Testosterone: from initiating change to modulating social organisation in domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus) |
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Authors: | John P. Kent Kenneth J. Murphy Finian J. Bannon Niamh M. Hynes Thomas J. Hayden |
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Affiliation: | 1. Ballyrichard House, Arklow, Co, Wicklow, Ireland 2. School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland 3. School of Biological and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland 4. School of Mathematical Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland 5. Centre for Clinical and Population Sciences, Queen’s University, Belfast, BT12 6BJ, Ireland 6. School of Agriculture, Food Science & Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
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Abstract: | Testosterone (T) concentrations in many species are sensitive to seasonal changes and to changes in social conditions. However, the effect of the natural or endogenous T increase in the juvenile on their social behaviour is not well understood. In this study, T and behaviour were measured from the pro-social juvenile to the adult stage in semi-feral domestic fowl. During the pro-social phase T levels and the distance chicks maintained between each other, i.e. inter-individual distance (IID) were low. Then, as T increased, a corresponding increase in IID occurred and continued in males until dispersal to individual adult male territories. In the new and initially stable adult social structure, T declined and IID remained high, indicating a new behavioural mechanism was in place. Males first mated as T levels were declining. They were then challenged; then T increased, and then IID increased again. Adult male T levels fluctuate, being low or declining in a socially stable environment and increasing following a challenge, suggesting a regulatory or modulating role for T. The results are consistent with T having an endogenous role: in the juvenile, driving behavioural change towards adulthood, and in adulthood, a modulating role regulating social organisation. |
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Keywords: | Domestic fowl Endogenous Modulating Social organisation Testosterone |
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