Adrenocortical Responses to Stress in Breeding Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca: Relation to Latitude, Sex and Mating Status

摘要: The adrenocortical response to acute stress, as measured by increases in plasma levels of corticosterone following capture and handling, has been shown vary between individuals within a population well with season variety species. However, the ecological bases for such endocrine phenomena remain unclear. One hypothesis predicts that populations birds breeding under extreme conditions sub-arctic habitats where nesting is short, decrease amplitude stress so allow non-interrupted potentially severe bad weather and/or food shortage. To test this we circulating handling Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca southern (G6teborg) northern (Ammarndis) Sweden. We also sampled females did not have male helping them feed young (only south Sweden). As predicted found female Sweden be adapted short harsh unpredictable climate having reduced indicated pattern blood. Maximum generated protocol were significantly higher single than all other groups. Unlike passerines studied at high latitudes showed no significant relationships body mass or fat score.