Involvement of threshold photoperiod in control of reproductive rhythmicity in migratory blackheaded bunting, emberiza melanocephala

Abstract

To explore the need for minimum threshold photoperiodicity in regulation of metabolic and reproductive activities of a migratory finch, various programmed light-dark (LD) schedules, such as P1(3L/21D), P2 (6L/18D), P3 (9L/15D), P4 (12L/12D), P5 (15L/9D), P6 (18L/6D), P7 (21L/3D), and P8 (24L/0D), have been used on photosensitive female blackheaded buntings for 42 days. Results indicate that the photoperiodic thresholds of 3h, 6h, and 9h completely failed to have any response on buntings, while threshold photo- periodicities of 12h, 15h, 18h, 21h, and 24h had significant effect (P < .001) on body weight, ovarian weight, and circulating plasma estradiol concentration, suggesting the role of the photoperiod as a primary environmental source to regulate various metabolic and reproductive functions. Further, it has been suggested that the threshold photoperiod in this species appears to be of 12h duration.