Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Arctic spring: hormone-behavior interactions in a severe environment.

John C Wingfield1, Kathleen E Hunt

  • 1Department of Zoology, Box 351800, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. jwingfie@u.washington.edu

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
|May 9, 2002
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Time series analysis for physiological and endocrinological data: a practical guide.

Integrative and comparative biology·2026
Same author

Physiological shifts in female bowhead whales over historic oceanographic and anthropogenic regimes.

Integrative and comparative biology·2026
Same author

A dozen years of baleen hormones: Validations, discoveries, surprises, and next steps.

Integrative and comparative biology·2026
Same author

Baleen hormone analyses reveal stress and reproductive life-history of the critically endangered Rice's whale (Balaenoptera ricei).

PloS one·2026
Same author

Adapting to Urban Heights: Multidimensional Gradients Drive Nest-Selection Plasticity and Trade-Offs in a Human-Commensal Sparrow.

Integrative zoology·2026
Same author

What normal used to be: Longitudinal adrenal, reproductive, and thyroid hormone profiles from four bowhead whales during a period of Arctic stability.

Conservation physiology·2026
Same journal

Characterization of Sma- and mad-related protein 3 (Smad3) of Chu's croaker (Nibea coibor) and its role in collagen synthesis in the swim bladder.

Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & molecular biology·2026
Same journal

Short communication: Impact of blood collection site and sampling protocol on plasma glucose and uric acid concentrations in wild-caught mourning doves, Zenaida macroura.

Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & molecular biology·2026
Same journal

Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) protects against soybean meal-induced hepatopancreatic steatosis and intestinal inflammation in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus).

Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & molecular biology·2026
Same journal

Molecular cloning and characterization of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha and its role in docosahexaenoic acid-induced fatty acid β-oxidation in tiger puffer (Takifugu rubripes) hepatocytes.

Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & molecular biology·2026
Same journal

G protein-coupled receptor 119 regulates hepatic lipid homeostasis in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & molecular biology·2026
Same journal

Molecular characterization and functional analysis of dopamine receptor D4b in the large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea).

Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & molecular biology·2026
See all related articles

Arctic birds use hormone-behavior adaptations to breed successfully despite extreme conditions. They adjust testosterone and corticosterone responses to maximize survival and reproduction during the short Arctic summer.

Area of Science:

  • Zoology
  • Ecology
  • Animal Behavior

Background:

  • Arctic breeding birds face extreme spring weather and a short summer, necessitating early breeding for reproductive success.
  • Phenological mismatch with food availability drastically reduces breeding success in Arctic avian populations.
  • Hormone-behavior interactions are crucial for survival and reproduction in harsh Arctic environments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of hormone-behavior adaptations in Arctic bird breeding success.
  • To understand how testosterone and corticosterone modulate behavior in response to Arctic conditions.
  • To explore the proximate mechanisms enabling successful breeding in severe environments.

Main Methods:

  • Studied the relationship between testosterone and territorial aggression in different Arctic bird species and localities.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Assessed the adrenocortical response (corticosterone secretion) to standardized stress protocols.
  • Examined behavioral and physiological responses to corticosterone treatment in Arctic birds.

    • Main Results:

    • Testosterone-aggression interrelationships vary by species and locality, with some birds becoming refractory to testosterone.
    • Arctic birds modulate their corticosterone stress response based on the breeding cycle stage and environmental conditions.
    • Both population-level and individual-level adaptations in stress response sensitivity were observed.

    Conclusions:

    • Hormonal modulation, including testosterone and corticosterone regulation, is key for Arctic birds to initiate breeding under stressful conditions.
    • These adaptations allow Arctic birds to overcome environmental challenges and achieve reproductive success.
    • Understanding these hormone-behavior interrelationships provides insights into vertebrate adaptation to extreme environments.