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Adult Provisioning Influences Nestling Corticosterone Levels in Florida Scrub Jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens)

Emily K Elderbrock, Thomas W Small, Stephan J Schoech

    Physiological and Biochemical Zoology : PBZ
    |September 27, 2018
    PubMed

    Insights

    Parental feeding rates surprisingly increased corticosterone (CORT) levels in Florida scrub jay nestlings. This suggests provisioning itself, not just nutritional deficiency, impacts stress hormones in young birds.

    Area of Science:

    • Avian ecology
    • Behavioral endocrinology
    • Stress physiology

    Background:

    • Nutritional deficiency in nestling birds is linked to elevated glucocorticoid levels.
    • Previous studies indicated a negative correlation between Florida scrub jay nestling corticosterone (CORT) and parental provisioning, but with delayed behavioral observations.
    • The immediate impact of parental provisioning on nestling glucocorticoid levels in free-living species remains under-investigated.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the relationship between immediate parental feeding rates and corticosterone (CORT) levels in Florida scrub jay nestlings.
    • To determine if recent feeding experiences influence nestling CORT levels.
    • To explore the role of CORT in mediating begging behavior in response to parental provisioning.

    Main Methods:

    • Monitoring parental provisioning activity at the nest immediately prior to sample collection.
    • Measuring corticosterone (CORT) levels in Florida scrub jay nestlings.
    • Analyzing the correlation between provisioning rates, time since last feed, and nestling CORT levels.

    Main Results:

    • Nestling CORT levels were significantly associated with parental provisioning rates and the time elapsed since the last feeding.
    • Contrary to predictions, higher provisioning rates and more recent feedings were correlated with *higher* nestling CORT levels.
    • These findings indicate that parental provisioning activities may directly elevate stress hormone levels in nestlings.

    Conclusions:

    • Parental provisioning, rather than solely nutritional status, appears to influence corticosterone (CORT) levels in Florida scrub jay nestlings.
    • The immediate provisioning experience, not just the overall rate, plays a role in modulating nestling stress hormone levels.
    • Further research is needed to elucidate the specific mechanisms by which parental provisioning increases nestling CORT.

    Keywords:
    adult provisioningcorticosteroneglucocorticoidnestlingnutritional status

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