Temperature modulates photoperiodic seasonal responses in the subtropical tree sparrow, Passer montanus.

We studied the effects of temperature on the photoperiodic regulation of seasonal reproduction and related events in the subtropical tree sparrow at Shillong, India. In the first experiment, one group of birds was maintained in an outdoor open aviary receiving natural photoperiod and temperature conditions, while the other group was exposed to natural photoperiod and constant temperature of 17 ± 2 °C in an outdoor closed aviary for 12 months. Although both sexes achieved peak gonadal growth at the same time (May) under the two conditions, gonadal regression and feathers molt were delayed under the temperature controlled condition. In the second experiment, the groups of birds were exposed to three different temperatures (17, 25 and 30 °C) under both long (LD-14L:10D) and short (SD-9L:15D) day lengths for 7 months. Birds showed relatively small but significant gonadal growth, darkening of bill color and feathers molt only at 30 °C under SD. However, they behaved as though they were under natural conditions and exhibited the above responses significantly at all temperatures under LD. There was delayed gonadal regression at the lower temperature (17 °C), while feathers molt delayed with increasing temperature (25, 30 °C) under LD. These results clearly indicate that temperature modulates photoperiodic seasonal responses in the tree sparrow.

Photoperiodic time measurement and photoentrainment of a circadian locomotor activity rhythm in subtropical tree sparrows.

Experiments were performed on the subtropical tree sparrow (Passer montanus) to investigate the involvement of an endogenous circadian rhythm in photoperiodic time measurement during the initiation of gonadal growth and functions and also to study the photic entrainment of the circadian activity rhythm. Groups of photosensitive birds of both sexes were exposed to different "night-interruption" light-dark regimes of 24 h duration viz., G1 - 6L/5D/1L/12D, G2 - 6L/6D/1L/11D, G3 - 6L/7D/1L/10D, G4 - 6L/8D/1L/9D, G5 - 6L/10D/1L/7D, G6 - 6L/12D/1L/5D, G7 - 6L/14D/1L/3D and G8 - 6L/16D/1L/1D for 30 days in which 17 h long nights were interrupted by 1 h light pulse falling at different ZTs (i.e., 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22). A control group, for each sex, was maintained under 7L/17D. The birds of all groups behaved as though they had been exposed to a stimulatory photoperiod except those of G1, G8 and the control. Furthermore, the serum levels of testosterone in males and estradiol-17ß in females ran almost parallel to changes in the gonadal size. Birds, when exposed to 12L/12D, showed entrainment of their locomotor activity rhythm with the activity confined mainly during the light phase. However, various characteristics of the activity rhythm differed significantly upon transfer of birds to various night interruption regimes. These results suggest the involvement of the endogenous circadian rhythm in photoperiodic time measurement during the induction of gonadal growth and functions in the tree sparrow. Also, there is photic entrainment of the locomotor activity rhythm that shows variations in various circadian characteristics under different night interruption cycles suggesting that the photoinducible phase is differentially sensitive to light.