Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Elevated testosterone levels during nonbreeding-season territoriality in a fall-breeding lizard,Sceloporus jarrovi

  • Published:
Journal of Comparative Physiology A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

In many vertebrates, seasonal activation of sexual and territorial behaviors coincides with seasonal gonadal activation and is caused by the increase in sex steroid hormones. Both male and femaleSceloporus jarrovi are territorial, but in this species territorial behavior is seasonally activated in late April, months before seasonal gonadal maturation, which occurs in August prior to the fall mating season. Measurements of seasonal changes in circulating levels of the sex steroid hormones testosterone, progesterone, and estradiol indicated that testosterone levels in both sexes are elevated when territorial behavior is expressed, even during the period of nonbreeding-season territoriality during the summer. This suggests that a nonbreeding season behavior is activated by a sex steroid hormone in this species.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Burger AE, Millar RP (1980) Seasonal changes of sexual and territorial behavior and plasma testosterone levels in male lesser sheathbills (Chionis minor). Z Tierpsychol 52:866–874

    Google Scholar 

  • Caldwell GS, Glickman SE, Smith ER (1984) Seasonal aggression independent of seasonal testosterone in wood rats. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 81:5255–5257

    Google Scholar 

  • Crews D (1984) Gamete production, sex hormone secretion and mating behavior uncoupled. Horm Behav 18:22–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Crews D, Moore MC (1986) Evolution of mechanisms controlling mating behavior. Science 231:121–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Dryden GL, Anderson JN (1977) Ovarian hormone: Lack of effect on reproductive structures of female Asian musk shrews. Science 197:782–784

    Google Scholar 

  • Feder HH (1984) Hormones and sexual behavior. Annu Rev Psychol 34:165–200

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg SR (1970) Seasonal ovarian histology of the ovoviviparous iguanid lizard,Sceloporus jarrovi. J Morphol 132:265–276

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg SR (1971) Reproductive cycle of the ovoviviparous iguanid lizardSceloporus jarrovi. Herpetelogica 27:123–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Guillette LJ, Spielvogel S, Moore FL (1981) Luteal development, placentation, and plasma progesterone concentration in the viviparous lizardSceloporus jarrovi. Gen Comp Endocrinol 43:20–29

    Google Scholar 

  • McNichol D, Crews D (1979) Estrogen/progesterone synergy in the control of female sexual receptivity in the lizard,Anolis carolinensis. Gen Comp Endocrinol 38:68–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore MC (1982) Hormonal response of free-living male white-crowned sparrows to experimental manipulation of female sexual behavior. Horm Behav 16:323–329

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore MC (1983) Effect of female sexual displays on the endocrine physiology and behaviour of male white-crowned sparrows,Zonotrichia leucophrys. J Zool (Lond) 199:137–148

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore MC (1984) Changes in territorial defense produced by changes in circulating levels of testosterone: A possible hormonal basis for mate-guarding behavior in white-crowned sparrows. Behaviour 88:215–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore MC, Kranz R (1983) Evidence for androgen independence of male mounting behavior in white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii). Horm Behav 17:414–423

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore MC, Whittier JM, Crews D (1985) Sex steroid hormones during the ovarian cycle of an all-female, parthenogenetic lizard and their correlation with pseudosexual behavior. Gen Comp Endocrinol 60:144–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruby DE (1978) Seasonal changes in territorial behavior of the iguanid lizardSceloporus jarrovi. Copeia 1978:430–438

    Google Scholar 

  • Silverin B, Viebke P-A, Westin J (1984) Plasma levels of luteinizing hormone and steroid hormones in free-living winter groups of willow tits (Parus montanus). Horm Behav 18:367–379

    Google Scholar 

  • Wingfield JC (1983) Environmental and endocrine control of avian reproduction: An ecological approach. In: Mikami S, Homma K, Wada M (eds) Avian endocrinology: Environmental and ecological perspectives. Japan Scientific Societies Press, Tokyo, and Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York Tokyo, pp 265–288

    Google Scholar 

  • Wingfield JC, Farner DS (1975) The determination of five steroids in avian plasma by radioimmunoassay and competitive protein-binding. Steroids 26:311–327

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Arizona State University, 85287, Tempe, Arizona, USA

    Michael C. Moore

Authors
  1. Michael C. Moore
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Moore, M.C. Elevated testosterone levels during nonbreeding-season territoriality in a fall-breeding lizard,Sceloporus jarrovi . J. Comp. Physiol. 158, 159–163 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01338559

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01338559

Keywords

Search

Navigation