Breeding Hormones during Migration

My dissertation research focuses on investigating: The time-schedule for testosterone production during spring migration in Nearctic-Neotopical migrants, The capability of testosterone production during spring migration, and How migratory behaviors may be influenced by testosterone and other hormones. Part of my research requires genetically determining sex in Swainson's Thrushes and Northern Waterthrushes. I base my protocol off some previous papers and use a Qiagen DNA extraction kit. Details of my protocol may be found in this Genetic Sexing Protocol. September 2015: First publication from this project is out! If you're interested in the "Patterns of testosterone in three Nearctic–Neotropical migratory songbirds during spring passage" then go here.

September 2017: Our second publication from this project was published in the Journal of Ornithology! We used stable hydrogen isotopes as a proxy for breeding destination in Black-and-white Warblers. We looked for relationships between testosterone levels and Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activity and breeding proximity. Check it out!