In adult vertebrates, glucocorticoids are thought to trigger transitions between life history
stages within breeding cycles. This review explores possible roles of glucocorticoids as
mediators for vertebrate ontogenetic transitions. Overall, glucocorticoids prepare organisms
and trigger transitions into the subsequent life history stage. Across taxa, ability to secrete
glucocorticoids appears to depend on functional maturity at birth. Slow strategist or precocial
species tend to have larger, fewer, and more mature young that can secrete glucocorticoids …