Anticipating spring: wild populations of great tits (Parus major) differ in expression of key genes for photoperiodic time measurement.

Measuring day length is critical for timing annual changes in physiology and behavior in many species. Recently, rapid changes in several photoperiodically-controlled genes following exposure to a single long day have been described. Components of this 'first day release' model have so far only been tested in highly domesticated species: quail, sheep, goats and rodents.

Acute stress rapidly decreases plasma testosterone in a free-ranging male songbird: potential site of action and mechanism.

We used a free-ranging, seasonally breeding adult male songbird, the rufous-winged sparrow, Aimophila carpalis, to investigate the effects of acute stress-induced by capture followed by restraint, on the hypothalamo-pituitary-testicular axis. Intra- and interindividual comparisons revealed that males decreased their plasma testosterone (T) by 37-52% in response to acute stress. The decrease occurred within 15 min of capture and persisted for at least another 15 min.

Persistent diel melatonin rhythmicity during the Arctic summer in free-living willow warblers.

Arctic environments are challenging for circadian systems. Around the solstices, the most important zeitgeber, the change between night and day, is reduced to minor fluctuations in light intensities. However, many species including songbirds nonetheless show clear diel activity patterns.

Ambient temperature effects on photo induced gonadal cycles and hormonal secretion patterns in Great Tits from three different breeding latitudes.

The present study determines how populations of Great Tits (Parus major) breeding in southern, mid and northern European latitudes have adjusted their reproductive endocrinology to differences in the ambient temperature during the gonadal cycle. A study based on long-term breeding data, using the Colwell predictability model, showed that the start of the breeding season has a high predictability ( approximately 0.8-0.