Blood and whole-body androgen levels of male swordtails correlated with aggression measures in a standard-opponent test

Abstract

The scores of three aggression parameters in a standard-opponent test correlated significantly with individual androgen concentrations measured in tissue as well as in blood samples taken immediately after the test (bites: r = +.62/+.82, threats: r = + 0.75/+.70, latency: r = −.66/−.53). If the test was performed after 28 days of social isolation no correlations were found. There were also no correlations between behavioural measures and corticoids.