Date of Award
2009
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Program
Psychology
Supervisor
Dr. Scott MacDougall-Shackleton
Second Advisor
Dr. Bill Roberts
Abstract
Song is a phenotypic expression of male quality. According to the developmental stress hypothesis, birds subjected to stressful environments while their song system is developing should advertise this with a more simple song. The first aim of this study was to investigate whether song learning was reflective of learning abilities in general. The second aim was to determine what underlying physiological systems could be affected by stress early in development that may be responsible for altered song learning. A nutritional stressor was enforced in developing European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) and song learning was measure in addition to learning in general. Physiological measures comprising growth rates, stress response and metabolic rates were taken. Results from this study suggest stress does negatively affect song and certain aspects of cognition. The onset at which stress is applied and sex are important factors in physiological changes in response to developmental stress.
Recommended Citation
Farrell, Tara M., "THE EFFECTS OF EARLY NUTRITIONAL STRESS ON PHYSIOLOGY, COGNITON AND SONG PRODUCTION IN EUROPEAN STARLINGS (STURNUS VULGARIS)" (2009). Digitized Theses. 4566.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/4566