Parental Absence Primes Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Activity In Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) Nestlings
Abstract
Parental presence has often been studied as a mechanism that regulates baseline
concentrations of corticosterone (CORT). CORT is essential for regulatory processes in
the body, but it also plays a role in stress response. The “social presence” of a
conspecific, especially a parent, can function to maintain lower baseline
concentrations of CORT.
Under stressful conditions, parental attendance may alleviate stress through “social
buffering,” a mechanism that serves to enhance stress response. In this context, the
presence of an adult can function to alleviate the negative physiological effects of
stress through a well-moderated stress response.
We predicted that parental attendance would exhibit “social presence” effects which
would serve as a predictor of baseline CORT. We also predicted that parental
attendance would exhibit “social buffering” effects and that TRES nestlings would
have elevated CORT responses when parents were excluded from the nest.