Abstract
Given the dramatic behavioral effects of winning and losing contests, and pronounced changes in stress and sex steroid hormones post-fight, it is reasonable to suppose that these hormones also dictate future behavior. We sampled water-borne cortisol, testosterone (T), and 11-ketotestosterone (KT) before and after contests in the mangrove killifish, Kryptolebias marmoratus, to determine how endogenous steroid hormone levels might predict and respond to contest dynamics or success. Pre-fight cortisol related negatively, and pre-fight T related positively to contest initiation and winning, particularly in the smaller opponent. In the pairs where a larger fish won the contest, winners with higher pre-fight T and lower pre-fight cortisol delivered more attacks to the losers. Contest duration and escalation influenced post-fight hormone concentrations primarily in losers. Escalation significantly increased post-fight cortisol, T, and KT for losers but not for winners. However, winners that attacked losers at higher rates had higher levels of post-fight cortisol. Losers also demonstrate the most consistent post-fight hormone responses, particularly to contest escalation and duration. Despite the bidirectional relationship between hormones and contest behavior, we found no overall mean differences in pre- or post-fight cortisol, T, or KT between eventual winners and losers. Thus, it is evident that the categorical states of winner and loser cannot alone reveal the complex, reciprocal associations between endocrine systems and social behavior.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 442-451 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Hormones and Behavior |
| Volume | 53 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2008 Mar 1 |
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Keywords
- 11-ketotestosterone
- Aggression
- Cortisol
- Dominance
- Testosterone
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Endocrinology
- Endocrine and Autonomic Systems
- Behavioral Neuroscience
Cite this
Reciprocity between endocrine state and contest behavior in the killifish, Kryptolebias marmoratus. / Earley, Ryan L.; Hsu, Yu-Ying.
In: Hormones and Behavior, Vol. 53, No. 3, 01.03.2008, p. 442-451.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Reciprocity between endocrine state and contest behavior in the killifish, Kryptolebias marmoratus
AU - Earley, Ryan L.
AU - Hsu, Yu-Ying
PY - 2008/3/1
Y1 - 2008/3/1
N2 - Given the dramatic behavioral effects of winning and losing contests, and pronounced changes in stress and sex steroid hormones post-fight, it is reasonable to suppose that these hormones also dictate future behavior. We sampled water-borne cortisol, testosterone (T), and 11-ketotestosterone (KT) before and after contests in the mangrove killifish, Kryptolebias marmoratus, to determine how endogenous steroid hormone levels might predict and respond to contest dynamics or success. Pre-fight cortisol related negatively, and pre-fight T related positively to contest initiation and winning, particularly in the smaller opponent. In the pairs where a larger fish won the contest, winners with higher pre-fight T and lower pre-fight cortisol delivered more attacks to the losers. Contest duration and escalation influenced post-fight hormone concentrations primarily in losers. Escalation significantly increased post-fight cortisol, T, and KT for losers but not for winners. However, winners that attacked losers at higher rates had higher levels of post-fight cortisol. Losers also demonstrate the most consistent post-fight hormone responses, particularly to contest escalation and duration. Despite the bidirectional relationship between hormones and contest behavior, we found no overall mean differences in pre- or post-fight cortisol, T, or KT between eventual winners and losers. Thus, it is evident that the categorical states of winner and loser cannot alone reveal the complex, reciprocal associations between endocrine systems and social behavior.
AB - Given the dramatic behavioral effects of winning and losing contests, and pronounced changes in stress and sex steroid hormones post-fight, it is reasonable to suppose that these hormones also dictate future behavior. We sampled water-borne cortisol, testosterone (T), and 11-ketotestosterone (KT) before and after contests in the mangrove killifish, Kryptolebias marmoratus, to determine how endogenous steroid hormone levels might predict and respond to contest dynamics or success. Pre-fight cortisol related negatively, and pre-fight T related positively to contest initiation and winning, particularly in the smaller opponent. In the pairs where a larger fish won the contest, winners with higher pre-fight T and lower pre-fight cortisol delivered more attacks to the losers. Contest duration and escalation influenced post-fight hormone concentrations primarily in losers. Escalation significantly increased post-fight cortisol, T, and KT for losers but not for winners. However, winners that attacked losers at higher rates had higher levels of post-fight cortisol. Losers also demonstrate the most consistent post-fight hormone responses, particularly to contest escalation and duration. Despite the bidirectional relationship between hormones and contest behavior, we found no overall mean differences in pre- or post-fight cortisol, T, or KT between eventual winners and losers. Thus, it is evident that the categorical states of winner and loser cannot alone reveal the complex, reciprocal associations between endocrine systems and social behavior.
KW - 11-ketotestosterone
KW - Aggression
KW - Cortisol
KW - Dominance
KW - Testosterone
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=39149107065&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=39149107065&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2007.11.017
DO - 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2007.11.017
M3 - Article
C2 - 18191133
AN - SCOPUS:39149107065
VL - 53
SP - 442
EP - 451
JO - Hormones and Behavior
JF - Hormones and Behavior
SN - 0018-506X
IS - 3
ER -