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Monte A, Leitão A, Frankl-Vilches C, Matos RDS, Trappschuh M, da Silva ML, Gahr M. Testosterone treatment unveils testosterone-insensitive song in an early-branched hummingbird. ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2023.2181873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Monte
- Department of Behavioural Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Albertine Leitão
- Department of Behavioural Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Carolina Frankl-Vilches
- Department of Behavioural Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Seewiesen, Germany
| | | | - Monika Trappschuh
- Department of Behavioural Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Maria L. da Silva
- Laboratory of Ornithology and Bioacoustics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belem, Brazil
| | - Manfred Gahr
- Department of Behavioural Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Seewiesen, Germany
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Schlinger BA, Chiver I. Behavioral Sex Differences and Hormonal Control in a Bird with an Elaborate Courtship Display. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 61:1319-1328. [PMID: 33885763 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Gonadal hormones can activate performance of reproductive behavior in adult animals, but also organize sex-specific neural circuits developmentally. Few studies have examined the hormonal basis of sex differences in the performance of elaborate, physically complex and energetic male courtship displays. Here we describe our studies over more than 20 years examining sex difference and hormonal control of courtship in Golden-collared manakins (Manacus vitellinus) of Panamaian rainforests. Our recent studies of birds studied in an artificial "lek" in a rainforest aviary provide many new insights. Wild and captive males and females differ markedly in their performance of male-typical behaviors. Testosterone (T) treatment augments performance of virtually all of these behaviors in juvenile males with low levels of circulating T. By contrast, T-treatment of females (with low circulating T) either failed to activate some behaviors or activated male behaviors weakly or strongly. These results are discussed within a framework of our appreciation for hormonal vs genetic basis for sex differences in behavior with speculation about the neural mechanisms producing these patterns of hormonal activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barney A Schlinger
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095.,Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama
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Boersma J, Enbody ED, Jones JA, Nason D, Lopez-Contreras E, Karubian J, Schwabl H. Testosterone induces plumage ornamentation followed by enhanced territoriality in a female songbird. Behav Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/araa077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
We know little of the proximate mechanisms underlying the expression of signaling traits in female vertebrates. Across males, the expression of sexual and competitive traits, including ornamentation and aggressive behavior, is often mediated by testosterone. In the white-shouldered fairywren (Malurus alboscapulatus) of New Guinea, females of different subspecies differ in the presence or absence of white shoulder patches and melanic plumage, whereas males are uniformly ornamented. Previous work has shown that ornamented females circulate more testosterone and exhibit more territorial aggression than do unornamented females. We investigated the degree to which testosterone regulates the expression of ornamental plumage and territorial behavior by implanting free-living unornamented females with testosterone. Every testosterone-treated female produced a male-like cloacal protuberance, and 15 of 20 replaced experimentally plucked brown with white shoulder patch feathers but did not typically produce melanic plumage characteristic of ornamented females. Testosterone treatment did not elevate territorial behavior prior to the production of the plumage ornament or during the active life of the implant. However, females with experimentally induced ornamentation, but exhausted implants, increased the vocal components of territory defense relative to the pretreatment period and also to testosterone-implanted females that did not produce ornamentation. Our results suggest that testosterone induces partial acquisition of the ornamental female plumage phenotype and that ornament expression, rather than testosterone alone, results in elevations of some territorial behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Boersma
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Erik D Enbody
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - John Anthony Jones
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Doka Nason
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Porotona Village, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea
| | | | - Jordan Karubian
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Hubert Schwabl
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
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de Jong B, Lens L, van der Velde M, Korsten P, Groothuis T, Komdeur J. Testosterone Reduces Promiscuity of Female Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus): An Experimental Study. Ethology 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Berber de Jong
- Behavioural and Physiological Ecology; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences; University of Groningen; Groningen The Netherlands
- Behavioural Biology; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences; University of Groningen; Groningen The Netherlands
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit; Department Biology; Ghent University; Ghent Belgium
| | - Luc Lens
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit; Department Biology; Ghent University; Ghent Belgium
| | - Marco van der Velde
- Behavioural and Physiological Ecology; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences; University of Groningen; Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Peter Korsten
- Department of Animal Behaviour; Bielefeld University; Bielefeld Germany
| | - Ton Groothuis
- Behavioural Biology; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences; University of Groningen; Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Jan Komdeur
- Behavioural and Physiological Ecology; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences; University of Groningen; Groningen The Netherlands
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Small TW, Brenowitz EA, Wojtenek W, Moore IT. Testosterone Mediates Seasonal Growth of the Song Control Nuclei in a Tropical Bird. BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 2015; 86:110-21. [PMID: 26346733 DOI: 10.1159/000437412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2015] [Accepted: 06/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In mid- to high-latitude songbirds, seasonal reproduction is stimulated by increasing day length accompanied by elevated plasma sex steroid levels, increased singing, and growth of the song control nuclei (SCN). Plasticity of the SCN and song behavior are primarily mediated by testosterone (T) and its metabolites in most species studied thus far. However, the majority of bird species are tropical and have less pronounced seasonal reproductive cycles. We have previously documented that equatorial rufous-collared sparrows (Zonotrichia capensis) exhibit seasonal neuroplasticity in the SCN. Manipulating T in these birds, however, did not alter singing behavior. In the current study, we investigated whether T mediates plasticity of the SCN in a similar manner to temperate songbirds. In the first experiment, we treated captive male birds with T or blank implants during the nonbreeding season. In a second experiment, we treated captive male birds with either blank implants, T-filled implants, T with flutamide (FLU; an androgen receptor antagonist) or T with FLU and 1,4,6-androstatriene-3,17-dione (ATD; an estrogen synthesis inhibitor) during the breeding season. In both experiments, the volumes of the brain areas high vocal center (HVC), Area X, and robust nucleus of the arcopallium (RA) were measured along with singing behavior. In summary, T stimulated growth of HVC and RA, and the combined effect of FLU and ATD reversed this effect in HVC. Area X was not affected by T treatment in either experiment. Neither T-treated birds nor controls sang in captivity during either experiment. Together, these data indicate that T mediates seasonal changes in the HVC and RA of both tropical and higher- latitude bird species even if the environmental signals differ. However, unlike most higher-latitude songbirds, we found no evidence that motivation to sing or growth of Area X are stimulated by T under captive conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W Small
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va., USA
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Cantarero A, Laaksonen T, Järvistö PE, Gil D, López-Arrabé J, Redondo AJ, Moreno J. Nest Defence Behaviour and Testosterone Levels in Female Pied Flycatchers. Ethology 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Toni Laaksonen
- Department of Biology; University of Turku; Turku Finland
| | | | - Diego Gil
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales - CSIC; Dpto Ecología Evolutiva; Madrid Spain
| | - Jimena López-Arrabé
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales - CSIC; Dpto Ecología Evolutiva; Madrid Spain
| | | | - Juan Moreno
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales - CSIC; Dpto Ecología Evolutiva; Madrid Spain
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Schwabl H, Dowling J, Baldassarre DT, Gahr M, Lindsay WR, Webster MS. Variation in song system anatomy and androgen levels does not correspond to song characteristics in a tropical songbird. Anim Behav 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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Lahaye SEP, Eens M, Darras VM, Pinxten R. Bare-part color in female budgerigars changes from brown to structural blue following testosterone treatment but is not strongly masculinized. PLoS One 2014; 9:e86849. [PMID: 24475184 PMCID: PMC3901734 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0086849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2013] [Accepted: 12/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Whereas several studies have shown that experimentally increased levels of the androgenic steroid testosterone can affect female behavior, fewer studies have focused on the activational effects of exogenous testosterone on female morphology. With respect to colorful displays in birds, almost exclusively the effects of testosterone manipulation on female carotenoid-based colorations have been studied. Other color types such as structural colors (i.e. UV, blue and violet colors that result from differential light reflection in the nanostructures of the tissue) remain largely unstudied. Here, we investigated the short- and long-term effects of exogenous testosterone on the expression of structural bare-part coloration in female budgerigars, Melopsittacus undulatus. In this parrot species, bare-part coloration is expressed in the cere, a structure over the beak which is brown in females and structural blue in males. We experimentally increased plasma testosterone levels in testosterone-treated females (T-females) compared to controls (C-females) and we performed weekly spectrophotometric measurements of the cere for five weeks after implantation and one measurement after ten weeks. We also estimated the extent to which testosterone masculinized female cere color by comparing the experimental females with untreated males. We found significant effects of testosterone on cere color from week four after implantation onwards. T-females expressed significantly bluer ceres than C-females with higher values for brightness and UV reflectance. T-female cere color, however, remained significantly less blue than in males, while values for brightness and UV reflectance were significantly higher in T-females than in males. Our quantitative results show that exogenous testosterone induces the expression of structural blue color in females but does not strongly masculinize female cere coloration. We provide several potential pathways for the action of testosterone on structural color.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marcel Eens
- Research Group Ethology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Veerle M. Darras
- Laboratory of Comparative Endocrinology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rianne Pinxten
- Research Group Ethology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
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A test of multiple hypotheses for the function of call sharing in female budgerigars, Melopsittacus undulatus.. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2013; 68:145-161. [PMID: 24860236 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-013-1631-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
In many social species group, members share acoustically similar calls. Functional hypotheses have been proposed for call sharing, but previous studies have been limited by an inability to distinguish among these hypotheses. We examined the function of vocal sharing in female budgerigars with a two-part experimental design that allowed us to distinguish between two functional hypotheses. The social association hypothesis proposes that shared calls help animals mediate affiliative and aggressive interactions, while the password hypothesis proposes that shared calls allow animals to distinguish group identity and exclude nonmembers. We also tested the labeling hypothesis, a mechanistic explanation which proposes that shared calls are used to address specific individuals within the sender-receiver relationship. We tested the social association hypothesis by creating four-member flocks of unfamiliar female budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) and then monitoring the birds' calls, social behaviors, and stress levels via fecal glucocorticoid metabolites. We tested the password hypothesis by moving immigrants into established social groups. To test the labeling hypothesis, we conducted additional recording sessions in which individuals were paired with different group members. The social association hypothesis was supported by the development of multiple shared call types in each cage and a correlation between the number of shared call types and the number of aggressive interactions between pairs of birds. We also found support for calls serving as a labeling mechanism using discriminant function analysis with a permutation procedure. Our results did not support the password hypothesis, as there was no difference in stress or directed behaviors between immigrant and control birds.
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Lahaye SEP, Eens M, Darras VM, Pinxten R. Hot or not: the effects of exogenous testosterone on female attractiveness to male conspecifics in the budgerigar. PLoS One 2013; 8:e74005. [PMID: 23951365 PMCID: PMC3741142 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2013] [Accepted: 07/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
An increasing number of studies indicate that not only females but also males can be selective when choosing a mate. In species exhibiting male or mutual mate choice, females may benefit from being attractive. While male attractiveness is often positively influenced by higher plasma levels of the androgenic hormone testosterone, it has been shown that testosterone can masculinise female behavior and morphology in several bird species, potentially rendering them less attractive. In this study, we investigated whether female budgerigars, Melopsittacusundulatus, suffer from increased plasma testosterone levels through a negative effect on their attractiveness to males. We experimentally increased plasma testosterone levels in testosterone-treated females (T-females) compared to controls (C-females) and allowed males to choose between a T- and a C-female in a two-way choice situation. Although testosterone treatment significantly affected female behavioral and morphological characteristics, males did not show a significant difference in preference between T- and C-females. These results suggest that experimentally increasing testosterone levels in females does not appear to influence male preference during initial mate choice. Our findings indicate that selection for higher levels of testosterone in male budgerigars is probably not constrained by a correlated response to selection causing negative effects on female attractiveness during initial mate choice. Evaluating whether or not a potential constraint may arise from negative testosterone-induced effects on other fitness related traits in females requires further work.
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