Translocation and reintroduction have become major conservation actions in attempts to create self-sustaining wild populations of threatened species. However, avian translocations a high failure rate causes for are poorly understood. While ‘stress’ is often cited as an important factor translocation failure, empirical evidence physiological stress lacking. Here we show that experimental leads changes the response chukar partridge, Alectoris . We found capture alone significantly decreased...

Although the glucocorticoid response to acute short-term stress is an adaptive physiological mechanism that aids in and survival of noxious stimuli, chronic associated with a negative impact on health. In wild-caught European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), alters responsiveness hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis as measured by corticosterone response. present study, we investigated potential underlying neuroendocrine mechanisms comparing receptor mineralocorticoid mRNA expression...

The rapid and temporary suppression of reproductive behavior is often assumed to be an important feature the adaptive acute stress response. However, how this operates at mechanistic level poorly understood. enzyme aromatase converts testosterone estradiol in brain activate male Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). discovery reversible modification activity (AA) provides a potential mechanism for fast, stress-induced changes behavior. We investigated effects on AA both sexes by measuring all...

The cardiovascular‐stress response has been studied extensively in laboratory animals but poorly naturally selected species. We determined the relative roles of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and parasympathetic (PNS) regulating stress‐induced changes heart rate (HR) wild‐caught European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). In both heart‐rate variability (HRV) analysis receptor blockade (atropine propranolol) experiments, baseline HR was controlled predominantly by PNS, whereas increase resulting...

Many studies have indicated a critical role for the oocyte growth factor, differentiation factor-9 (GDF9), in mammalian follicle development, but no information has been available concerning oviparous species. We cloned cDNA chicken GDF9 (162 base pairs) and used it Northern blot analysis to identify transcript at 1.7 kilobase RNA isolated from ovary of hen. also sequenced two full-length clones normalized reproductive tract library. The clone encodes protein approximately 449 amino acids...

Although research on wild species typically involves capture, handling, and some degree of captivity, few studies examine how these actions affect and/or alter the animal's underlying stress physiology. Furthermore, we poorly understand immediate changes that occur as animals adjust to captive conditions. Most date have investigated relatively long‐term in glucocorticoid response an acute stressor, but fight‐or‐flight are understudied wild‐caught species. In this study, cardiovascular during...

Aromatization of testosterone into estradiol in the preoptic area plays a critical role activation male copulation quail and many other vertebrate species. Aromatase expression birds is higher than rodents mammals, which has facilitated study controls functions this enzyme. Over relatively long time periods (days to months), brain aromatase activity (AA), transcription are markedly (four- sixfold) increased by genomic actions sex steroids. Initial work indicated that AA males females it was...

Abstract The ultimate goal of most translocation efforts is to create a self‐sustaining wild population species deliberately moved from one part their range another. As follow‐up attempt often difficult, causes for failure are relatively unknown. Dispersal away the release site potential source because it decreases likelihood released establishing itself post‐translocation. In this study, we used chukar Alectoris as surrogate translocated game birds in order conduct large‐scale experimental...

Neural production of 17β-oestradiol via aromatisation testosterone may play a critical role in rapid, nongenomic regulation physiological and behavioural processes. In brain nuclei implicated the control sexual behaviour, or stressfull stimuli induce, respectively, rapid inhibition increase preoptic aromatase activity (AA). present study, we tested quail that were either nonstressed acutely stressed (15 min restraint) immediately before interaction (5 min) with partners. We measured...

In the male brain, medial preoptic nucleus ( POM ) is known to be a critical relay for activation of sexual behaviour, with aromatisation testosterone into 17β‐oestradiol (E 2 playing key role. Acute stress has been shown differentially modulate aromatase enzyme in this and other brain nuclei sex‐specific manner. specifically, induces increases activity AA that are both rapid reversible. How physiological processes initiated during an acute response mediate sex‐ nuclei‐ specific changes...

European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) alter their physiology and behavior between seasons, becoming territorial during the spring/summer flocking fall/winter. We used captive male in breeding (photostimulated to 18L:6D) nonbreeding (11L:13D) conditions determine whether changing alters reaction crowding. One or five intruders entered a resident's cage without human disturbance. A subcutaneous heart rate transmitter recorded cardiovascular output residents. Corticosterone testosterone were...

Green iguanas (Iguana iguana) have been documented to become aggressive during their breeding season and the menstrual cycles of human female caregivers. Because large size, these reptiles potential inflict severe bite wounds. Identifying a method control aggression in animals is needed minimize likelihood injury handlers. The purpose this study was evaluate effect mammalian leuprolide acetate on testosterone levels captive, intact male green iguanas. Eighteen adult were used for study....