testosterone; bird; testes; song nuclei; season; blue tit; Parus caeruleus; Mediterranean; reproduction; population
Abstract :
[en] Analyses of the development of the reproductive system in seasonally breeding birds in the framework of long-term ecological studies are rare. Here, we present the first results of such a study in two Corsican populations of a European passerine bird, the blue tit (Parus caeruleus). The two study populations occupy different oak habitats and are separated by only 25 km. Despite their close proximity, they show a one-month difference in onset of egg laying, even after controlling for altitude. This micro-geographic difference in breeding date appears adaptive because both study populations raise chicks when food is most plentiful. In our study, males reached their maximum song activity during the egg-laying stage while maximal testosterone levels and testes sizes were reached 2-3 weeks before egg laying. The rate of development of the reproductive system in males was much faster in the earlier population, in spite of a similar onset of gonad development and song activity for the two study populations. No change in the volume of the song-control nuclei (HVC and RA) could be detected during the study period. Development of brain nuclei was completed 2-3 months before the beginning of intense sexual activity. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Disciplines :
Zoology Endocrinology, metabolism & nutrition
Author, co-author :
Caro, S. P.
Balthazart, Jacques ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences biomédicales et précliniques > Biologie de la différenciation sexuelle du cerveau
Thomas, D. W.
Lacroix, Alain ; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège - CHU > Neurologie Sart Tilman
Chastel, O.
Lambrechts, M. M.
Language :
English
Title :
Endocrine correlates of the breeding asynchrony between two corsican populations of blue tits (Parus caeruleus)
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