Testosterone-induced depression of male parental behavior in the barn swallow: female compensation and effects on seasonal fitness Export

@article{citeulike:3253302, abstract = {In birds, many aspects of male socio-sexual and parental behavior are influenced by androgens, most notably testosterone (T). We report the effects of subcutaneous T-implants in male barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) on male and female parental behavior and on seasonal reproductive success. Males were assigned to one of three experimental groups: (i) implanted with a T-filled Silastic tube; (ii) implanted with an empty Silastic tube; and (iii) not implanted. T-implanted males provided a smaller proportion of feedings (number of feedings by the male/total number of feedings by both parents) and fed nestlings less frequently (number of feedings/h) than males of the other two groups. Females paired to T-implanted males fed nestlings significantly more often than females paired with unimplanted males. Females almost fully compensated for their mates' shortfall, and this resulted in similar combined feeding efforts among treatments. Reproductive success in their first broods or during the entire breeding season was unaffected by T- treatment. These results confirm earlier reports of the suppressive effects of T on male parental behavior. However, they are inconsistent with current ESS models that predict partial compensation as the optimal response by one individual to reduction of parental effort by its mate in monogamous, biparental systems.}, author = {Saino, N. and M{\o}ller, A. P.}, citeulike-article-id = {3253302}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00177791}, day = {1}, doi = {10.1007/BF00177791}, journal = {Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology}, keywords = {barn, care, hirundo, parental, swallows, testosterone}, month = {March}, number = {3}, pages = {151--157}, posted-at = {2008-09-14 03:44:23}, priority = {2}, title = {Testosterone-induced depression of male parental behavior in the barn swallow: female compensation and effects on seasonal fitness}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00177791}, volume = {36}, year = {1995} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:3253302 L3 - citeulike-article-id:3253302 N2 - In birds, many aspects of male socio-sexual and parental behavior are influenced by androgens, most notably testosterone (T). We report the effects of subcutaneous T-implants in male barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) on male and female parental behavior and on seasonal reproductive success. Males were assigned to one of three experimental groups: (i) implanted with a T-filled Silastic tube; (ii) implanted with an empty Silastic tube; and (iii) not implanted. T-implanted males provided a smaller proportion of feedings (number of feedings by the male/total number of feedings by both parents) and fed nestlings less frequently (number of feedings/h) than males of the other two groups. Females paired to T-implanted males fed nestlings significantly more often than females paired with unimplanted males. Females almost fully compensated for their mates' shortfall, and this resulted in similar combined feeding efforts among treatments. Reproductive success in their first broods or during the entire breeding season was unaffected by T- treatment. These results confirm earlier reports of the suppressive effects of T on male parental behavior. However, they are inconsistent with current ESS models that predict partial compensation as the optimal response by one individual to reduction of parental effort by its mate in monogamous, biparental systems. IS - 3 JF - Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology EP - 157 TI - Testosterone-induced depression of male parental behavior in the barn swallow: female compensation and effects on seasonal fitness VL - 36 SP - 151 KW - barn KW - care KW - hirundo KW - parental KW - swallows KW - testosterone AU - Saino, N AU - Møller, AP PY - 1995/03/01/ UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00177791 ER -