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Santos SH, Martins BS, Ramos JA, Pereira JM, Almeida N, Gonçalves AMM, Matos DM, Norte AC, Rodrigues IF, Dos Santos I, Araújo PM, Paiva VH. Omega-3 enriched chick diet reduces the foraging areas of breeders in two closely related shearwaters from contrasting marine environments. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:jeb244690. [PMID: 37326253 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Seabirds have evolved several life-history characteristics to help buffer environmental stochasticity. However, particularly during the breeding season, seabirds may be affected by reductions in prey availability and localised oceanographic conditions caused by variations in the environment. The increase in sea surface temperature, triggered by accelerated global warming, is impairing phytoplankton production of omega-3 fatty acids (FAs). Here, we assessed the ecological role of omega-3 FAs on chick development and subsequently on breeder foraging behaviour in two closely related shearwater species foraging in contrasting marine environments. We supplemented chicks with omega-3 FA pills or with control placebo pills and monitored chick growth, chick health status and breeder at-sea foraging behaviour using global positioning system devices. We found that omega-3 chick supplementation reduced the 95% kernel utilization distribution of short trips of Cape Verde shearwaters, but overall, breeders kept a similar foraging pattern between treatments, potentially influenced by predictable prey patches off the West African coast. In contrast, for Cory's shearwaters, the parents of the omega-3 group greatly reduced the foraging effort. This suggests that the proximity to productive prey patches around the colony may help birds to adjust their effort and, therefore, energy expenditure, to changes in the development of their offspring, as driven by their nutritional status. Overall, our results suggest a link between a chick diet enriched in omega-3 FAs and parental foraging effort, providing insight into their ability to cope with a changing and increasingly stochastic marine environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara H Santos
- University of Coimbra, MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Beatriz S Martins
- University of Coimbra, MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jaime A Ramos
- University of Coimbra, MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jorge M Pereira
- University of Coimbra, MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Nathalie Almeida
- University of Coimbra, MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
- Biosfera Cabo Verde, Sul do Cemitério, Rua 5 - Caixa Postal 233-000, São Vicente, Cabo Verde
| | - Ana M M Gonçalves
- University of Coimbra, MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Diana M Matos
- University of Coimbra, MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana C Norte
- University of Coimbra, MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Isabel F Rodrigues
- Biosfera Cabo Verde, Sul do Cemitério, Rua 5 - Caixa Postal 233-000, São Vicente, Cabo Verde
| | - Ivo Dos Santos
- University of Coimbra, MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Pedro M Araújo
- University of Coimbra, MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| | - Vitor H Paiva
- University of Coimbra, MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
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2
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Investigation of structural and neurobiochemical differences in brains from high-performance and native hen breeds. Sci Rep 2023; 13:224. [PMID: 36604556 PMCID: PMC9816186 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27517-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Selection of livestock has not only led to changes in the level of their performance but also modified their behavior. As a result, within a single species, we have to deal with different behaviors of different breeds. In our study, we assumed that the different behaviors within a species are due to differences in the morphology and physiology of behavior-related systems. Two breeds of hens were used as a model: the highly reactive, fearful and high-performance Leghorn breed and proactive, unselected Green-legged Partridge breed. The higher reactivity and fearfulness of Leghorn hens in comparison to the Green-legged Partridge breed may be related to the greater number of neurons in the paraventricular nucleus and anterior hypothalamus and the higher content of zinc and iron in the brain, as these elements are involved in neuronal conduction and myelination processes. The reactive behaviours of Green-legged Partridge hens may be associated with the lower number of neurons in the paraventricular nucleus and the anterior hypothalamus and the higher concentration of dopamine and copper ions in the brain. The analyses confirmed the hypothesis of the existence of interbreed differences in the morphology and physiology of behaviour-related systems, which most probably emerged through unintentional and correlated selection towards high production performance. Consequently, attention should be drawn that the selection of a given genotype (breed) towards a specific environment could lead to creation of highly specialised lines that may not achieve homeostasis in every maintenance system.
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Catitti B, Grüebler MU, Kormann UG, Scherler P, Witczak S, van Bergen VS, Jenni-Eiermann S. Hungry or angry? Experimental evidence for the effects of food availability on two measures of stress in developing wild raptor nestlings. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:276255. [PMID: 35775647 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Food shortage challenges the development of nestlings; yet, to cope with this stressor, nestlings can induce stress responses to adjust metabolism or behaviour. Food shortage also enhances the antagonism between siblings, but it remains unclear whether the stress response induced by food shortage operates via the individual nutritional state or via the social environment experienced. In addition, the understanding of these processes is hindered by the fact that effects of food availability often co-vary with other environmental factors. We used a food supplementation experiment to test the effect of food availability on two complementary stress measures, feather corticosterone (CORTf) and Heterophil/Lymphocyte-ratio (H/L) in developing red kite (Milvus milvus) nestlings, a species with competitive brood hierarchy. By statistically controlling for the effect of food supplementation on the nestlings' body condition, we disentangled the effects of food and ambient temperature on nestlings during development. Experimental food supplementation increased body condition, and both CORTf and H/L were reduced in nestlings of high body condition. Additionally, CORTf decreased with age in non-supplemented nestlings. H/L decreased with age in all nestlings and was lower in supplemented last-hatched nestlings compared to non-supplemented ones. Ambient temperature showed a negative effect on H/L. Our results indicate that food shortage increases the nestlings' stress levels through both, a reduced food intake affecting nutritional state and the nestlings' social environment. Thus, food availability in conjunction with ambient temperature shape between- and within-nest differences in stress load, which may have carry-over effects on behaviour and performance in further life-history stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetta Catitti
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Seerose 1, 6204 Sempach, Switzerland.,Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin U Grüebler
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Seerose 1, 6204 Sempach, Switzerland
| | - Urs G Kormann
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Seerose 1, 6204 Sempach, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Scherler
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Seerose 1, 6204 Sempach, Switzerland
| | - Stephanie Witczak
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Seerose 1, 6204 Sempach, Switzerland.,Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Switzerland
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Muriel J, Vida C, Gil D, Pérez-Rodríguez L. Ontogeny of leukocyte profiles in a wild altricial passerine. J Comp Physiol B 2020; 191:195-206. [PMID: 33196859 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-020-01323-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Ecophysiological studies have highlighted the relevance of the avian immune system in individual fitness prospects in the wild. However, studies on the ontogeny of avian immunity are scarce. We analyse age-related changes in the cellular constitutive immunity throughout nestling development, as well as its relationship with sex and brood size. We found that cellular constitutive immunity could be affected by age, sex, brood size, or daily rhythm. Early-stage nestlings relied more on cells of the innate immunity rather than on cells linked to the adaptive immune system. Cellular immunity may not be fully mature in fledglings, as reflected by differences in phagocytic cell counts with regard to adults. Beyond the age-dependent effects, agranulocyte cell counts were affected by sibling competition while granulocyte cell counts showed a daily rhythm. We also show that the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio was negatively related to body weight when nestlings become more independent. Our study contributes knowledge to the fields of developmental immunology and ecological immunology based on essential components of the cellular immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Muriel
- Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología, IPE (CSIC), Avda. Nuestra Señora de la Victoria 16, 22700, Jaca, Spain.
| | - Carmen Vida
- Department of Biology Systems, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alcalá, C/19, Av. de Madrid, Km 33,600, 28871, Alcalá de Henares,, Madrid, Spain
| | - Diego Gil
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lorenzo Pérez-Rodríguez
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain
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Luna N, Varela AI, Luna-Jorquera G, Brokordt K. Effect of predation risk and ectoparasitic louse flies on physiological stress condition of the red-tailed tropicbird ( Phaethon rubricauda) from Rapa Nui and Salas & Gómez islands. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9088. [PMID: 32714650 PMCID: PMC7353918 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Introduced predators at seabird colonies and parasites may have lethal and/or sub-lethal consequences for bird populations. We assessed the potential sub-lethal negative effects of these stressors in a native seabird listed as vulnerable in its south-eastern pacific distribution. This study was conducted in two red-tailed tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) colonies, one located in Rapa Nui Island, which is threatened by the presence of introduced predators, and the other located in Salas & Gómez Island, which has no introduced predators, but birds are infested by ectoparasitic louse flies. Methods The effects on physiological stress traits of both, predation risk on different nest types (protected and exposed) on Rapa Nui, and different levels of louse flies' parasitic loads on Salas & Gómez were studied. Three variables were analyzed: the heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio, the transcriptional levels of mRNA HSP70 in blood, and the body condition. These stress indicators and leukocyte counts were compared between colonies. Results No significant differences were found in any stress indicator between different nest types within Rapa Nui, showing that the effect of predator's presence was the same for adults nesting in both, protected and exposed nests. No significant correlation was found between louse flies' parasitic loads and any stress indicators in the birds of Salas & Gómez. Also, there was no difference in any stress indicator between islands. However, a significant opposite trend between islands was found in the eosinophil, lymphocyte, and monocyte counts when related to body condition. Conclusions We found a lack of significant differentiation in all the stress level indicators assessed within and between islands. The presence of louse flies in Salas & Gómez vs. the absence of this parasite at Rapa Nui may be the cause for the significant difference in the trend of eosinophil, lymphocyte and monocyte counts between the islands. However, further studies are necessary to elucidate the reason for this difference and to better investigate the lethal effects of introduced predators on the Rapa Nui colony to evaluate appropriate conservation measures for this native seabird.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Luna
- Millennium Nucleus for Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands (ESMOI), Departamento de Biologia Marina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile.,Programa de Magister en Ciencias del Mar Mención Recursos Costeros, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Andrea I Varela
- Millennium Nucleus for Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands (ESMOI), Departamento de Biologia Marina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Guillermo Luna-Jorquera
- Millennium Nucleus for Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands (ESMOI), Departamento de Biologia Marina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile.,Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Katherina Brokordt
- Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile.,Laboratorio de Fisiología y Genética Marina (FIGEMA), Departamento de Acuicultura, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
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6
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Meissner W, Binkowski ŁJ, Barker J, Hahn A, Trzeciak M. Relationship between blood lead levels and physiological stress in mute swans (Cygnus olor) in municipal beaches of the southern Baltic. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 710:136292. [PMID: 32050362 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Lead is one of the non-essential metals that can become a serious environmental threat to the human population and wildlife causing various toxic impairments and pathologies. Waterfowl are especially sensitive to lead exposure as they stay in areas with a high risk of lead pollution due to hunting and fishing pressures. This study aims to determine recent blood lead levels in 45 live mute swans in the southern Baltic, in the Gulf of Gdańsk and to test the hypothesis that birds with elevated lead levels have a higher physiological stress. Mean concentration of lead in blood was 0.239 μg/g (range 0.028-0.675 μg/g). Almost half of the individuals examined in this study had increased blood Pb levels above the threshold level (0.23 μg/g), however none of them showed behavioural signs of Pb poisoning. Although the dominant food of mute swans staying at municipal beaches is bread delivered by people, which has low lead levels, lead was found in all blood samples taken from mute swans. In the study area, another possible source of lead poisoning, other than from ammunition, is connected with various anthropogenic activities, such as municipal sewage works. Moreover, poor diet results in greater susceptibility to absorption of lead and this may have an additional influence on elevated lead levels in blood of these birds. The Pb level was increased with heterophils to lymphocytes (H/L) ratio, which is used as a measure of longer-term physiological stress. The mean lead level in blood was higher in young birds than in adults, which may be a consequence of adults forcing them to take less calorific food from water plants containing elevated levels of lead in the area studied. However, it is difficult to disentangle this from other factors that may influence sensitivity to lead poisoning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Włodzimierz Meissner
- Avian Ecophysiology Unit, Department of Vertebrate Ecology & Zoology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Łukasz J Binkowski
- Institute of Biology, Pedagogical University of Krakow, Podchorążych 2, 30-084 Krakow, Poland
| | - James Barker
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, KT1 2EE Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, UK
| | - Andreas Hahn
- School of Engineering and the Environment, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, KT1 2EE Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, UK
| | - Marta Trzeciak
- Avian Ecophysiology Unit, Department of Vertebrate Ecology & Zoology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
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Kulaszewicz I, Wojczulanis-Jakubas K, Jakubas D. Variation of the Savi's Warbler (Locustella luscinioides) Leucocyte Profiles and Body Condition in Relation to Age, Sex and Moult. ANN ZOOL FENN 2015. [DOI: 10.5735/086.052.0507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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8
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Regulation of breeding expenditure in the blue-footed booby, Sula nebouxii : an experimental approach. Anim Behav 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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9
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Wilcoxen TE, Boughton RK, Morgan GM, Schoech SJ. Heritability of immunological characteristics in Florida Scrub-Jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens). CAN J ZOOL 2013. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2013-0075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The degree to which immunological phenotype is under genetic control as opposed to plasticity in response to variable environmental conditions remains largely unknown in natural populations. We assessed different aspects of immune function in father–son pairs in Florida Scrub-Jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens (Bosc, 1795)), a species with high natal philopatry, to determine if the responses were heritable. Specifically, we examined heritability of the (i) heterophil to lymphocyte ratio, (ii) ability to kill the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli in an in vitro challenge, and (iii) ability to kill the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus in an in vitro challenge. The heritability (h2) of each of the three measures described above was estimated as twice the slope of the regression (2β) from the mean value for each measure for sons on the mean value of the same measure for the father. Heritability estimates were high for all measures: heterophil to lymphocyte ratios (h2 = 1.54 ± 0.31) and E. coli (h2 = 1.84 ± 0.12) and S. aureus (h2 = 1.13 ± 0.16) killing abilities. Our results show a strong correlation between father and son immune function, as well as the influential nature of genetic inheritance and potential environmental effects associated with high natal philopatry on physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis E. Wilcoxen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152-3530, USA
- Biology Department, Millikin University, Decatur, IL 62522, USA
| | - Raoul K. Boughton
- Disease Ecology Program, Archbold Biological Station, Venus, FL 33960, USA
| | - Gina M. Morgan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152-3530, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242-1182, USA
| | - Stephan J. Schoech
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152-3530, USA
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Jakubas D, Wojczulanis-Jakubas K, Kulaszewicz I. Factors Affecting Haematological Variables and Body Mass of Reed Warblers (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) and Sedge Warblers (A. schoenobaenus). ANN ZOOL FENN 2013. [DOI: 10.5735/086.050.0302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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11
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Dehnhard N, Hennicke JC. Leucocyte profiles and body condition in breeding brown boobies and red-tailed tropicbirds: effects of breeding stage and sex. AUST J ZOOL 2013. [DOI: 10.1071/zo12123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Foraging in a habitat with highly unpredictable availability of prey, breeding seabirds have to balance their investment in reproduction with their own energetic requirements, including their immune system. This study aimed to investigate the influence of breeding stage (incubation and chick rearing) and sex on body condition and leucocyte profiles in two sympatrically breeding tropical seabird species on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean: the strongly size-dimorphic, inshore-foraging brown booby (Sula leucogaster) and the monomorphic offshore-foraging red-tailed tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda). Brown booby males were in poorer body condition than females. Male brown boobies had a higher heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio (indicating higher stress levels), and higher eosinophil numbers (suggesting higher intestinal parasite loads) than females, and sex differences in H/L ratio and body condition were more pronounced during chick rearing. The results suggest that in brown boobies, incubation was energetically less demanding for males than chick rearing, but that the smaller males were energetically more challenged than females during both breeding stages. In the monomorphic red-tailed tropicbird, there were no differences in body condition between sexes and breeding stage, and there was no influence of sex or breeding stage on the leucocyte profiles. The results suggest that incubation and chick rearing are equally demanding for males and females, and that the increased energetic demands of chick rearing are likely to be buffered by a bimodal foraging strategy by both sexes. Our results show that breeding stage as well as sex- and species-specific foraging behaviour can affect leucocyte profiles and particularly the H/L ratio differentially in sympatrically breeding seabird species.
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12
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Bried J, Célérier A, Maurel L, Bonadonna F. New haematological data in Cory's shearwater,Calonectris diomedea(Aves, Procellariiformes). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2010.544408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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13
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Jakubas D, Wojczulanis-Jakubas K, Glac W. Variation of the Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) Body Condition and Haematological Parameters in Relation to Sex, Age and Season. ANN ZOOL FENN 2011. [DOI: 10.5735/086.048.0405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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14
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Leucocyte profiles and H/L ratios in chicks of Red-tailed Tropicbirds reflect the ontogeny of the immune system. J Comp Physiol B 2011; 181:641-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s00360-010-0548-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2010] [Revised: 11/23/2010] [Accepted: 12/09/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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15
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Leucocyte profiles and corticosterone in chicks of southern rockhopper penguins. J Comp Physiol B 2010; 181:83-90. [DOI: 10.1007/s00360-010-0508-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2010] [Revised: 08/03/2010] [Accepted: 08/05/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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16
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Quillfeldt P, Poisbleau M, Mundry R, Masello JF. Are acoustical parameters of begging call elements of thin-billed prions related to chick condition? Acta Ethol 2010; 13:1-9. [PMID: 21841890 PMCID: PMC3150793 DOI: 10.1007/s10211-009-0066-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2008] [Revised: 07/02/2009] [Accepted: 07/15/2009] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Chicks of burrowing petrels use begging calls to advertise their hunger levels when parents arrived at the nest. In a previous study, adult thin-billed prions Pachyptila belcheri responded to higher begging call rates of their single chick by regurgitating larger meals. We tested whether acoustic parameters of begging call elements may also be involved in signalling. To describe variation in begging, we determined begging session parameters, namely the duration, number of calls and the mean and maximum rate of calling. We then digitised calls and carried out a semi-automatic extraction of six acoustic parameters of call elements, including mean and maximum acoustic frequency, the length of call elements and the location of the maximum frequency and amplitude within calls. Chicks showed strong individual differences in all parameters. While the session parameters were correlated with body condition and with the meal size the chick received, none of the acoustic parameters were related to body condition and provisioning. A cross-fostering experiment showed the same pattern, as only session parameters changed related to an experimentally altered body condition, while acoustical cues appear to play no role in signalling hunger levels. We suggest that this may be explained by the absence of sibling competition in these birds. As parents do not need to decide which chick to feed, immediate information on condition at the time of adult arrival may not be required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Quillfeldt
- Vogelwarte Radolfzell, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Schlossallee 2, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Maud Poisbleau
- Vogelwarte Radolfzell, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Schlossallee 2, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Roger Mundry
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Juan F. Masello
- Vogelwarte Radolfzell, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Schlossallee 2, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
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Quillfeldt P, McGill RAR, Masello JF, Poisbleau M, van Noordwijk H, Demongin L, Furness RW. Differences in the stable isotope signatures of seabird egg membrane and albumen--implications for non-invasive studies. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2009; 23:3632-3636. [PMID: 19890954 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.4286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
In many bird species, egg membranes can be obtained non-invasively after the chicks have hatched, and stable isotope analysis of egg membranes can be used to study the diet and foraging distribution of these birds during egg formation. It has been suggested that the enrichment factors of albumen and egg membranes differ for 13C, but are similar for 15N. In this study, we compared carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes of the membranes and albumen of individual eggs of three wild seabird species, the Southern Rockhopper penguin Eudyptes chrysocome, the Imperial shag Phalacrocorax atriceps albiventer, and the Thin-billed prion Pachyptila belcheri. We also included chicken eggs for comparison. Egg membranes were generally enriched in 13C, compared with albumen. The difference varied between species, with 2.1 per thousand in Rockhopper penguins, 1.6 per thousand in Imperial shags, but only 0.5 per thousand in Thin-billed prions and 0.4 per thousand in chicken eggs. Egg membranes were slightly enriched in 15N in Imperial shags (0.9 per thousand) and chickens (0.5 per thousand), compared with albumen, while there was no difference for Thin-billed prions and Rockhopper penguins. The isotopic values of carbon and nitrogen were correlated between albumen and egg membranes of individual eggs, suggesting that egg membranes can be used reliably to investigate trophic differences between individuals, seasons or colonies. Species-specific mathematical corrections could be used to compare results across studies that use different egg components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Quillfeldt
- Max-Planck-Institut für Ornithologie, Vogelwarte Radolfzell, Schlossallee 2, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany.
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Parejo D, Silva N. Immunity and fitness in a wild population of Eurasian kestrels Falco tinnunculus. Naturwissenschaften 2009; 96:1193-202. [PMID: 19609498 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-009-0584-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2008] [Revised: 06/19/2009] [Accepted: 06/24/2009] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The immune system of vertebrates consists of several components that partly interact and complement each other. Therefore, the assessment of the overall effectiveness of immune defence requires the simultaneous measurement of different immune components. In this study, we investigated intraspecific variability of innate [i.e. natural antibodies (NAb) and complement] and acquired (i.e. leucocyte profiles) immunity and its relationship with fitness correlates (i.e. blood parasite load and reproductive success in adults and body mass and survival until fledging in nestlings) in the Eurasian kestrel Falco tinnunculus. Immunity differed between nestlings and adults and also between adult males and females. Adult kestrels with higher levels of complement were less parasitised by Haemoproteus, and males with higher values of NAbs showed a higher reproductive success. In nestlings, the H/L ratio was negatively related to body mass. Survival until fledging was predicted by all measured immunological variables of nestlings as well as by their fathers' level of complement. This is the first time that innate immunity is linked to survival in a wild bird. Thus, intraspecific variation in different components of immunity predicts variation in fitness prospects in kestrels, which highlights the importance of measuring innate immune components together with components of the acquired immunity in studies assessing the effectiveness of the immune system in wild animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deseada Parejo
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Estación Experimental de Zonas Aridas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, C/ General Segura 1, Almería, Spain.
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Masello JF, Choconi RG, Helmer M, Kremberg T, Lubjuhn T, Quillfeldt P. Do leucocytes reflect condition in nestling burrowing parrots Cyanoliseus patagonus in the wild? Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2009; 152:176-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2008.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2008] [Revised: 09/12/2008] [Accepted: 09/13/2008] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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