Seasonal reproduction,moult and their endocrine correlates in two tropical Ploceidae species

Summary Populations of Reichenow's weavers and rufous sparrows living at the equator were investigated and compared for seasonality in breeding, moulting and fluctuations in the plasma titers of LH, testosterone (in males) and estradiol (in females). These species did not breed during the dry season and they commenced breeding at the onset of the heavy rains (April). In both species, the change from the dry season to the rainy season was accompanied by dramatic increases in gonadal size and steroidogenesis. Surprisingly, plasma titers of the hypophysial hormone LH were not affected.Differences were found in the length of the breeding season: in the weavers it was terminated in September whereas the sparrows bred through January, the end of the study. The differences between the two species in the absence of a pronounced dry season are assumed to be related to the sparrow's ability to interrupt moult and renest in fall when environmental conditions are favourable. in the weavers, no differences in the seasonal changes in gonadal size and plasma titers of LH, T (males) and E2 (females) were found between wet and dry post-heavy rain periods (October–January) whereas differences were found in the sparrows.Abbreviations E2 estradiol - T testosterone - LH luteinizing hormone