Presentation Details
| Effect of water restriction on early courtship in a monogamous songbird Joshua Davis, Jeremiah Gorman, Sophia Becker, Celia McLean, Jol Tarongo, Saahil Joshi, Nora Prior. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA |
Abstract
Zebra finches are monogamous, opportunistic breeders, and adapted to survive the Australian desert. While previous research has shown that pairs of zebra finches actively maintain their pair bonds regardless of environmental conditions, it is unclear whether they will court and form bonds during periods of poor environmental conditions. Here we investigate the impact of water restriction (WR) on courtship behavior in unpaired zebra finches. In our first experiment, we conducted a brief courtship assay on WR and control (water ad lib) unpaired male and female zebra finches. These assays were conducted before and after a 7 week period of WR for the WR birds. We found an overall decrease in vocal behavior (calls and song) between the first and second assay, independent of WR. Circulating testosterone levels also suggested that all males, both WR and control, were in a state of reduced breeding readiness. We are currently conducting a new second experiment comparing courtship on WR and control birds. In this study, by controlling for more variables, we hope to clarify the effect of WR on courtship behavior in unpaired subjects.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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