Early-life stress affects song complexity, song learning and volume of the brain nucleus RA in adult male song sparrows

摘要: The developmental stress hypothesis proposes that the honesty of birdsong is maintained by costs incurred during development, such song in adulthood reflects exposure to early-life stressors. We determined effects (7–60 days age) food restriction or corticosterone (CORT) treatment on adult production and neuroanatomy male sparrows, Melospiza melodia. When males were adults, we quantified type repertoire size, syllable song-learning accuracy, trill deviation (the speed frequency modulation a trill) stereotypy. also analysed volumes control nuclei HVC, robust nucleus arcopallium (RA), area X number neurons HVC. Song sizes food-restricted CORT-treated birds smaller than those controls. Food restriction, but not CORT treatment, reduced accuracy. observed no either However, was significantly related paternal suggesting heritable component some aspects vocal learning. volume RA birds. Neither affected HVC X, Our results suggest complexity accuracy may be honest indicators sparrow's early ontogeny has long-lasting system this species. measures performance (trill deviation, stereotypy) do appear sparrows.