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Seasonal Dynamics of Testosterone and Corticosterone in Predatory Birds as Exemplified by the Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)

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Abstract

Testosterone and corticosterone are steroid hormones that regulate various aspects of bird behavior. The dynamics of blood level of these hormones depending on the stage of the life cycle have been studied in many species. It has been shown for both sexes that the levels of both hormones rise during the breeding season. We have studied changes in the level of these hormones in the northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) during a year. This has been the first study of this type on northern goshawk. We collected blood samples from 16 adult northern goshawks kept in pairs in aviaries in the VITASFERA Rare Bird Species Breeding Center. The testosterone level rises in males during the period of lekking and mating (March–June); however, there is no synchronous increase in females. The corticosterone level generally remains high throughout the year in both sexes. Since these are the only data on the northern goshawk, it cannot be concluded whether this is characteristic of the species as a whole or only for captive birds.

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Funding

This study was supported by the Russian Federal Property Fund (project no. 19-34-90190).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

    A. A. Marchenko, I. R. Beme & M. Ya. Goretskaya

  2. VITASFERA Rare Bird Species Breeding Center, Slobodino village, Ramenskii raion, Moscow oblast, Russia

    E. I. Sarychev

Authors
  1. A. A. Marchenko
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  2. I. R. Beme
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  3. E. I. Sarychev
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  4. M. Ya. Goretskaya
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. A. Marchenko.

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Conflict of interests. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Statement on the welfare of animals. All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

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Translated by L. Solovyova

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Marchenko, A.A., Beme, I.R., Sarychev, E.I. et al. Seasonal Dynamics of Testosterone and Corticosterone in Predatory Birds as Exemplified by the Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). Dokl Biol Sci 493, 114–118 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0012496620040055

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0012496620040055

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