Comparative Effects of Gradually Increased Daily Periods of Light and Activity on the Sex Cycle of the Sparrow

Authors

Gardner M. Riley, State University of IowaFollow

Document Type

Research

Abstract

It has been repeatedly demonstrated in birds that increased daily light periods during the inactive phase of the sex cycle results in precocious testicular development. An attempt has been made to determine whether light, itself, or the increased daily period of physiological activity is the essential factor in this development. Three series of experiments were conducted with the House sparrow during the fall and winter of 1938-39. In each series, the daily period of awakeness was regulated either by gradually lengthening the light period or by adding a period of compulsory activity (in complete darkness) to the basal light day. Compulsory activity was maintained by placing the birds in a revolving drum. The daily increase in the duration of awakeness was the same in both cases. Increased daily light periods caused an increase in spermatogenic activity, whereas, increased activity had no effect on the gonadal development. The findings support the view that activity, alone, is not effective in stimulating testicular development in the sparrow.

Publication Date

1939

Journal Title

Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science

Volume

46

Issue

1

First Page

452

Last Page

452

Copyright

©1939 Iowa Academy of Science, Inc.

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Riley, Gardner M. (1939) "Comparative Effects of Gradually Increased Daily Periods of Light and Activity on the Sex Cycle of the Sparrow," Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, 46(1), 452-452.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol46/iss1/136