Research report 2013 - Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence (Seewiesen site)

Can hormonal processes adapt fast enough to rapid environmental changes?

Authors
Hau, Michaela
Departments
Forschungsgruppe für Evolutionäre Physiologie, Max-Planck-Institut für Ornithologie, Radolfzell und Seewiesen, Fachbereich Biologie, Universität Konstanz
Summary
Hormones, as parts of complex regulatory systems, mediate environmental adjustments of organisms. Can hormonal systems change fast enough to keep up with rapid changes in the environment? In birds, concentrations of the hormone corticosterone are related to evolved differences in reproductive investment. Even within a bird species corticosterone patterns predict the reproductive success of individuals. Future studies will determine selection pressures, heritabilities and rate of evolutionary changes in hormones.

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