Authors
William A Buttemer, Lee B Astheimer, John C Wingfield
Publication date
1991/8
Journal
Journal of Comparative Physiology B
Volume
161
Pages
427-431
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Description
Resting metabolic rates of Gambel's white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii) and pine siskins (Carduelis pinus) were evaluated at thermoneutral temperatures before and after administration of corticosterone (B) at physiological doses. There was no effect of B on basal metabolic rate of either species, but nocturnal metabolic rate varied significantly less over the 3-h period of measurement in B-treated sparrows and siskins than in control birds. These results, coupled with observations of caged birds, suggest that corticosterone has no direct effect on avian resting metabolism but does reduce the responsiveness of birds to external stimuli and thus promotes nocturnal restfulness.
Total citations
Scholar articles
WA Buttemer, LB Astheimer, JC Wingfield - Journal of Comparative Physiology B, 1991