Journal article
Effects of temperature on the timing of breeding and molt transitions in house finches
Journal of experimental biology, Vol.221(18)
01/01/2018
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/118403
PMID: 30104303
Abstract
Temperature-correlated shifts in reproductive timing are now well documented in numerous bird species. However, whether temperature directly influences reproductive timing or if its effects are mediated by an intermediate environmental cue, such as plant phenology, remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the direct effects of temperature on reproductive timing in house finches (Haemorhous mexicanus), which have a range and breeding diet not well represented in previous studies of temperature and reproductive timing. We conducted experiments with captive male house finches in which temperature was elevated within realistic ranges and the effects on the timing of preparations for reproduction, as well as on the termination of reproduction and the onset of prebasic feather molt were examined. We found no adjustments in the timing of reproductive preparations of males in direct response to temperature. However, elevated temperature did advance the breeding-molt transition. Our results suggest elevated temperatures in the range tested here do not directly impact physiological preparations for reproduction in male house finches, but may constrain the timing of the breeding-molt transition in this species.
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Details
- Title
- Effects of temperature on the timing of breeding and molt transitions in house finches
- Creators
- Heather E Watts - School of Biological Sciences and Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA, Department of Biology, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA 90045, USADaniela Jimenez - Department of Biology, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA 90045, USAVeronica Pacheco - Department of Biology, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA 90045, USATauras P Vilgalys - Department of Biology, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA 90045, USA
- Publication Details
- Journal of experimental biology, Vol.221(18)
- Identifiers
- 99900574623301842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article