Meeting Abstract

5.6  Tuesday, Jan. 4  Proximity to a high traffic road: Does traffic noise explain increased nestling stress? CRINO, O.L.*; JOHNSON, E.E.; BREUNER, C.W.; University of Montana ondicrino@gmail.com

Roads have been correlated with increased stress responses across several species of birds and during multiple life-history stages. Nestling Mountain White-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha) reared close to high-traffic roads have higher baseline and stress-induced corticosterone (CORT) than nestlings reared far from roads. We examined one potential mechanism that may explain elevated CORT secretion: traffic noise. Exposure to traffic noise over the first 6 days post-hatch had no effect on baseline CORT, but decreased stress-induced CORT. Given previous findings, we expected an upregulation of the entire CORT axis. We will discuss these data in light of possible parental influence on these patterns.