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Fecal Glucocorticoid Analysis: Non-invasive Adrenal Monitoring in Equids
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Natural selection and glucocorticoid physiology.

S H Patterson1, T P Hahn, J M Cornelius

  • 1Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA.

Journal of Evolutionary Biology
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Summary

Natural selection favors higher glucocorticoid hormone levels for survival in sparrows. However, reproduction shows mixed results, with higher baseline but lower stress-induced levels linked to greater output, revealing a survival-reproduction trade-off.

Keywords:
glucocorticoidsnatural selectionphysiological traittrade-offswhite-crowned sparrow

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Physiological ecology
  • Animal behavior

Background:

  • Glucocorticoid hormones regulate survival-reproduction trade-offs.
  • Evolutionary pressures on glucocorticoid physiology are not well understood.
  • Physiological trait evolution is understudied compared to morphology or life history.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate natural selection acting on glucocorticoid profiles in mountain white-crowned sparrows.
  • To determine how selection on glucocorticoid physiology influences survival and reproduction.
  • To compare selection gradients between physiological and morphological traits.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a long-term dataset from a wild population of mountain white-crowned sparrows.
  • Estimated natural selection on baseline and stress-induced glucocorticoid levels.
  • Assessed selection on a morphological trait (wing length) for comparison.

Main Results:

  • Survival selection favored higher concentrations for both baseline and stress-induced glucocorticoid levels.
  • Fecundity selection showed varied results: higher baseline but lower stress-induced levels correlated with greater reproductive output.
  • Selection gradients for glucocorticoids were stronger than for wing length.

Conclusions:

  • Results support the CORT-trade-off hypothesis, indicating stress-induced glucocorticoids prioritize survival over reproduction in this species.
  • Demonstrates that natural selection can act significantly on physiological traits, specifically glucocorticoid profiles.
  • Provides an evolutionary and ecological perspective on glucocorticoid physiology and its role in life-history trade-offs.