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Testosterone Secretion in a Socially Monogamous but Sexually Promiscuous Migratory Passerine
General and Comparative Endocrinology (2016)
  • Lucas J. Redmond, Pennsylvania State University
  • Michael T. Murphy, Portland State University
  • Nathan W. Cooper, National Zoological Park
  • Kathleen M. O’Reilly, University of Portland
Abstract
The steroid hormone testosterone (T) influences a multitude of traits critical to reproduction in vertebrates. In birds, high male T supports territory establishment and mate attraction, but is thought to interfere with parental care. Interspecific comparisons indicate that migratory species with short, synchronous breeding seasons have the highest peak T, and that the seasonal profile of T exhibits a rapid decline with the onset of incubation by females. We describe the T profile of the migratory, socially monogamous, and biparental Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) from the high desert of eastern Oregon, USA, where breeding occurs within a short 2–3 month period. Eastern Kingbirds are socially monogamous but exhibit high rates of extra-pair paternity as ∼60% of broods contain extra-pair young. We therefore evaluate whether Eastern Kingbirds exhibit the “typical” T profile expected for a synchronously breeding migratory species, or whether T is maintained at a more constant level as would be predicted for a species with opportunities for mating that extend over a majority of the breeding season. Our samples were divided into six periods of the reproductive cycle from territory establishment to the feeding of fledglings. T did not change across stages of the nest cycle. Instead, T declined with sampling date and nest density, and increased with the number of fertile females in the population. Male kingbirds advertise their presence through song for most of the breeding season, and we suggest that T is maintained throughout most of the breeding season because male fitness is equally dependent on within- and extra-pair reproductive success.
Keywords
  • Kingbirds
Disciplines
Publication Date
March, 2016
DOI
10.1016/j.ygcen.2016.01.012
Publisher Statement
Copyright 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved
Citation Information
Lucas J. Redmond, Michael T. Murphy, Nathan W. Cooper and Kathleen M. O’Reilly. "Testosterone Secretion in a Socially Monogamous but Sexually Promiscuous Migratory Passerine" General and Comparative Endocrinology Vol. 228 (2016) p. 24 - 32
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/michael_murphy1/41/