Reproductive Endocrinology of Free-Living Adelie Penguins at Torgersen Island, Antarctica

9317356 Vleck本研究的目的是了解在南极半岛帕尔默站托格森岛自由生活的阿德利企鹅的生殖行为和繁殖成功的个体差异的生理和激素基础。 自1990年以来，在托格森岛的企鹅种群中监测了生殖人口统计和行为方面的情况，包括返回殖民地的比率、生殖成功率、配偶获得模式和巢注意力。 方法将包括称重和测量繁殖群中的鸟类，并从表达已知行为的个体中收集血液样本进行激素分析。 在生殖周期的每个阶段，将对带状个体进行密集的行为观察。 将确定伴随生殖周期不同阶段的激素和体重变化。 将确定这些测量结果与繁殖成功率之间的关系。 关于繁殖能力和一般身体状况的竞争假设将被测试，解释为什么一年中成功繁殖的繁殖者比例很高，但在下一年不繁殖。 将研究鸟类在巢中长时间轮班的生理基础，以了解影响孵化行为的激素和能量因素的相互作用。 了解这些个体行为的直接原因将有助于阐明生命史模式的进化基础。 将通过确定皮质酮的基础水平及其最大增加率，测量鸟类生殖周期不同阶段的应激效应。 压力对荷尔蒙的影响将在企鹅身上进行比较。 这项研究将允许确定人类的干扰是否影响企鹅的繁殖成功，以及这种影响在整个繁殖周期中的程度是否不同。

9317356 Vleck The goal of this research is to understand the physiological and hormonal basis for individual variance in reproductive behavior and breeding success in free-living Adelie penguins at Torgersen Island, Palmer Station, Antarctic Peninsula. Aspects of reproductive demographics and behavior, including return rate to the colony, reproductive success, patterns of mate acquisition and nest attentiveness have been monitored in a population of penguins at Torgersen Island since 1990. Methods will include weighing and measuring birds in the breeding colonies and collecting blood samples for hormone analysis from individuals expressing known behaviors. Intensive behavioral observations of banded individuals will be carried out at every stage of the reproductive cycle. The hormonal and body mass changes that accompany the different stages of the reproductive cycle will be determined. The relationship between those measurements and reproductive success will be determined. Competing hypotheses concerning reproductive competency and general body condition will be tested as explanations for why a high proportion of breeders successful in one year do not breed in following year. The physiological underpinnings for the long shifts that birds spend in attendance at the nest will be studied in order to understand the interaction of hormonal and energetic considerations that influence incubation behavior. Understanding these proximate causes of individual behavior will shed light on the evolutionary bases of life history patterns. The effects of stress will be measured in birds at different stages of the reproductive cycle by determining basal levels of corticosterone and its maximum rate of increase. The hormonal effects of stress will be compared in penguins. This research will allow determination of whether human interference affects penguin reproductive success and whether such effects vary in degree through the reproductive cycle.