Effects of salinity on the immune response of an ‘osmotic generalist’ bird

Gutiérrez, Jorge S.; Abad‐Gómez, José M.; Villegas, Auxiliadora; Sánchez‐Guzmán, Juan M.; Masero, José A.

doi:10.1007/s00442-012-2405-x

Cited by 21 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…Such a challenge may be particularly severe prior to migration and at intermittent sites en route, since migratory shorebirds undergo major physiological adjustments to enable rapid accumulation of fuel stores (Kvist & Lindström 2003;Lindström 2003). As a consequence of their extraordinary food intake rates, coastally migrating shorebirds can receive high salt loads, and thus, face important osmotic challenges that might interfere with other aspects of their performance (Gutiérrez et al 2011(Gutiérrez et al , 2013. Coping with salt may be more challenging for molluscivore shorebirds that ingest hard-shelled bivalves containing a large amount of seawater (Gutiérrez et al 2012a).…”

Section: Migratory Shorebirds At a Glancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to salt stress, migrating shorebirds may encounter energetic constraints imposed by physically demanding flights and high thermoregulatory or food-processing costs (Piersma & Lindström 1997;Piersma 2002). Energetic constraints and osmoregulatory problems may therefore interact in determining several aspects of migration ecology (Gutiérrez et al 2011a(Gutiérrez et al , 2013. Rapid phenotypic adjustmentse.g., changes in body composition, including size and function of osmoregulatory organsduring such periods are of critical importance to many migrating shorebirds.…”

Section: Migratory Shorebirds At a Glancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Maintaining and using large, active saltglands can be energetically expensive and a trade-off with other activities has thus been suggested on several occasions (Staaland 1967;Peaker & Linzell 1975;Burger & Gochfeld 1984;Nyström & Pehrsson 1988;Gutiérrez et al 2011a;Gutiérrez et al 2012aGutiérrez et al , 2013. Indeed, there is growing evidence that developing and maintaining osmoregulatory machinery entails substantial energy costs in birds.…”

Section: An Integrated Osmoregulatory Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Whilst marine birds are normally exposed to constant salinity levels throughout the yearosmotic specialists -, many waterbirds live and forage in environments where they experience large fluctuations in salinity and/or periodically alternate between freshwater and saline habitatsosmotic generalistsand could be subjected to greater physiological stresses than those confronting marine species (Blakey et al 2006). This could especially be the case for migratory shorebirds that shift seasonally from freshwater environments during the breeding season to marine environments during migration and the wintering period (Gutiérrez et al 2013). Such seasonal changes inevitably lead to substantial increases in salt intake that must be counteracted by flexible osmoregulatory organs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Living in Environments with Contrasting Salinities: A Review of Physiological and Behavioural Responses in Waterbirds

Gutiérrez

2014

Ardeola

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During the course of their lives many vertebrates live and forage in environments characterized by different salinities and must therefore respond to changes in salt intake. This is particularly true for numerous species of migratory waterbirds, especially those that routinely commute between saltwater and freshwater wetlands throughout their annual cycle and/or within a season. These birds have evolved a suite of morphological, physiological and behavioural mechanisms to successfully maintain osmoregulatory balance. However, relatively little is known about the impacts of salinity on the distribution, physiological performance and reproductive success of waterbirds. Here I review the current knowledge of the physiological and behavioural mechanisms through which waterbirds cope with contrasting salinities and how some of the adjustments undertaken might interfere with other relevant aspects of their performance. I argue that, because of their strong reliance on wetland ecosystems for foraging and breeding, waterbirds may be particularly vulnerable to climate-induced changes in salinity, especially in arid or semiarid tropical areas where increases in both temperature and salinity may affect their body condition and, ultimately, survival prospects. I conclude by offering some suggestions for future research that could take us beyond our current level of understanding of avian osmoregulation.

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Section: Migratory Shorebirds At a Glancementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Migratory Shorebirds At a Glancementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: An Integrated Osmoregulatory Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Living in Environments with Contrasting Salinities: A Review of Physiological and Behavioural Responses in Waterbirds

Gutiérrez

2014

Ardeola

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“…High salt consumption may affect the body's osmolarity and may lead to often lethal dehydration (Sabat , Bollinger et al ). In addition, it may decrease the bird's immune response and might incur high energy costs due to intense kidney activity (Gutiérrez et al , Gutiérrez ). Consequently, birds employ different solutions to avoid excessive salt intake.…”

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confidence: 99%

Does saline water consumption affect feeding and fuel deposition rate of a staging, long‐distance migrating passerine?

Efrat

Shani

Gutman

et al. 2015

Journal of Avian Biology

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To accomplish their enduring journeys, migrating birds accumulate fuel consisting mainly of lipids in stopover sites located throughout their migration routes. Fuel deposition rate (FDR) is considered a key parameter determining the speed of migration and thereby bird fitness, and recent studies have demonstrated the positive effects of fresh water consumption on the FDR of migrating blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla. Sewage water reservoirs, characterized by higher water salinity than fresh water, were extensively built in different parts of the world and are used by birds during their travel, but their effects on wildlife and specifically on migrating birds have been largely overlooked thus far. We experimentally examined the effects of water salinity on blackcap FDR during migration. We captured birds in an autumn stopover site, transported them to the laboratory and provided them with fruits, mealworms and water of different salinity levels (0.3, 4.5 and 9‰ NaCl) for several days. We examined the effects of water salinity on the blackcaps’ diet, water consumption and FDR and found that FDR was mainly affected by fruit consumption rate and not by the water salinity levels. Water salinity nevertheless caused elevated water consumption as the birds consumed almost 3 times more saline water than fresh water per consumed fruit mass. Our work is the first to explore the consequences of saline water consumption on migrating passerines, specifically suggesting that anthropogenic alterations of habitats by sewage water treatment facilities may modulate bird nutrition and diet.

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How salinity and temperature combine to affect physiological state and performance in red knots with contrasting non-breeding environments

et al. 2015

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Effects of salinity on the immune response of an ‘osmotic generalist’ bird

Cited by 21 publications

References 66 publications

Living in Environments with Contrasting Salinities: A Review of Physiological and Behavioural Responses in Waterbirds

Living in Environments with Contrasting Salinities: A Review of Physiological and Behavioural Responses in Waterbirds

Does saline water consumption affect feeding and fuel deposition rate of a staging, long‐distance migrating passerine?

How salinity and temperature combine to affect physiological state and performance in red knots with contrasting non-breeding environments

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