3.2 Hormone radio immuno assays
There was a significant difference in plasma TT levels between male and female T. c. Carolina across all time periods (F1.49 = 31.74, P< 0.0001).
Females showed a significant peak in TT, yet relatively low concentration of TT (compared with males), early in the active season for both years (F6.49 = 3.28, P = 0.0087 ; Fig.3A).
Among male TT concentrations, we also found significant differences in mean values by month for both years (F6.118 = 4.59, P = 0.0003 ; Fig. 3B).
Post-hoc analyses in male TT values revealed that the majority of the differences were attributable to the dual peak trend where mean levels declined from April (1386.0 +- 317.0 ng dL-1) into May (172.5+-337.2 ng dL-1) and increased dramatically again in August (1753.2+-152.7 ng dL-1).