Disruption of energy homeostasis by food restriction or high ambient temperature exposure affects gonadal function in male House finches (Haemorhous mexicanus)

We examined reproductive and metabolic physiology in male house finches that either underwent moderate food restriction (FR) or were exposed to high temperature (HT), in which birds were held at a high, but not locally atypical, ambient temperature cycle (37.8° C day, 29.4° C night) compared to a control group (CT; 29.4° C day, 21.1° C night). We hypothesized that FR and HT inhibit reproductive development by lowering available metabolic fuel, in particular plasma glucose (GLU) and free fatty acids (FFA). This dataset includes measures of reproductive function (gonadal hormones, gene expression, morphology) and energy homeostasis (body condition, metabolites, behavior) in response to these treatments.