Seasonal and social modulation of testosterone in Costa Rican rufous-collared sparrows (Zonotrichia capensis costaricensis)

Previous work shows that most birds breeding in northern temperate regions adjust production of testosterone in response to stage of the breeding cycle and in some cases following social interactions. In contrast, prior research suggests that tropical breeding birds are less likely to modulate testosterone in response to social interactions (the propensity to increase testosterone in response to social instability is known as the challenge hypothesis). To further test the challenge hypothesis in tropical birds, we investigated whether variation in season affects reproductive condition, aggressive behavior, and social modulation of testosterone in two populations of Costa Rican rufous-collared sparrow, Zonotrichia capensis costaricensis. We conducted our study at three distinct times of year: the dry season (March and May); the veranillo, a hiatus in the rainy season (July); and the late rainy season (November). Significantly more birds were in breeding condition in the dry season than in the rainy season or veranillo. In each time period, we collected baseline testosterone samples and conducted simulated territorial intrusions (STIs). Our study shows that testosterone is modulated with season independent of breeding condition, as testosterone levels were affected by season, breeding condition, and an interaction of the two factors. Males breeding in the dry season had higher plasma testosterone levels than non-breeding males in the dry season and both breeding and non-breeding males in the veranillo and rainy season. Males did not socially modulate testosterone in any season. Aggressive behaviors expressed during STIs did not differ among seasons with the exception that males sang fewer songs during the rainy season.