The subordination stress paradigm and the relation between testosterone and corticosterone in male ring-necked pheasants
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
2005 |
Authors: |
Concha Mateos |
Publication/Journal: |
Animal Behaviour |
Keywords: |
corticosterone, glucocorticoid, pheasants, ring-necked pheasants, stress, subordination, subordination stress paradigm, testosterone |
ISBN: |
0003-3472 |
Abstract:
The relations linking glucocorticoids, testosterone, social and sexual behaviour in vertebrates are complex and poorly understood. The conventional view is that: (1) subordinate individuals should have higher glucocorticoid concentrations (the subordination stress paradigm); (2) dominant and more active males during the breeding season should have higher testosterone concentrations; and (3) the relation between glucocorticoid and testosterone concentrations should be negative. I investigated the relation between hormones and behaviour in male ring-necked pheasants, Phasianus colchicus. Dominant and high-displaying males over the whole mating period had a higher level of both testosterone and corticosterone. As a consequence, testosterone and glucocorticoid levels were positively correlated. These results do not support the subordination stress paradigm, but they may support the stress-mediated version of the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis.