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First published online May 2, 2008
Journal of Experimental Biology 211, 1696-1703 (2008)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2008
doi: 10.1242/jeb.009191
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Transient elevation of corticosterone alters begging behavior and growth of white-crowned sparrow nestlings

Haruka Wada* and Creagh W. Breuner

Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 100 Cheatham Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA


Figure 1
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  		Fig. 1. Timeline (A) and diagram (B) for behavioral observations in experiment 1. (A) Immediately after nestlings were captured from their nest was body mass recorded. Upon arrival at the lab, nestlings were fed wax moth worms (total worm weight scaled to chick body mass) and left undisturbed for ~35 min. After the quiescence period, nestlings were fed with a worm injected with peanut oil with or without corticosterone. Behavior was observed for the following 25 min. After collecting a blood sample and taking measurements of growth, nestlings were returned to their nest. (B) Nestlings were placed in a natural nest within a small box taped onto a larger observation box. A small slit in the observation box allowed the experimenter to tap the nest box in place without being seen by the subjects. A video camera placed next to the observation box was aimed at the nest box. An electric body warmer was placed underneath the observation box to keep the nestlings warm.

 

Figure 2
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  		Fig. 2. Total (unbound and bound to corticosteroid binding globulin) corticosterone (CORT) levels at the end of the behavioral observation in control and CORT-treated nestlings in experiment 1. There was no effect of age but there was a significant effect of treatment on the hormone levels (P<0.001). N=9, 13, 8 for the controls and 10, 14, 13 for the CORT-treated groups D1–3, 4–6 and 7–9, respectively (D, days post-hatching).

 

Figure 3
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  		Fig. 3. Latency to beg in the three age groups. Latency was measured as the time it took for nestlings to beg after the start of tapping. N=10, 13, 6 for the control and 12, 13, 9 for the corticosterone (CORT)-treated groups D1–3, 4–6, and 7–9, respectively (D, days post-hatching). *P<0.05.

 

Figure 4
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  		Fig. 4. Changes in total corticosterone (CORT) levels over 48 h of treatment with dermal patches containing CORT and patches with vehicle only (control; experiment 2). Minimum blood samples were collected prior to and 1, 3, 6 and 24 h (30 and 48 h when possible) after the patch application. After the 24 h sample, a new patch was applied. There was a marginal effect of treatment (P=0.094) on CORT levels.

 

Figure 5
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  		Fig. 5. Changes in corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG) levels over 48 h of treatment with dermal patches containing CORT and patches with vehicle only (control; experiment 2). Treatment had no effect on plasma CBG levels (P=0.976).

 

Figure 6
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  		Fig. 6. Integrated mass vs integrated total corticosterone (CORT) for the first 24 h of treatment with dermal patches containing CORT and patches with vehicle only. Integrated measures were used to incorporate both rate and direction of changes. Individuals from both treatment and control groups are plotted together. N=18, 20, 20 for D1–3, 4–6 and 7–9, respectively (D, days post-hatching). Trend lines were added for visualization.

 

Figure 7
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  		Fig. 7. Integrated tarsus vs integrated total corticosterone (CORT) for the first 24 h of treatment with dermal patches containing CORT and patches with vehicle only. Integrated measures were used to incorporate both rate and direction of changes. Individuals from both treatment and control groups are plotted together. N=18, 20, 20 for D1–3, 4–6 and 7–9, respectively (D, days post-hatching). Trend lines were added for visualization.

 

Figure 8
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  		Fig. 8. Integrated wing length vs integrated total corticosterone (CORT) for the first 24 h of treatment with dermal patches containing CORT and patches with vehicle only. Integrated measures were used to incorporate both rate and direction of changes. Individuals from both treatment and control groups are plotted together. N=18, 20, 20 for D1–3, 4–6 and 7–9, respectively (D, days post-hatching). Trend lines were added for visualization.

 

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© The Company of Biologists Ltd 2008