The interaction of testosterone and breeding phase on the reproductive behavior and use of space of male zebra finches.
It is well known that androgens play a critical role in mediating the reproductive behavior of males. However, many laboratory experiments that examined the effects of testosterone in male songbirds typically limited their investigations to the early phase of breeding. We sought to determine the influence of testosterone on social behavior, pair bonding, nesting, and use of space in captive zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) males as a function of breeding stage (pre-laying, incubation, and nestling phases). Fourteen males were released into an aviary with 14 females and allowed to breed for 7 weeks. Half of the males were given testosterone implants and half were given control implants. During the pre-laying phase, testosterone-implanted males spent significantly more time in nesting activities than control birds and more time elapsed from starting to build a nest to when their mates initiated egg-laying. During the incubation phase, testosterone-implanted subjects spent significantly more time in female-directed and undirected singing. Use of space varied between hormone conditions depending upon breeding phase: there was no difference during pre-laying, but during the incubation and nestling phases, testosterone-implanted subjects used significantly more space. This significant increase in "home range" during the latter phase of the breeding cycle coincides with results from field studies on other species. These results underscore the importance of considering breeding phase in assessing the behavioral sensitivity to hormones.
Hill
Wendy L
WL
Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Lafayette College, Easton, PA 18042, USA. hillw@lafayette.edu
Ballard
Sarah
S
Coyer
Megan J
MJ
Rowley
Thomas
T
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D008297:Male; D009425:Nesting Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D010152:Pair Bond; D011897:Random Allocation; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D020308:Songbirds / Q000502:physiology*; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013731:Territoriality; D013739:Testosterone / Q000502:physiology*
D013739:Testosterone