Phenotypic flexibility in the basal metabolic rate of laughing doves:responses to short-term thermal acclimation

Abstract

SUMMARY Many birds exhibit considerable phenotypic flexibility in maintenance energy requirements, and up- or downregulate basal metabolic rate (BMR) over time scales of days to weeks during thermal acclimation. However, the extent to which individual birds can reverse the direction of BMR adjustments over short time scales remains unknown. In this study, we examined metabolic responses to short-term thermal acclimation in laughing doves Streptopelia senegalensis. In 30 wild-caught doves (mean body mass=92.6 g) divided into three experimental groups of 10 birds each, initial BMR averaged 0.760±0.036 W. Thereafter, each group was acclimated to one of three acclimation air temperatures (Tacc=10, 22 or 35°C) for 21 days, during which time the doves were housed in individual cages. Following the first acclimation period (acclimation I), BMR (W) was significantly lower and was negatively and linearly related to Tacc [BMR=0.714-0.005Tacc]. Acclimation I BMR varied from 0.546±0.039 W in doves acclimated to Tacc=35°C to 0.665±0.058 W at Tacc=10°C. A second acclimation period of a further 21 days (acclimation II) revealed that the direction of BMR adjustments could be reversed within individuals, with acclimation II BMR again negatively and linearly related to Tacc. The slope of the relationship between BMR and Tacc following acclimation II was not significantly different to that following acclimation I. BMR exhibited consistent inter-individual variation, with a low but significant repeatability of 0.113. The within-individual BMR variation of up to 26% that we observed in laughing doves reveals that BMR is a highly flexible trait in this species, and reiterates the need to take phenotypic plasticity into account in comparative analyses of avian energetic parameters.

Diet and ambient temperature interact to shape plasma fatty acid composition, basal metabolic rate, and oxidative stress in great tits

“…The independent analysis of body mass confirms that this interaction for BMR was not driven by differential changes in mass in relation to diet and ambient temperature. Adjustments in BMR in response to different ambient temperatures have also been shown in other bird species in captivity over similar short time scales (days to weeks) (McKechnie et al, 2007). Our observed differences in mass-corrected BMR between birds of the two diet groups after the high temperature treatment are in accordance with those reported for other species (discussed above), with birds provided with the UFArich diet having higher BMR compared with the SFA-fed birds.…”

Diet and ambient temperature interact to shape plasma fatty acid composition, basal metabolic rate, and oxidative stress in great tits

“…The independent analysis of body mass confirms that this interaction for BMR was not driven by differential changes in mass in relation to diet and ambient temperature. Adjustments in BMR in response to different ambient temperatures have also been shown in other bird species in captivity over similar short time scales (days to weeks) (McKechnie et al, 2007). Our observed differences in mass-corrected BMR between birds of the two diet groups after the high temperature treatment are in accordance with those reported for other species (discussed above), with birds provided with the UFArich diet having higher BMR compared with the SFA-fed birds.…”

Thermogenic responses in Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) to seasonal acclimatization and temperature-photoperiod acclimation

“…The BMR of Hoopoe Larks acclimated to 36 °C was also 30% lower than that of those kept at 15 °C after 3 weeks (Williams and Tieleman 2000). The BMR of Laughing Doves increased when acclimated to cold temperatures but reduced when the same birds were moved to a warm room (McKechnie et al 2007). Our results are consistent with these findings, and show that the BMR of Eurasian Tree Sparrows is lower in birds acclimated to a warm temperature than in those acclimated to a cold temperature.…”

“…Mitochondrial S4R respiration and COX activity in liver and skeletal muscle were significantly lower in birds acclimated to a warm temperature and long photoperiod. Collectively, these data suggest that the Eurasian Tree Sparrow can increase its thermogenic capacity in response to winter conditions, and provide further evidence to support the notion that small birds have high phenotypic plasticity with respect to thermogenic capacity (McKechnie et al 2007;Liknes and Swanson 2011;Swanson et al 2014;Hu et al 2017).…”

Phenotypic flexibility of thermogenesis in the hwamei (Garrulax canorus): responses to cold acclimation

“…The results of this study show that 4 wk of cold acclimation caused significant changes in each of these variables in the hwamei, an increase in body and organ mass, enhanced BMR, energy intake, and cellular enzyme activity associated with bodily metabolic functions. Collectively, these data suggest that the hwamei can improve its thermogenic capacity in response to a cold ambient environment and provide further evidence to support the notion that small birds with small TNZs have high phenotypic plasticity with respect to thermogenic capacity (19,22,23).…”

Diet and ambient temperature interact to shape plasma fatty acid composition, basal metabolic rate, and oxidative stress in great tits

“…The independent analysis of body mass confirms that this interaction for BMR was not driven by differential changes in mass in relation to diet and ambient temperature. Adjustments in BMR in response to different ambient temperatures have also been shown in other bird species in captivity over similar short time scales (days to weeks) (McKechnie et al, 2007). Our observed differences in mass-corrected BMR between birds of the two diet groups after the high temperature treatment are in accordance with those reported for other species (discussed above), with birds provided with the UFArich diet having higher BMR compared with the SFA-fed birds.…”

Thermogenic responses in Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) to seasonal acclimatization and temperature-photoperiod acclimation

“…The BMR of Hoopoe Larks acclimated to 36 °C was also 30% lower than that of those kept at 15 °C after 3 weeks (Williams and Tieleman 2000). The BMR of Laughing Doves increased when acclimated to cold temperatures but reduced when the same birds were moved to a warm room (McKechnie et al 2007). Our results are consistent with these findings, and show that the BMR of Eurasian Tree Sparrows is lower in birds acclimated to a warm temperature than in those acclimated to a cold temperature.…”

“…Mitochondrial S4R respiration and COX activity in liver and skeletal muscle were significantly lower in birds acclimated to a warm temperature and long photoperiod. Collectively, these data suggest that the Eurasian Tree Sparrow can increase its thermogenic capacity in response to winter conditions, and provide further evidence to support the notion that small birds have high phenotypic plasticity with respect to thermogenic capacity (McKechnie et al 2007;Liknes and Swanson 2011;Swanson et al 2014;Hu et al 2017).…”

Phenotypic flexibility of thermogenesis in the hwamei (Garrulax canorus): responses to cold acclimation

“…The results of this study show that 4 wk of cold acclimation caused significant changes in each of these variables in the hwamei, an increase in body and organ mass, enhanced BMR, energy intake, and cellular enzyme activity associated with bodily metabolic functions. Collectively, these data suggest that the hwamei can improve its thermogenic capacity in response to a cold ambient environment and provide further evidence to support the notion that small birds with small TNZs have high phenotypic plasticity with respect to thermogenic capacity (19,22,23).…”

Diet and ambient temperature interact to shape plasma fatty acid composition, basal metabolic rate, and oxidative stress in great tits

“…The independent analysis of body mass confirms that this interaction for BMR was not driven by differential changes in mass in relation to diet and ambient temperature. Adjustments in BMR in response to different ambient temperatures have also been shown in other bird species in captivity over similar short time scales (days to weeks) (McKechnie et al, 2007). Our observed differences in mass-corrected BMR between birds of the two diet groups after the high temperature treatment are in accordance with those reported for other species (discussed above), with birds provided with the UFArich diet having higher BMR compared with the SFA-fed birds.…”

Thermogenic responses in Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) to seasonal acclimatization and temperature-photoperiod acclimation

“…The BMR of Hoopoe Larks acclimated to 36 °C was also 30% lower than that of those kept at 15 °C after 3 weeks (Williams and Tieleman 2000). The BMR of Laughing Doves increased when acclimated to cold temperatures but reduced when the same birds were moved to a warm room (McKechnie et al 2007). Our results are consistent with these findings, and show that the BMR of Eurasian Tree Sparrows is lower in birds acclimated to a warm temperature than in those acclimated to a cold temperature.…”

“…Mitochondrial S4R respiration and COX activity in liver and skeletal muscle were significantly lower in birds acclimated to a warm temperature and long photoperiod. Collectively, these data suggest that the Eurasian Tree Sparrow can increase its thermogenic capacity in response to winter conditions, and provide further evidence to support the notion that small birds have high phenotypic plasticity with respect to thermogenic capacity (McKechnie et al 2007;Liknes and Swanson 2011;Swanson et al 2014;Hu et al 2017).…”

Phenotypic flexibility of thermogenesis in the hwamei (Garrulax canorus): responses to cold acclimation

“…The results of this study show that 4 wk of cold acclimation caused significant changes in each of these variables in the hwamei, an increase in body and organ mass, enhanced BMR, energy intake, and cellular enzyme activity associated with bodily metabolic functions. Collectively, these data suggest that the hwamei can improve its thermogenic capacity in response to a cold ambient environment and provide further evidence to support the notion that small birds with small TNZs have high phenotypic plasticity with respect to thermogenic capacity (19,22,23).…”