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Karwinkel T, Peter A, Holland RA, Thorup K, Bairlein F, Schmaljohann H. A conceptual framework on the role of magnetic cues in songbird migration ecology. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:1576-1593. [PMID: 38629349 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13082] [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: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Migrating animals perform astonishing seasonal movements by orienting and navigating over thousands of kilometres with great precision. Many migratory species use cues from the sun, stars, landmarks, olfaction and the Earth's magnetic field for this task. Among vertebrates, songbirds are the most studied taxon in magnetic-cue-related research. Despite multiple studies, we still lack a clear understanding of when, where and how magnetic cues affect the decision-making process of birds and hence, their realised migratory behaviour in the wild. This understanding is especially important to interpret the results of laboratory experiments in an ecologically appropriate way. In this review, we summarise the current findings about the role of magnetic cues for migratory decisions in songbirds. First, we review the methodological principles for orientation and navigation research, specifically by comparing experiments on caged birds with experiments on free-flying birds. While cage experiments can show the sensory abilities of birds, studies with free-flying birds can characterise the ecological roles of magnetic cues. Second, we review the migratory stages, from stopover to endurance flight, in which songbirds use magnetic cues for their migratory decisions and incorporate this into a novel conceptual framework. While we lack studies examining whether and when magnetic cues affect orientation or navigation decisions during flight, the role of magnetic cues during stopover is relatively well studied, but mostly in the laboratory. Notably, many such studies have produced contradictory results so that understanding the biological importance of magnetic cues for decisions in free-flying songbirds is not straightforward. One potential explanation is that reproducibility of magnetic-cue experiments is low, probably because variability in the behavioural responses of birds among experiments is high. We are convinced that parts of this variability can be explained by species-specific and context-dependent reactions of birds to the study conditions and by the bird's high flexibility in whether they include magnetic cues in a decision or not. Ultimately, this review should help researchers in the challenging field of magnetoreception to design experiments meticulously and interpret results of such studies carefully by considering the migration ecology of their focal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiemo Karwinkel
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, School of Mathematics and Science, Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Ammerländer Heerstraße 114-118, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Annika Peter
- Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, School of Mathematics and Science, Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Ammerländer Heerstraße 114-118, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Richard A Holland
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Kasper Thorup
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, Radolfzell, 78315, Germany
| | - Heiko Schmaljohann
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, School of Mathematics and Science, Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Ammerländer Heerstraße 114-118, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
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2
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Pearman WS, Duffy GA, Gemmell NJ, Morales SE, Fraser CI. Long-distance movement dynamics shape host microbiome richness and turnover. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2024; 100:fiae089. [PMID: 38857884 PMCID: PMC11212666 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae089] [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: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Host-associated microbial communities are shaped by host migratory movements. These movements can have contrasting impacts on microbiota, and understanding such patterns can provide insight into the ecological processes that contribute to community diversity. Furthermore, long-distance movements to new environments are anticipated to occur with increasing frequency due to host distribution shifts resulting from climate change. Understanding how hosts transport their microbiota with them could be of importance when examining biological invasions. Although microbial community shifts are well-documented, the underlying mechanisms that lead to the restructuring of these communities remain relatively unexplored. Using literature and ecological simulations, we develop a framework to elucidate the major factors that lead to community change. We group host movements into two types-regular (repeated/cyclical migratory movements, as found in many birds and mammals) and irregular (stochastic/infrequent movements that do not occur on a cyclical basis, as found in many insects and plants). Ecological simulations and prior research suggest that movement type and frequency, alongside environmental exposure (e.g. internal/external microbiota) are key considerations for understanding movement-associated community changes. From our framework, we derive a series of testable hypotheses, and suggest means to test them, to facilitate future research into host movement and microbial community dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- William S Pearman
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, 310 Castle St, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, 270 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, 720 Cumberland St, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Grant A Duffy
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, 310 Castle St, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Neil J Gemmell
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, 270 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Sergio E Morales
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, 720 Cumberland St, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Ceridwen I Fraser
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, 310 Castle St, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
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3
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Ronanki S, Hegemann A, Eikenaar C. Constitutive immune function is not associated with fuel stores in spring migrating passerine birds. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11516. [PMID: 38932964 PMCID: PMC11199120 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Migratory birds may either upregulate their immune system during migration as they might encounter novel pathogens or downregulate their immune system as a consequence of trade-offs with the resource costs of migration. Support for the latter comes not least from a study that reports a positive correlation in autumn migrating birds between fuel stores and parameters of innate and acquired immune function, that is, energy-exhausted migrants appear to have lowered immune function. However, to our knowledge, no study has tested whether this pattern exists in spring migrating birds, which may face other trade-offs than autumn migrants. Here, we investigate if in spring there is a relationship between fuel stores and microbial-killing ability, a measure of innate immune function, and total immunoglobulin (IgY), a measure of acquired immune function, in four migrating bird species: chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs), dunnocks (Prunella modularis), song thrushes (Turdus philomelos) and northern wheatears (Oenanthe oenanthe). Our findings indicate no significant correlation between fuel stores and either microbial killing ability or IgY levels when considering all species collectively. When analysing species separately, we found a significant negative correlation between fuel stores and microbial-killing ability in chaffinches and a positive correlation between fuel stores and IgY levels in wheatears. In song thrushes, but not in any of the other species, there was a significant negative correlation between relative arrival date and microbial-killing ability and between arrival date and IgY levels. Sex did not affect immune function in any of the species. Our study suggests that the relationship between immune function and fuel stores may be different during spring migration compared to autumn migration. Differences in the speed of migration or pathogen pressure may result in different outcomes of the resource trade-off between investment in immune function and migration among the seasons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivani Ronanki
- Department of BiologyLund UniversityLundSweden
- Division of ToxicologyWageningen University and ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
| | | | - Cas Eikenaar
- Institute of Avian Research ‘Vogelwarte Helgoland’WilhelmshavenGermany
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4
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Sheta B, Waheed O, Ayad E, Habbak L, Hyder A. Constitutive immunity is influenced by avian influenza virus-induced modification of gut microbiota in Eurasian teal (Anas crecca). Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2024; 278:109867. [PMID: 38373511 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2024.109867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the dynamics of migrant birds' gut microbial communities is essential for evaluating their ecological interactions, since these birds act as vectors for zoonotic viruses and their gut microbiome may have exceptional relationship with zoonotic viral infection. The Eurasian teal duck Anas crecca traverses continents during migration, combining and providing intercontinental links for avian influenza viruses (AIV) of different origins. The present study aimed to investigate how the AIV infection affects gut microbial composition and evaluate the consequent physiological stress and constitutive immunity of teal birds. Samples were collected from 2 flocks during their migratory stopover in northern Egypt. An important shift in gut microbiota of AIV-infected individuals has been detected by RT-PCR. In healthy teal, firmicutes dominated followed by proteobacteria, while the structure was reversed in infected birds. Infection with AIV significantly increased the stress hormone corticosterone, accompanied by a significant increase in both oxidative stress markers and antioxidants. Constitutive immunity, measured by plasma bactericidal effect against E. coli, the nonspecific natural antibodies, and the mediated complement activation, was reduced in AIV-infected teal birds. Constitutive immunity parameters were proportionally correlated to the firmicutes and inversely to the proteobacteria abundances, but not to the viral positivity. In conclusion, the present study provides initial evidence of the alteration of the gut microbiome in the Eurasian teal Anas crecca by AIV infection and demonstrates that the AIV-induced reduction in constitutive immunity is a consequence of the shift in microbiome composition rather than the virus infection itself or its induced stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basma Sheta
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, New Damietta 34517, Egypt
| | - Omnia Waheed
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, New Damietta 34517, Egypt
| | - Esraa Ayad
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, New Damietta 34517, Egypt
| | - Lotfy Habbak
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, New Damietta 34517, Egypt
| | - Ayman Hyder
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, New Damietta 34517, Egypt.
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5
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Tobolka M, Zielińska Z, Fusani L, Huber N, Maggini I, Pola G, Marasco V. Controlled expression of avian pre-migratory fattening influences indices of innate immunity. Biol Open 2024; 13:bio060018. [PMID: 38252117 PMCID: PMC10836650 DOI: 10.1242/bio.060018] [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: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
While immunity is frequently dampened when birds engage in strenuous migratory flights, whether and how immunity changes during the rapid accumulation of energy stores in preparation for migration remains largely unknown. Here we induced pre-migratory fattening through controlled changes of daylight in common quails (Coturnix coturnix) and regularly assessed changes in three markers of constitutive innate immunity (leukocyte coping capacity or LCC, hemagglutination and hemolysis titres) and measures of body composition (lean and fat mass). All the three markers showed similar changes over the pre-migratory fattening process. LCC responses, hemagglutination titres, and hemolysis titres, were on average higher in the mid-fattening phase compared to the peak-fattening phase, when values were similar to those observed prior the start of pre-migratory fattening. At mid-fattening, we found that the birds that showed a larger accumulation of fat mass (as % of body mass) had lower LCC peak responses and hemolysis titres. Reversibly, at mid-fattening, we also found that the birds that kept a higher proportion of lean mass (as % of body mass) had the highest LCC peaks. Our results indicate that migratory birds undergo changes in immune indices (over 8 weeks) as they accumulate energy stores for migration and propose that this could be due to competing or trade-off processes between metabolic remodelling and innate immune system function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Tobolka
- Department of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71c, 60-625 Poznan, Poland
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1a, 1160 Vienna, Austria
| | - Zuzanna Zielińska
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1a, 1160 Vienna, Austria
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Research Institute for Wildlife and Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1a, 1160 Vienna, Austria
| | - Leonida Fusani
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1a, 1160 Vienna, Austria
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University Biology Building, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Nikolaus Huber
- Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ivan Maggini
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1a, 1160 Vienna, Austria
| | - Gianni Pola
- Istituto Sperimentale Zootecnico per la Sicilia, via Roccazzo 85, 90135 Palermo, Italia
| | - Valeria Marasco
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1a, 1160 Vienna, Austria
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Research Institute for Wildlife and Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1a, 1160 Vienna, Austria
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6
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La Chapelle M, Ruta M, Dunn JC. Bird species with wider geographical ranges have higher blood parasite diversity but not prevalence across the African-Eurasian flyway. Int J Parasitol 2023; 53:787-796. [PMID: 37467874 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Avian blood parasites, from the genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon, are predicted to alter their range and prevalence as global temperatures change, and host and vector ranges shift. Understanding large-scale patterns in the prevalence and diversity of avian malaria and malaria-like parasites is important due to an incomplete understanding of their effects in the wild, where studies suggest even light parasitaemia can potentially cause rapid mortality, especially in naïve populations. We conducted phylogenetically controlled analyses to test for differences in prevalence and lineage diversity of haemoparasite infection (for Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon) in and between resident and migratory species along the African-Eurasian flyway. To test whether migratory strategy or range size drives differences in parasite prevalence and diversity between resident and migrant species, we included three categories of resident species: Eurasian only (n = 36 species), African only (n = 41), and species resident on both continents (n = 17), alongside intercontinental migrants (n = 64), using a subset of data from the MalAvi database comprising 27,861 individual birds. We found that species resident on both continents had a higher overall parasite diversity than all other categories. Eurasian residents had lower Plasmodium diversity than all other groups, and both migrants and species resident on both continents had higher Haemoproteus diversity than both African and Eurasian residents. Leucocytozoon diversity did not differ between groups. Prevalence patterns were less clear, with marked differences between genera. Both Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon prevalence was higher in species resident on both continents and African residents than in migrants and Eurasian residents. Haemoproteus prevalence was lower in Eurasian residents than species resident on both continents. Our findings contrast with previous findings in the North-South American flyway, where long-distance migrants had higher parasite diversity than residents and short-distance migrants, although we found contrasting patterns for parasite diversity to those seen for parasite prevalence. Crucially, our results suggest that geographic range may be more important than migratory strategy in driving parasite diversity within species along the African-Palaearctic flyway. Our findings differ between the three parasite genera included in our analysis, suggesting that vector ecology may be important in determining these large-scale patterns. Our results add to our understanding of global patterns in parasite diversity and abundance, and highlight the need to better understand the influence of vector ecology to understand the drivers of infection risk and predict responses to environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary La Chapelle
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Lincoln, Joseph Banks Laboratories, Green Lane, Lincoln LN6 7DL, UK
| | - Marcello Ruta
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Lincoln, Joseph Banks Laboratories, Green Lane, Lincoln LN6 7DL, UK
| | - Jenny C Dunn
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Lincoln, Joseph Banks Laboratories, Green Lane, Lincoln LN6 7DL, UK.
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7
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Sumasgutner P, Cunningham SJ, Hegemann A, Amar A, Watson H, Nilsson JF, Andersson MN, Isaksson C. Interactive effects of rising temperatures and urbanisation on birds across different climate zones: A mechanistic perspective. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:2399-2420. [PMID: 36911976 PMCID: PMC10947105 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Climate change and urbanisation are among the most pervasive and rapidly growing threats to biodiversity worldwide. However, their impacts are usually considered in isolation, and interactions are rarely examined. Predicting species' responses to the combined effects of climate change and urbanisation, therefore, represents a pressing challenge in global change biology. Birds are important model taxa for exploring the impacts of both climate change and urbanisation, and their behaviour and physiology have been well studied in urban and non-urban systems. This understanding should allow interactive effects of rising temperatures and urbanisation to be inferred, yet considerations of these interactions are almost entirely lacking from empirical research. Here, we synthesise our current understanding of the potential mechanisms that could affect how species respond to the combined effects of rising temperatures and urbanisation, with a focus on avian taxa. We discuss potential interactive effects to motivate future in-depth research on this critically important, yet overlooked, aspect of global change biology. Increased temperatures are a pronounced consequence of both urbanisation (through the urban heat island effect) and climate change. The biological impact of this warming in urban and non-urban systems will likely differ in magnitude and direction when interacting with other factors that typically vary between these habitats, such as resource availability (e.g. water, food and microsites) and pollution levels. Furthermore, the nature of such interactions may differ for cities situated in different climate types, for example, tropical, arid, temperate, continental and polar. Within this article, we highlight the potential for interactive effects of climate and urban drivers on the mechanistic responses of birds, identify knowledge gaps and propose promising future research avenues. A deeper understanding of the behavioural and physiological mechanisms mediating species' responses to urbanisation and rising temperatures will provide novel insights into ecology and evolution under global change and may help better predict future population responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Sumasgutner
- Konrad Lorenz Research Centre, Core Facility for Behavior and Cognition, Department of Behavioral & Cognitive BiologyUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI‐NRF Centre of ExcellenceUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Susan J. Cunningham
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI‐NRF Centre of ExcellenceUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | | | - Arjun Amar
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI‐NRF Centre of ExcellenceUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
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8
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Eikenaar C, Ostolani A, Hessler S, Ye EY, Hegemann A. Recovery of constitutive immune function after migratory endurance flight in free-living birds. Biol Lett 2023; 19:20220518. [PMID: 36789532 PMCID: PMC9929496 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Strenuous physical activity can negatively affect constitutive innate immune function (CIF), the always present first line of defence against pathogens. CIF is non-specific, and thus vital when encountering novel pathogens. A lowered CIF likely increases the risk of infection and disease. Migratory birds engage in truly extreme physical activity during their endurance flights, however, little is known about how they deal with the negative impact this has on their immune function. By collecting both between- and within-individual data we show, for the first time, that free-flying migratory birds can recover several parameters of CIF during stopovers, which are stationary periods in between migratory flights. With this, we provide an important piece of the puzzle on how migrating birds cope with the physiological challenges they face on their biannual journeys. Furthermore, our study stresses the importance of migratory stopovers beyond fuel accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cas Eikenaar
- Institute of Avian Research ‘Vogelwarte Helgoland’, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | | | - Sven Hessler
- Institute of Avian Research ‘Vogelwarte Helgoland’, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Ellen Y. Ye
- Institute of Avian Research ‘Vogelwarte Helgoland’, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Arne Hegemann
- Department of Biology, Lund University, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden
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9
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Nwaogu CJ, Amar A, Nebel C, Isaksson C, Hegemann A, Sumasgutner P. Innate immune function and antioxidant capacity of nestlings of an African raptor covary with the level of urbanisation around breeding territories. J Anim Ecol 2023; 92:124-141. [PMID: 36353782 PMCID: PMC10107107 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Urban areas provide breeding habitats for many species. However, animals raised in urban environments face challenges such as altered food availability and quality, pollution and pathogen assemblages. These challenges can affect physiological processes such as immune function and antioxidant defences which are important for fitness. Here, we explore how levels of urbanisation influence innate immune function, immune response to a mimicked bacterial infection and antioxidant capacity of nestling Black Sparrowhawks Accipiter melanoleucus in South Africa. We also explore the effect of timing of breeding and rainfall on physiology since both can influence the environmental condition under which nestlings are raised. Finally, because urbanisation can influence immune function indirectly, we use path analyses to explore direct and indirect associations between urbanisation, immune function and oxidative stress. We obtained measures of innate immunity (haptoglobin, lysis, agglutination, bactericidal capacity), indices of antioxidant capacity (total non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity (tAOX) and total glutathione from nestlings from 2015 to 2019. In addition, in 2018 and 2019, we mimicked a bacterial infection by injecting nestlings with lipopolysaccharide and quantified their immune response. Increased urban cover was associated with an increase in lysis and a decrease in tAOX, but not with any of the other physiological parameters. Furthermore, except for agglutination, no physiological parameters were associated with the timing of breeding. Lysis and bactericidal capacity, however, varied consistently with the annual rainfall pattern. Immune response to a mimicked a bacterial infection decreased with urban cover but not with the timing of breeding nor rainfall. Our path analyses suggested indirect associations between urban cover and some immune indices via tAOX but not via the timing of breeding. Our results show that early-life development in an urban environment is associated with variation in immune and antioxidant functions. The direct association between urbanisation and antioxidant capacity and their impact on immune function is likely an important factor mediating the impact of urbanisation on urban-dwelling animals. Future studies should explore how these results are linked to fitness and whether the responses are adaptive for urban-dwelling species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chima Josiah Nwaogu
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Arjun Amar
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Carina Nebel
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | | | - Arne Hegemann
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Petra Sumasgutner
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Konrad Lorenz Research Centre, Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition, University of Vienna, Grünau/Almtal, Austria.,Department of Behavioural & Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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10
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Ágh N, Csörgő T, Szöllősi E. Delay in arrival: lineage-specific influence of haemosporidians on autumn migration of European robins. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:2831-2840. [PMID: 36001132 PMCID: PMC9464164 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07621-5] [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: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Haemosporidian blood parasites are widely used in evolutionary ecological research when exploring the effects of parasites on different life-history traits of their bird hosts. However, their roles in bird migration are less studied. If these parasites deteriorate the body condition of the birds strongly, they might negatively affect the whole migration phenology and the survival of the birds as well. In our study, we tested the relationships between infection for parasite genera (Haemoproteus or Plasmodium), the three most frequent parasite lineages and body condition (body mass, fat deposit), and the timing of autumn migration in the European Robin (Erithacus rubecula). We found that mean body mass and fat scores did not differ between parasitized and non-parasitized individuals, but infected juveniles arrived later than their non-infected counterparts. The difference in the arrival time of parasitized and non-parasitized birds was greater in the case of Haemoproteus infections. However, when we analysed the effects of the distinct parasite lineages separately, we found that prevalence of parasite lineages correlated with the body mass, fat storage, and timing of autumn migration of the birds in a different direction. Our results therefore emphasize the importance of testing the impacts of the different parasites individually, because possible lineage-specific effects on bird condition during migration might exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nóra Ágh
- ELKH-PE Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, Hungary. .,Department of Ecology, Molecular Ecology Research Group, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary. .,Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Center for Natural Sciences, University of Pannonia, Egyetem str. 10, 8200, Veszprém, Hungary.
| | - Tibor Csörgő
- Department of Anatomy Cell- and Developmental Biology, ELTE, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Eszter Szöllősi
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Behavioural Ecology Group, ELTE, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
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11
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Hegemann A, Birberg C, Hasselquist D, Nilsson JÅ. Early and Late Migrating Avian Individuals Differ in Constitutive Immune Function and Blood Parasite Infections – But Patterns Depend on the Migratory Strategy. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.880426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Billions of birds migrate every year. To conduct a successful migration, birds undergo a multitude of physiological adaptions. One such adaptation includes adjustments of immune function, however, little is known about intraspecies (between-individual) and interspecies (between-species) variation in immune modulations during migration. Here, we explore if early and late migrating individuals differ in their immune function, and if such patterns differ among species with short- vs. long-distance migration strategies. We quantified three parameters of baseline (constitutive) innate immune function and one parameter of baseline (constitutive) acquired immune function in 417 individuals of 10 species caught during autumn migration at Falsterbo (Sweden). Early and late migrating individuals differed in lysis and total immunoglobulins (IgY), but the patterns show different directions in long-distance migrants (LDMs) (wintering in Africa) as compared to short-distance migrants (SDMs) (wintering within Europe). Specifically, early migrating LDMs had lower lysis but higher immunoglobulin levels than late migrating individuals. In short distance migrants, there was no difference in lysis between early and late migrating individuals, but immunoglobulin levels were higher in late migrating individuals. We found no correlation between timing of migration and haptoglobin, but LDMs had lower levels of haptoglobin than SDMs. We also found that the prevalence of haemosporidian blood parasite infections decreased in LDMs, but increased in SDMs, as the autumn progressed. Taken together, our study suggests that the investment into immune function depends on the migratory strategy (short- vs. long-distance migrants), and that early and late migrating individuals of a migration strategy might invest differently in baseline immune function, potentially driven by differences in the trade-offs with timing and speed of migration. Our study highlights the potential adaptations of immune function that could help explain trade-offs with other physiological systems, and behavioural responses during migration.
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Schmaljohann H, Eikenaar C, Sapir N. Understanding the ecological and evolutionary function of stopover in migrating birds. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2022; 97:1231-1252. [PMID: 35137518 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Global movement patterns of migratory birds illustrate their fascinating physical and physiological abilities to cross continents and oceans. During their voyages, most birds land multiple times to make so-called 'stopovers'. Our current knowledge on the functions of stopover is mainly based on the proximate study of departure decisions. However, such studies are insufficient to gauge fully the ecological and evolutionary functions of stopover. If we study how a focal trait, e.g. changes in energy stores, affects the decision to depart from a stopover without considering the trait(s) that actually caused the bird to land, e.g. unfavourable environmental conditions for flight, we misinterpret the function of the stopover. It is thus important to realise and acknowledge that stopovers have many different functions, and that not every migrant has the same (set of) reasons to stop-over. Additionally, we may obtain contradictory results because the significance of different traits to a migrant is context dependent. For instance, late spring migrants may be more prone to risk-taking and depart from a stopover with lower energy stores than early spring migrants. Thus, we neglect that departure decisions are subject to selection to minimise immediate (mortality risk) and/or delayed (low future reproductive output) fitness costs. To alleviate these issues, we first define stopover as an interruption of migratory endurance flight to minimise immediate and/or delayed fitness costs. Second, we review all probable functions of stopover, which include accumulating energy, various forms of physiological recovery and avoiding adverse environmental conditions for flight, and list potential other functions that are less well studied, such as minimising predation, recovery from physical exhaustion and spatiotemporal adjustments to migration. Third, derived from these aspects, we argue for a paradigm shift in stopover ecology research. This includes focusing on why an individual interrupts its migratory flight, which is more likely to identify the individual-specific function(s) of the stopover correctly than departure-decision studies. Moreover, we highlight that the selective forces acting on stopover decisions are context dependent and are expected to differ between, e.g. K-/r-selected species, the sexes and migration strategies. For example, all else being equal, r-selected species (low survival rate, high reproductive rate) should have a stronger urge to continue the migratory endurance flight or resume migration from a stopover because the potential increase in immediate fitness costs suffered from a flight is offset by the expected higher reproductive success in the subsequent breeding season. Finally, we propose to focus less on proximate mechanisms controlling landing and departure decisions, and more on ultimate mechanisms to identify the selective forces shaping stopover decisions. Our ideas are not limited to birds but can be applied to any migratory species. Our revised definition of stopover and the proposed paradigm shift has the potential to stimulate a fruitful discussion towards a better evolutionary ecological understanding of the functions of stopover. Furthermore, identifying the functions of stopover will support targeted measures to conserve and restore the functionality of stopover sites threatened by anthropogenic environmental changes. This is especially important for long-distance migrants, which currently are in alarming decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko Schmaljohann
- Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences (IBU), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße 9-11, Oldenburg, 26129, Germany.,Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, Wilhelmshaven, 26386, Germany
| | - Cas Eikenaar
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, Wilhelmshaven, 26386, Germany
| | - Nir Sapir
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology and the Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Khoushy Ave, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
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Frias-Soler RC, Kelsey NA, Villarín Pildaín L, Wink M, Bairlein F. Transcriptome signature changes in the liver of a migratory passerine. Genomics 2022; 114:110283. [PMID: 35143886 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2022.110283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The liver plays a principal role in avian migration. Here, we characterised the liver transcriptome of a long-distance migrant, the Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe), sampled at different migratory stages, looking for molecular processes linked with adaptations to migration. The analysis of the differentially expressed genes suggested changes in the periods of the circadian rhythm, variation in the proportion of cells in G1/S cell-cycle stages and the putative polyploidization of this cell population. This may explain the dramatic increment in the liver's metabolic capacities towards migration. Additionally, genes involved in anti-oxidative stress, detoxification and innate immune responses, lipid metabolism, inflammation and angiogenesis were regulated. Lipophagy and lipid catabolism were active at all migratory stages and increased towards the fattening and fat periods, explaining the relevance of lipolysis in controlling steatosis and maintaining liver health. Our study clears the way for future functional studies regarding long-distance avian migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Carlos Frias-Soler
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany; Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Natalie A Kelsey
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
| | - Lilian Villarín Pildaín
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Wink
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany; Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany.
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Herbert JA, Mizrahi D, Taylor CM. Migration tactics and connectivity of a Nearctic-Neotropical migratory shorebird. J Anim Ecol 2022; 91:819-830. [PMID: 35118651 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13670] [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: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
During long-distance spring migrations, birds may rest and refuel at numerous stopover sites while minimizing the time to reach the breeding grounds. If habitat is limited along the migration route, pre-breeding birds optimize flight range by having longer stopovers at higher quality sites compared to poorer quality sites. Stopover duration also depends on distance remaining to breeding grounds, ecological barriers, and individual characteristics. We assessed spring migration tactics and connectivity of a Nearctic-Neotropical migratory shorebird, the semipalmated sandpiper (Calidris pusilla), at two sites with known relative habitat quality on the Northern Gulf of Mexico (NGOM) coast, the first land encountered after crossing the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). We used automated radio telemetry (Motus) to estimate stopover duration and probability of departure. Migration speed was estimated for individuals detected at subsequent receivers on the Motus Network. To measure migratory connectivity, we used morphometrics and the Motus network to assign general breeding regions. Additionally, feather stable isotope ratios of C and N provided coarse information about over-wintering regions. Stopover duration declined with higher fuel loads at capture as expected under a time-minimizing strategy. After accounting for fuel load, stopover duration was approximately 40% longer at the higher quality site. We found no detectable effect of age, sex, or breeding location on stopover behavior. Probability of departure was strongly affected by humidity and also by tailwind and weather conditions. Birds stopping at the higher-quality site had earlier apparent arrival to the breeding grounds. The Louisiana coast is an apparent stopover hub for this species, since the individuals were departing to range-wide breeding regions and isotope values suggested birds were also using widespread wintering regions. Our study shows how high-quality, coastal wetlands along the NGOM coast serve a critical role in the annual cycle of a migratory shorebird. Stopover behavior indicated that high quality habitat may be limited for this species during spring migration. As threats to the GOM coast increase, protection of these already limited wetlands is vitally important.
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Affiliation(s)
- John A Herbert
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, 6823 St. Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA, USA, 70118
| | - David Mizrahi
- New Jersey Audubon Society, Cape May Bird Observatory Center for Research and Education, Cape May Court House, NJ, USA
| | - Caz M Taylor
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, 6823 St. Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA, USA, 70118
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Bauer CM, Watts HE. Corticosterone's roles in avian migration: Assessment of three hypotheses. Horm Behav 2021; 135:105033. [PMID: 34273707 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2021.105033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
While corticosterone (CORT) is often suggested to be an important hormone regulating processes necessary for avian migration, there has been no systematic assessment of CORT's role in migration. Prior to migration, birds increase fat stores and flight muscle size to prepare for the high energetic costs associated with long-distance flight. After attaining sufficient energetic stores, birds then make the actual decision to depart from their origin site. Once en route birds alternate between periods of flight and stopovers, during which they rest and refuel for their next bouts of endurance flight. Here, we evaluate three non-mutually exclusive hypotheses that have been proposed in the literature for CORT's role in migration. (1) CORT facilitates physiological preparations for migration [e.g. hyperphagia, fattening, and flight muscle hypertrophy]. (2) CORT stimulates departure from origin or stopover sites. (3) CORT supports sustained migratory travel. After examining the literature to test predictions stemming from each of these three hypotheses, we found weak support for a role of CORT in physiological preparation for migration. However, we found moderate support for a role of CORT in stimulating departures, as CORT increases immediately prior to departure and is higher when migratory restlessness is displayed. We also found moderate support for the hypothesis that CORT helps maintain sustained travel, as CORT is generally higher during periods of flight, though few studies have tested this hypothesis. We provide recommendations for future studies that would help to further resolve the role of CORT in migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn M Bauer
- Department of Biology, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA, USA.
| | - Heather E Watts
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA; Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
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Drzewińska-Chańko J, Włodarczyk R, Gajewski A, Rudnicka K, Dunn PO, Minias P. Immunocompetent birds choose larger breeding colonies. J Anim Ecol 2021; 90:2325-2335. [PMID: 34028816 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Optimal size of social groups may vary between individuals, depending on their phenotypic traits, such as dominance status, age or personality. Larger social groups often enhance transmission rates of pathogens and should be avoided by individuals with poor immune defences. In contrast, more immunocompetent individuals are expected to take advantage of larger group sizes (e.g. better protection, information transfer) with smaller extra costs from pathogen or parasite pressure. Here, we hypothesized that immunocompetence may be a key determinant of group size choice and tested this hypothesis in a colonial waterbird, the common tern Sterna hirundo. We used a unique experimental framework, where formation of breeding colonies of different sizes was induced under uniform environmental conditions. For this purpose, different-size patches of attractive nesting substrate (artificial floating rafts) were provided at a single site with limited availability of natural nesting habitat. Colony size was identified as the only significant predictor of both innate (natural antibody-mediated complement activation) and adaptive (immunoglobulin concentrations) immunological traits in the common terns, as more immunocompetent birds settled in larger experimental colonies. In contrast, we found no significant associations between colony size and genetic diversity of key pathogen-recognition receptors, toll-like receptors (TLRs) and the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) or genome-wide heterozygosity. We conclude that settlement decisions may be flexible within individuals and, thus, are likely to be primarily determined by the current immunological status, rather than fixed immunogenetic traits. Our study sheds new light on the complex interface between immunity and sociality in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Drzewińska-Chańko
- Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland
| | - Radosław Włodarczyk
- Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland
| | - Adrian Gajewski
- Department of Immunology and Allergy, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland
| | - Karolina Rudnicka
- Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Immunology and Infectious Biology, University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland
| | - Peter O Dunn
- Behavioral and Molecular Ecology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Piotr Minias
- Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland
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Aastrup C, Hegemann A. Jackdaw nestlings rapidly increase innate immune function during the nestling phase but no evidence for a trade-off with growth. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 117:103967. [PMID: 33316356 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2020.103967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Although animals are born with a protective immune system, even the innate immune system is under development from birth to adulthood and this development may be affected by sex and growth. However, most knowledge comes from captive animals or long-lived slow growing species. Moreover, little is known about how innate immune function, the important first line of defence, develops during early life in fast-growing animals such as free-living passerines. We studied development of innate baseline immune function in nestlings of free-living jackdaws Corvus monedula. We measured four immune parameters (hemolysis, hemagglutination, bacterial-killing capacity, haptoglobin concentration) and structural body size (body mass, wing length, tarsus length) at day 12 and day 29 post-hatching. We found that three out of four immune parameters (hemolysis, hemagglutination, bacterial-killing capacity) substantially increased with nestling age and had roughly reached adult levels shortly prior to fledging. We found little differences in immune development between males and females despite them differing in structural development. We also found no evidence that the nestlings traded off immune development with growth. That nestlings rapidly increase innate baseline immune function during early life and similarly in males and females indicates the importance of a well-functioning immune system already during the nestling phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Aastrup
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Ecology Building (Sölvegatan 37), 223 62, Lund, Sweden
| | - Arne Hegemann
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Ecology Building (Sölvegatan 37), 223 62, Lund, Sweden.
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Hazlehurst J, Rankin D, Clark C, McFrederick Q, Wilson-Rankin E. Macroecological patterns of resource use in resident and migratory hummingbirds. Basic Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2021.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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