Disentangling the effects of environment and life-history stage on corticosterone modulation in Costa Rican rufous-collared sparrows, Zonotrichia capensis costaricensis

Physiological and Biochemical Zoology : PBZ
D Shallin BuschJohn C Wingfield

Abstract

This study explores the factors that influence modulation of baseline corticosterone levels and the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal cortex (HPA) axis response to stress in Costa Rican rufous-collared sparrows (Zonotrichia capensis costaricensis). Individuals in our study population vary in their timing of breeding and molt. Thus, at multiple times of the year, we were able to investigate how the HPA axis changes with life-history stage (breeding, molt) and the interaction of season and life-history stage. Season explained most of the variation in corticosterone data. During the dry season, males had higher baseline corticosterone levels and both females and males had a higher stress response, regardless of breeding or molting condition. Breeding did not significantly affect corticosterone levels in either males or females. There was no direct effect of molt on corticosterone levels in males or in females, but there was a significant interaction between season and molt for male baseline corticosterone levels and HPA axis responsiveness. Baseline corticosterone levels were not correlated with body condition, suggesting that body condition is not an explanatory factor for HPA axis change. Our data indicate that environmental conditi...Continue Reading

Citations

Nov 19, 2013·Physiological and Biochemical Zoology : PBZ·Elizabeth A AddisJohn C Wingfield
Aug 7, 2010·General and Comparative Endocrinology·N W Pankhurst
Jan 16, 2010·General and Comparative Endocrinology·Elizabeth A AddisJohn C Wingfield
Jan 12, 2011·The Journal of Animal Ecology·D Shallin BuschJohn C Wingfield
May 28, 2013·General and Comparative Endocrinology·Paulina L González-GómezJohn C Wingfield

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network (BICCN)

The BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network aims to identify and provide experimental access to the different brain cell types to determine their roles in health and disease. Discover the latest research from researchers in the BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network here.

Related Papers

Physiological and Biochemical Zoology : PBZ
Haruka WadaJohn C Wingfield
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
A H Miller
Trends in Ecology & Evolution
Frances BonierJohn C Wingfield
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved