Shackleton, 2008). Yet direct environmental control is an insufficient explanation for the scheduling of most seasonal species studied so far. Timing in captivity approximated timing in the wild (Davies et al., 1969;König and Gwinner, 1995;Lambrechts et al., 1997;Lambrechts et al., 1999;Partecke et al., 2004) [but see Perfito et al. (Perfito et al., 2004;Perfito et al., 2008)], indicating the presence of internal tim...

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Testosterone and corticosterone during the breeding cycle of equatorial and European stonechats (Saxicola torquata axillaris and S. t. rubicola)

Cited by 65 publications

References 36 publications

Seasonal and population variation in male testosterone levels in breeding orange-crowned warblers (Vermivora celata)

Seasonal and population variation in male testosterone levels in breeding orange-crowned warblers (Vermivora celata)

Ignoring the challenge? Male black redstarts ( Phoenicurus ochruros ) do not increase testosterone levels during territorial conflicts but they do so in response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone

Circannual basis of geographically distinct bird schedules

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