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G H Orians

Publications and source records attributed to G H Orians.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Year-to-year patterns of circulating levels of testosterone and corticosterone in relation to breeding density, experience, and reproductive success of the polygynous red-winged blackbird.

To determine across-year patterns in plasma testosterone (T) and corticosterone (B) levels in free-living birds, we took blood samples in the same 2-week breeding period during 4 consecutive years from territorial male red-winged blackbirds. We used our data to test predictions of the "challenge hypothesis" of T secretion and also to examine hormonal correlations with age, breeding experience, breeding density, and reproductive success. Average T and B levels across years were not significantly different. Within individuals, T levels between years were, in general, highly variable. T levels of males with territories in high-density breeding areas were significantly higher than those of males with territories in low-density areas. T levels were positively correlated with harem size and there was a trend for males with high T levels to fledge more offspring. We found no relationships between T and B levels and male age or breeding experience. Some results of the study were consistent with the predictions of the challenge hypothesis. This study constitutes one of the few examinations of across-year patterns in circulating hormone levels in wild populations.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Familiar neighbors enhance breeding success in birds.

We tested the hypothesis that long-term familiarity with neighbors is advantageous by determining whether male red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) breeding adjacent to familiar neighbors have better reproductive success than other males. Using data gathered during a 10-yr study of breeding success, we found that males with familiar neighbors fledged, on average, significantly more offspring annually than males without familiar neighbors. We also found that the same males, breeding in different years on the same territories, had significantly larger harems in the years they had familiar neighbors. Improved reproductive success was due to the males' abilities to attract more females to nest in their territories. Alternative hypotheses to explain the positive relationship between familiar neighbors and breeding success were not supported by our data. Relatively high reproductive success for breeders with long-term neighbors may provide a basis for the evolution of cooperative behavior in this and other species.

Animals↗