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

9317356弗莱克这项研究的目标是了解南极半岛帕尔默站托格森岛自由生活的阿德利企鹅繁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，托格森岛的一群企鹅一直在监测繁殖人口和行为的各个方面，包括返回率、繁殖成功率、交配模式和筑巢注意力。方法将包括称重和测量繁殖群体中的鸟类，并从表现已知行为的个体采集血液样本进行激素分析。将在生殖周期的每个阶段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荷尔蒙和体重变化。这些测量和繁殖成功之间的关系将被确定。关于繁殖能力和一般身体状况的相互竞争的假设将被测试，以解释为什么在一年内成功繁殖的很高比例的繁育者在第二年没有繁殖。为了了解影响孵化行为的荷尔蒙和能量因素的相互作用，将研究鸟类在巢中长时间轮班的生理基础。理解这些个体行为的直接原因将有助于揭示生命历史模式的进化基础。应激的影响将在繁殖周期的不同阶段通过测定皮质酮的基础水平及其最大增加率来测量。压力对荷尔蒙的影响将在企鹅身上进行比较。这项研究将确定人类干预是否会影响企鹅的繁殖成功，以及这种影响在整个繁殖周期中是否会有程度上的变化。

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.