Meeting Abstract

P2.68  Tuesday, Jan. 5  Inter-individual variation in reproductive development in response to environmental cues WATTS, H.E.*; MACDOUGALL-SHACKLETON, S.A.; HAHN, T.P.; University of California, Davis; University of Western Ontario; University of California, Davis hewatts@ucdavis.edu

Traditionally studies investigating the use of environmental cues to time reproduction have focused on the mean response of individuals to a particular cue(s). However, individuals in such studies typically vary in their response to a given cue or set of cues. This variation is potentially important because it may reflect the potential for a species to adapt to environmental changes. Here, we examine inter-individual variation in response to photoperiodic cues inducing reproductive development in one family of songbirds, the Cardueline finches. The Carduelines exhibit a wide range of breeding schedules, ranging from strictly seasonal to opportunisitic. Using experimental data collected on several Cardueline species, we investigate relationships between breeding schedule, cue intensity, and inter-individual variation. We also discuss inter-individual variation in response to photoperiodic cues relative to variation in response to other, non-photic cues.