Assessing Body Condition in Birds

Brown, Margaret E.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-5881-1_3

Cited by 258 publications

(236 citation statements)

References 222 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

214

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Variation in nestling body performance could be expected to have consequences for breeding success (Nadolski et al 2006;Kaliński et al 2014). Body condition of nestlings is usually connected to the chance of survival to the fledging stage and, later, for ultimate individual success in recruitment to the breeding population (Brown 1996). Haemoglobin, being related to oxygen carrying capacity, is sensitive to the hydration, mineral deficiencies and nutritional state (Campbell 1995).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial variation in haemoglobin concentration of nestling Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus): a long-term perspective

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

An understanding of the influences of anthropogenic disturbance and variation in habitat quality on organism condition and breeding success may improve future management and conservation decisions. Some authors consider haemoglobin concentration to be a simple biochemical indicator of bird condition. The main goal of this paper is to examine if the level of haemoglobin displays any consistent pattern of variation across habitats differing in quality. We present results concerning longterm variation in haemoglobin concentration in the blood of about 14-day-old nestling Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) in central Poland in an 11-year period (2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013), in two landscapes (an urban parkland and a deciduous forest). The most important findings of the study are: (1) the concentration of haemoglobin of the nestlings from the same brood tended to be consistently similar, with most variation occurring between broods, (2) mean levels of haemoglobin varied between years, and were correlated with caterpillar abundance peaks in the forest study site, (3) mean haemoglobin concentration was significantly higher in the forest area than in the parkland area, (4) haemoglobin levels were positively correlated with breeding and fledging success. We confirmed that haemoglobin concentration displays a spatio-temporal pattern and that the level of haemoglobin is a reliable condition and habitat quality indicator in nestling Blue Tits in the study populations. Although, strictly speaking, the analysed differences are between two particular sites, we think that they reflect differences between urban and non-urban habitats.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial variation in haemoglobin concentration of nestling Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus): a long-term perspective

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Muscle score was estimated based on the shape and relative volume of the pectoral muscles using a scale of 0 -3 (Brown 1996;Lindstrom et al 2000). Fat score was visually estimated from the volume of fat stored in each bird's furculum using a scale of 0 -5 (Helms and Drury 1960).…”

Section: Measurement Of Finch Body and Haematological Conditionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal stress physiology and body condition differ among co-occurring tropical finch species

et al. 2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Seasonal changes in avian hormonal stress responses and condition are well known for common species found at temperate and arctic latitudes, but declining and tropical species are poorly studied. This study compares stress and condition measures of co-occurring declining and non-declining tropical grass finch species in Australia. We monitored declining Gouldian finches (Erythrura gouldiae) and non-declining long-tailed and masked finches (Poepila acuticauda and P. personata) during two seasons that are potentially stressful: peak breeding (early dry season when food is plentiful) and moult (late dry to early wet season when food may be scarce). We measured body condition (muscle and fat), haematocrit, and stress response to capture using plasma corticosterone and binding globulin concentrations. All species had higher muscle and lower fat indices during breeding than moult. Haematocrit did not consistently differ between seasons. Long-tailed finches had higher stress responses during breeding than moult, similar to other passerines studied. Masked finches showed no seasonal changes in stress response. Gouldian finches had stress response patterns opposite to those of long-tailed finches, with higher stress responses during moult. However, seasonal trends in Gouldian and long-tailed finch stress responses sometimes differed between years or sites. The differences in stress response patterns between species suggest that the declining Gouldian finch is more sensitive to recent environmental changes which are thought to further reduce grass seed food resources during the late dry to early wet season. Retention of stress responsiveness during a protracted moult could increase the survival potential of Gouldian finches. This study highlights the utility of stress and condition indices to determine the sensitivity of co-occurring species to environmental conditions. This study compares stress and condition measures of co-occurring declining and non-declining tropical grass-finch species in Australia. We monitored declining Gouldian finches (Erythrura gouldiae) and non-declining long-tailed and masked finches (Poepila acuticauda and P. personata) during two seasons that are potentially stressful: peak breeding (early dry season when food is plentiful) and moult (late dry to early wet season when food may be scarce). We measured body condition (muscle and fat), haematocrit, and stress response to capture using plasma corticosterone and binding globulin concentrations. All species had higher muscle and lower fat indices during breeding than moult. Haematocrit did not consistently differ between seasons. Long-tailed finches had higher stress responses during breeding than moult, similar to other passerines studied. Masked finches showed no seasonal changes in stress response. Gouldian finches had stress response patterns opposite to those of long-tailed finches, with higher stress responses during moult.However, seasonal trends in Gouldian and long-tailed finch stress responses sometimes differed between years or ...

show abstract

“…Body composition data usually are obtained from carcass analyses (Lindström and Piersma 1993;Van der Meer and Piersma 1994;Brown 1996). This has serious disadvantages.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimating Organ Size in Small Migrating Shorebirds with Ultrasonography: An Intercalibration Exercise

Dietz

Dekinga²,

Piersma³

et al. 1999

Physiological and Biochemical Zoology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Organs, even of fully grown adult birds, mammals, and reptiles, may show substantial size changes in relation to specific performances. These changes are difficult to study, because measurements usually can only be obtained following the death of the animal. We explored the use of ultrasonographic imaging, a relatively simple noninvasive technique, to measure size of pectoral muscles and stomach in two small shorebird species (red knots Calidris canutus and golden plovers Pluvialis apricaria). Accuracy of ultrasound measurements in estimating organ mass in red knots was reasonably high. Depending on the equipment used, the error of individual measurements was 20%-25% for the pectoral muscles and 26%-44% for the stomach. In plovers the technique was less accurate, probably because of the low variability of the organs involved. Ultrasound scanning is particularly suited to measure rapidly changing organ sizes over short time intervals. We demonstrate this with an example in which changes in individuals in size of pectoral muscle and stomach were monitored in captive red knots following a change in diet. Ultrasound measures will enable studies on the links between body composition and future behavior and physiology.

show abstract

Assessing Body Condition in Birds

Cited by 258 publications

References 222 publications

Spatial variation in haemoglobin concentration of nestling Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus): a long-term perspective

Spatial variation in haemoglobin concentration of nestling Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus): a long-term perspective

Seasonal stress physiology and body condition differ among co-occurring tropical finch species

Estimating Organ Size in Small Migrating Shorebirds with Ultrasonography: An Intercalibration Exercise

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About