Jc. Wingfield et al., ECOLOGICAL BASES OF HORMONE-BEHAVIOR INTERACTIONS - THE EMERGENCY LIFE-HISTORY STAGE, American zoologist, 38(1), 1998, pp. 191-206
Superimposed upon seasonal changes in morphology, physiology and behav
ior, are facultative responses to unpredictable events known as labile
(i.e., short-lived) perturbation factors (LPFs). These responses incl
ude behavioral and physiological changes that enhance survival and col
lectively make up the ''emergency'' life history stage. There is consi
derable evidence that glucocorticosteroids, and other hormones in the
hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) cascade, initiate and orchestrate
the emergency life history stage within minutes to hours. This stage h
as a number of sub-stages that promote survival and avoid potential de
leterious effects of stress that may result from chronically elevated
levels of circulating glucocorticosteroids over days and weeks. These
sub-stages may include: redirection of behavior from a normal Life his
tory stage to increased foraging, irruptive-type migration during the
day, enhanced restfulness at night, and elevated gluconeogenesis. Once
the perturbation passes, glucocorticosteroids may also promote recove
ry. Additional evidence from birds indicates that glucocorticosteroid
responses to a standardized capture, handling and restraint protocol a
re modulated both on seasonal and individual levels. Field work reveal
s that these changes in responsiveness to LPFs have ecological bases,
such as reproductive state, body condition etc., that in turn indicate
different hormonal control mechanisms in the HPA cascade.