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Pitarch A, Diéguez-Uribeondo J, Martín-Torrijos L, Sergio F, Blanco G. Fungal signatures of oral disease reflect environmental degradation in a facultative avian scavenger. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 837:155397. [PMID: 35460785 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Degradation of natural ecosystems increases the risk of infections in wildlife due to microbiota dysbiosis. However, little is known about its influence on the development of fungal communities in predators and facultative avian scavengers. We evaluated the incidence of oral disease in wild nestling black kites (Milvus migrans) under contrasting environmental degradation conditions, and explored their oral fungal patterns using molecular methods and multivariate analysis. Oral lesions were found in 36.8% of the 38 nestlings examined in an anthropogenically altered habitat (southeastern Madrid, Spain), but in none of the 105 nestlings examined in a well-conserved natural area (Doñana National Park, Spain). In a subsample of 48 black kites, the composition of the oral fungal community differed among symptomatic nestlings from Madrid (SM) and asymptomatic nestlings from Madrid (AM) and Doñana (AD). Opportunistic fungal pathogens (e.g., Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex, Mucor spp., Rhizopus oryzae) were more prevalent in SM and AM than in AD. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analyses revealed that fungal patterns were distinct between both study areas, and that anthropogenic and natural environmental factors had a greater impact on them than oral disease. Fungal signatures associated with anthropogenic and natural stresses harbored some taxa that could be used to flag oral infection (F. incarnatum-equiseti species complex and Alternaria), indicate environmental degradation (Alternaria) or provide protective benefits in degraded environments (Trichoderma, Epicoccum nigrum and Sordaria). Co-occurrence associations between potentially beneficial and pathogenic fungi were typical of AM and AD, hinting at a possible role in host health. This study shows that early-life exposure to highly degraded environments induces a shift towards a higher prevalence of pathogenic species in the oral cavity of black kites, favoring oral disease. Furthermore, our findings suggest potential ecological applications of the monitoring of oral mycobiome as a bioindication of oral disease and environmental degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Pitarch
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) and Ramón y Cajal Institute of Health Research (IRYCIS), Plaza Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Teaching Unit of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Optics and Optometry, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Arcos de Jalón, 118, 28037 Madrid, Spain.
| | | | - Laura Martín-Torrijos
- Department of Mycology, Real Jardín Botánico-CSIC, Plaza Murillo 2, 28014 Madrid, Spain
| | - Fabrizio Sergio
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estacion Biologica de Doñana-CSIC, Americo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Guillermo Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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Blanco G, Frías Ó, Pitarch A, Carrete M. Oral disease is linked to low nestling condition and brood size in a raptor species living in a highly modified environment. Curr Zool 2022; 69:109-120. [PMID: 37091997 PMCID: PMC10120997 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoac025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Anthropogenic stressors can favor the occurrence of non-infectious disease that can be worsened by the impact of opportunistic pathogens, making the epizootiology of environmental diseases difficult to unravel. The incidence and impact of oral lesions in nestlings of a facultative scavenger species, the black kite Milvus migrans, were examined over seven breeding seasons in the highly degraded environment close to Madrid, Spain. We found an overall prevalence of 31% of nestlings with oral lesions, with no clear spatial pattern in nests with affected and unaffected individuals. The occurrence and number of oral lesions was negatively associated with nestling body condition and brood size. Broods where all siblings had oral lesions were smaller than those where some or all siblings were apparently healthy, suggesting that oral disease could be causing nestling mortality and, consequently, brood size reduction. In turn, nestling body condition was negatively affected by lesion occurrence, brood size and laying date. Although these relationship were bidirectional, piecewise structural equation modeling analyses showed a greater negative effect of body condition on lesion occurrence than vice versa, indicating that nestlings in poorer body condition were more likely to develop oral lesions (which could contribute to aggravate their state of deterioration) than those in better condition. Nestlings from small broods were also more likely to have oral disease (directly or indirectly through their lower body condition) than nestlings from large broods. Nestlings that hatched last in the broods showed greater development stress than those that hatched first. Anthropogenic stressors could trigger poor body condition, and contribute to microbiota dysbiosis-related diseases. Although further research is needed to determine the consequences for the long-term fitness of individuals, actions should be taken to mitigate adverse conditions that may favor the appearance of environmental diseases associated with peri-urban areas, given their rapid expansion over natural areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC. José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, Madrid, 28006, Spain
| | - Óscar Frías
- Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural Systems, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Carretera de Utrera, km 1, Sevilla, 41013, Spain
| | - Aida Pitarch
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) and Ramón y Cajal Institute of Health Research (IRYCIS), Plaza Ramón y Cajal s/n, Madrid, 28040, Spain
- Teaching Unit of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Optics and Optometry, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Arcos de Jalón, 118, Madrid, 28037, Spain
| | - Martina Carrete
- Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural Systems, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Carretera de Utrera, km 1, Sevilla, 41013, Spain
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Cohas A, Bichet C, Garcia R, Pardonnet S, Lardy S, Rey B. Litter characteristics and helping context during early life shape the responsiveness of the stress axis in a wild cooperative breeder. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-03108-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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4
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Plaza PI, Blanco G, Wiemeyer G, López-Rull I, Hornero-Méndez D, Donázar JA, Hiraldo F, Lambertucci SA. Plasma carotenoids and immunity in a despotic avian scavenger. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2020; 333:569-578. [PMID: 32649061 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Carotenoids are pigmented compounds acquired through diet that have important functions as antioxidants and immune modulators. We studied the association between immunity and circulating carotenoids in Andean condors (Vultur gryphus). We evaluated the relationship between α-, β-, and γ-globulin blood concentrations and different circulating carotenoids in two groups of Andean condors that differ in their mean health status, rehabilitating (suffering different pathologies), and wild individuals (trapped when displaying their physiological behavior). In rehabilitating individuals, α-, β-, and γ-globulin concentrations were higher than in wild individuals. This shows that rehabilitating individuals were developing an immune response associated with the pathologies that they were suffering at the time of sampling. In addition, circulating carotenoids were lower in rehabilitating than in wild individuals. We found negative correlations between α-, β-, and γ-globulins and different circulating carotenoids in rehabilitating individuals, but not in wild condors. Xanthophylls were strongly related to α-, β-, and γ-globulin blood concentrations in rehabilitating, but not in wild condors. Our results suggest that there is a potential relationship between circulating carotenoids and immunity in the Andean condor. Given that this species may display a carotenoid-based pigmentation, our results could suggest that a trade-off between the immune system and external coloration could operate in this species, which may have implications in their access to food resources and mate selection and, thus, in their conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo I Plaza
- Grupo de Investigaciones en Biología de la Conservación, Laboratorio Ecotono, INIBIOMA (Universidad Nacional del Comahue-CONICET), San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Guillermo Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Guillermo Wiemeyer
- Grupo de Investigaciones en Biología de la Conservación, Laboratorio Ecotono, INIBIOMA (Universidad Nacional del Comahue-CONICET), San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina.,The Peregrine Fund, Boise, Idaho.,Ecoparque Buenos Aires-Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Isabel López-Rull
- Departamento Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Móstoles, Spain
| | - Dámaso Hornero-Méndez
- Department of Food Phytochemistry, Instituto de la Grasa (CSIC), Campus Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - José A Donázar
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Fernando Hiraldo
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Sergio A Lambertucci
- Grupo de Investigaciones en Biología de la Conservación, Laboratorio Ecotono, INIBIOMA (Universidad Nacional del Comahue-CONICET), San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina
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Bakaloudis DE, Papakosta MA, Guy-Yosef M, Kosicki JZ, Goutner V, Vlachos CG, Yosef R. Sibling competition affects body condition and allostatic load in the colonial nesting lesser kestrel Falco naumanni. JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE BIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.25225/jvb.19058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios E. Bakaloudis
- School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.O. Box 241, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece; e-mail: , ,
| | - Malamati A. Papakosta
- School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.O. Box 241, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece; e-mail: , ,
| | - Maya Guy-Yosef
- Department of Biostatistics, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel; e-mail:
| | - Jakub Z. Kosicki
- Department of Avian Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, ul. Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61 614 Poznań, Poland; e-mail:
| | - Vassilis Goutner
- Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece; e-mail:
| | - Christos G. Vlachos
- School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.O. Box 241, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece; e-mail: , ,
| | - Reuven Yosef
- Ben Gurion University of the Negev – Eilat Campus, P.O. Box 272, 88000 Eilat, Israel; e-mail:
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Plaza PI, Blanco G, Barbar F, Wiemeyer G, Alarcón P, Donázar JA, Hiraldo F, Lambertucci SA. Protein electrophoresis in Andean condors (Vultur gryphus): Reference values and differences between wild and rehabilitating individuals. Zoo Biol 2019; 38:508-515. [PMID: 31541494 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Revised: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The study of wildlife health greatly contributes to understanding population dynamics and detecting conservation threats. The determination of the different fractions of plasma proteins (proteinogram) is an important laboratory tool to study wildlife health. The aim of this study was to characterize protein electrophoresis in wild Andean condors (Vultur gryphus) from north-western Patagonia and to evaluate differences according to age and sex classes. Once reference values of wild, apparently healthy individuals, were established, we compared these values to those of individuals received at the Buenos Aires Zoo in Argentina for rehabilitation due to various health problems. Reference proteinograms from wild Andean condors differed only in the α 1 and β 2-fractions between sex categories. Males showed higher concentrations of these protein fractions than females. We found clear differences between wild birds and rehabilitating individuals. Total proteins, globulins, α 1-globulins, total α-globulins, β 2-globulins, total β-globulins, and γ-globulins were significantly higher in rehabilitating than in wild individuals, whereas albumin, α 2, and β1-globulins were similar between these groups. The albumin/globulin ratio, as a general indicator of health, was significantly lower in rehabilitating than in wild individuals. The results indicate the effects on different protein fractions of pathologic processes occurring in individuals undergoing rehabilitation. Our results provide useful insights, contributing to improving diagnoses and prognoses in this species. This information may also be useful to assess the health status of Andean condors in studies of wild populations and for comparisons with other bird species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo I Plaza
- Grupo de investigaciones en Biología de la Conservación, Laboratorio Ecotono, INIBIOMA (Universidad Nacional del Comahue-CONICET), San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Guillermo Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Facundo Barbar
- Grupo de investigaciones en Biología de la Conservación, Laboratorio Ecotono, INIBIOMA (Universidad Nacional del Comahue-CONICET), San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Guillermo Wiemeyer
- Grupo de investigaciones en Biología de la Conservación, Laboratorio Ecotono, INIBIOMA (Universidad Nacional del Comahue-CONICET), San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina.,The Peregrine Fund, Boise, Idaho.,Ecoparque Buenos Aires, CABA, Argentina
| | - Pablo Alarcón
- Grupo de investigaciones en Biología de la Conservación, Laboratorio Ecotono, INIBIOMA (Universidad Nacional del Comahue-CONICET), San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina
| | - José Antonio Donázar
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Fernando Hiraldo
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Sergio A Lambertucci
- Grupo de investigaciones en Biología de la Conservación, Laboratorio Ecotono, INIBIOMA (Universidad Nacional del Comahue-CONICET), San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina
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7
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Blanco G, Sergio F, Frías Ó, Salinas P, Tanferna A, Hiraldo F, Barceló D, Eljarrat E. Integrating population connectivity into pollution assessment: Overwintering mixing reveals flame retardant contamination in breeding areas in a migratory raptor. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2018; 166:553-561. [PMID: 29960221 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.06.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Determining the exposure and magnitude at which various pollutants are differentially assimilated at the breeding and non-breeding grounds of migratory wildlife is challenging. Here, the possibility of applying the migratory connectivity framework to understanding contamination in birds is illustrated by considering flame retardants in inviable eggs of a migratory raptor, the black kite (Milvus migrans). The occurrence and concentration of legacy and emerging compounds in eggs from the southeastern peri-urban area of Madrid city, central Spain, were compared with those from Doñana National Park in southern Spain. A much higher occurrence and concentration of multiple polybrominated diphenyl ethers and Dechlorane 602 were found in Madrid than Doñana, but the opposite patterns were found for Dechlorane Plus. Individuals from these and other breeding areas in western Europe showed a strong intermixing pattern over widespread wintering areas in Africa, as assessed by ringing recoveries and movements tracked by satellite devices. This diffuse migratory connectivity reveals breeding areas as the main contamination grounds. High contamination burdens sequestered in eggs point to rapid assimilation of these compounds before laying, associated with important emission sources in Madrid, especially landfills of partially incinerated urban refuse, and other anthropogenic operations. Diet composition regarding aquatic vs. terrestrial prey, and bioaccumulation and biomagnification processes are suggested to explain differential assimilation of some compounds, especially Dechlorane Plus in Doñana, although a local emission source polluting this area cannot be ruled out. Insight from the migratory connectivity framework can help to disentangle large-scale patterns of contaminant uptake and refocus attention on key regions and potential causes of chemical hazards in declining migratory species and human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Fabrizio Sergio
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estacion Biologica de Doñana CSIC, C/ Americo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Óscar Frías
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Salinas
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alessandro Tanferna
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estacion Biologica de Doñana CSIC, C/ Americo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Fernando Hiraldo
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estacion Biologica de Doñana CSIC, C/ Americo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Damià Barceló
- Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona, 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ethel Eljarrat
- Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona, 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
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López-Rull I, Hornero-Méndez D, Frías Ó, Blanco G. Age-Related Relationships between Innate Immunity and Plasma Carotenoids in an Obligate Avian Scavenger. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0141759. [PMID: 26544885 PMCID: PMC4636298 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Variation in immunity is influenced by allocation trade-offs that are expected to change between age-classes as a result of the different environmental and physiological conditions that individuals encounter over their lifetime. One such trade-off occurs with carotenoids, which must be acquired with food and are involved in a variety of physiological functions. Nonetheless, relationships between immunity and carotenoids in species where these micronutrients are scarce due to diet are poorly studied. Among birds, vultures show the lowest concentrations of plasma carotenoids due to a diet based on carrion. Here, we investigated variations in the relationships between innate immunity (hemagglutination by natural antibodies and hemolysis by complement proteins), pathogen infection and plasma carotenoids in nestling and adult griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) in the wild. Nestlings showed lower hemolysis, higher total carotenoid concentration and higher pathogen infection than adults. Hemolysis was negatively related to carotenoid concentration only in nestlings. A differential carotenoid allocation to immunity due to the incomplete development of the immune system of nestlings compared with adults is suggested linked to, or regardless of, potential differences in parasite infection, which requires experimental testing. We also found that individuals with more severe pathogen infections showed lower hemagglutination than those with a lower intensity infection irrespective of their age and carotenoid level. These results are consistent with the idea that intraspecific relationships between innate immunity and carotenoids may change across ontogeny, even in species lacking carotenoid-based coloration. Thus, even low concentrations of plasma carotenoids due to a scavenger diet can be essential to the development and activation of the immune system in growing birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel López-Rull
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, Madrid, España
- * E-mail:
| | - Dámaso Hornero-Méndez
- Departamento de Biotecnología de Alimentos, Instituto de la Grasa-CSIC, Sevilla, España
| | - Óscar Frías
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, Madrid, España
| | - Guillermo Blanco
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, Madrid, España
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Soler JJ, Ruiz Castellano C, Martínez-de la Puente J, Tomás G, Ruiz-Rodríguez M, Figuerola J. Telomere dynamics in parasitic great spotted cuckoos and their magpie hosts. J Evol Biol 2015; 28:1610-7. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2015] [Revised: 06/14/2015] [Accepted: 06/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. J. Soler
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva; Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC); Almería Spain
| | - C. Ruiz Castellano
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva; Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC); Almería Spain
| | | | - G. Tomás
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva; Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC); Almería Spain
| | - M. Ruiz-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva; Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC); Almería Spain
| | - J. Figuerola
- Departamento de Ecología de Humedales; Estación Biológica Doñana (CSIC); Sevilla Spain
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Sternalski A, Mougeot F, Pérez-Rodríguez L, Bretagnolle V. Carotenoid-based coloration, condition, and immune responsiveness in the nestlings of a sexually dimorphic bird of prey. Physiol Biochem Zool 2012; 85:364-75. [PMID: 22705486 DOI: 10.1086/665981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
In many birds, nestlings exhibit brightly colored traits that are pigmented by carotenoids. Carotenoids are diet limited and also serve important health-related physiological functions. The proximate mechanisms behind the expression of these carotenoid-pigmented traits are still poorly known, especially in nestlings with sexual size dimorphism. In these nestlings, intrabrood competition levels and growth strategies likely differ between sexes, and this may in turn influence carotenoid allocation rules. We used dietary carotenoid supplementation to test whether wild marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) nestlings were carotenoid limited and whether carotenoid allocation strategies varied between sexes, which differ in their size and growth strategies. When supplemented, nestlings used the supplemental carotenoids to increase their coloration independently of their sex. We showed that the condition dependence of the carotenoid level and the response to an immune challenge (phytohemagglutinin test) differed between sexes, possibly because sexual size dimorphism influences growth strategies and/or intrabrood competition levels and access to different types of food. In this species, which often feeds on mammals, a trade-off likely exists between food quantity (energy) and quality (carotenoid content). Finally, carotenoid-based coloration expressed in marsh harrier nestlings appeared to be indicative of immune responsiveness rather than condition, therefore potentially advertising to parents nestling quality or value rather than nutritional need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Sternalski
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain.
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11
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Lucas-Thompson RG, Goldberg WA. Family relationships and children's stress responses. ADVANCES IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND BEHAVIOR 2011; 40:243-99. [PMID: 21887964 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-386491-8.00007-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
In this chapter, the theoretical and empirical associations between family relationships and children's responses to stressors are reviewed. Family relationships explored are primarily dyadic, representing the emphasis of past empirical research; these include parent-parent, parent-child, and sibling relationships. However, in recognition of the more complicated and interconnected nature of family relationships, also reviewed are associations between the broader family context and children's stress responses. Multiple measures of stress responses are considered, including both physiological and emotional responses to and recovery from stressful experiences. Overall, the studies reviewed suggest that poor-quality family environments, including those characterized by low emotional support or high conflict, are associated with dysregulated stress responses throughout childhood and adolescence. In contrast, children and adolescents in families with high emotional support or low conflict seem to be protected from developing stress regulatory problems. Limitations in this body of research as well as directions for future research are discussed.
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12
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BANDA EVA, BLANCO GUILLERMO. Influence of hatching asynchrony and within-brood parental investment on size, condition, and immunocompetence in nestling red-billed choughs. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2008. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2008.01020.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Vergara P, Fargallo JA. Sex, melanic coloration, and sibling competition during the postfledging dependence period. Behav Ecol 2008. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arn035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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