Relationship between feather corticosterone and subsequent health status and survival in wild Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Monclús, Laura; Carbajal, Annaïs; Talló-Parra, Oriol; Sabés-Alsina, M.; Darwich, Laila; Molina‐López, Rafael A.; López-Béjar, Manel

doi:10.1007/s10336-016-1424-5

Cited by 16 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…For FCC extraction, a modified protocol described by Bortolotti et al (2008) was followed with modifications based on Monclús et al (2017). Briefly, from each sample, the calamus was removed since it has a different growth rate than the rest of the feather.…”

Section: Feather Steroid Extractionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Close agreement in FCC was previously reported in different raptor species between two opposite primary flight feathers (P5) (Strong et al 2015) and between adjacent secondary flight feathers (S1 and S2) (Lattin et al 2011), although these types of feathers may have an asynchronous moult which can last over 2 years (Rohwer et al 2009). Instead, body feathers grow during a limited and more synchronized period of time, after the breeding season and preceding winter stressors and migration (Gill 2007;Hardy et al 2006); therefore, they appear to provide more time-specific and controlled information on the HPA axis activity (Monclús et al 2017). The small mass of body feathers especially in small bird species may limit their use, since FCC are significantly overestimated when feather mass is below a critical threshold (Berk et al 2016;Lattin et al 2011).…”

Section: Within-individual Stability Of Fccmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several authors have applied this matrix in an ecological context, i.e., relating FCC to reproductive parameters, sexual selection, nutrition (Crossin et al 2013) as well as studying the effects of stressful or challenging environments such as pollution [i.e., organic pollutants (Monclús et al 2019)]. More recently, researchers have used FCC as a biomarker of carry-over effects relating FCC to subsequent migratory (Harms et al 2015), survival (Koren et al 2012;Monclús et al 2017) and breeding performances (Harms et al 2015;Will et al 2014;Ramos et al 2018), and as a biomarker of allostatic overload (Johns et al 2018). However, the reported relationships are complex, and it remains unclear whether FCC can reflect and predict individual physiology in front of high energetically demanding situations such as reproduction (Fairhurst et al 2017;Harris et al 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Feather corticosterone in Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita: a stable matrix over time able to predict reproductive success

et al. 2020

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Measuring corticosterone concentrations in feathers (FCC) has been increasingly used as an integrated index of bird's response to stressors, offering valuable insights into subsequent carry-over effects. However, it is still unclear to what extent corticosterone levels deposited in feathers during the moulting period relate to individual physiology in high-energetic demanding situations. In addition, the stability and repeatability of FCC over the same feather generation and across successive generations are still unresolved questions. In this study, we assessed FCC in 24 captive Northern Bald Ibis, Geronticus eremita. We sampled body feathers on three occasions during two consecutive years (2015-2016) to explore within-individual stability of FCC in feathers grown during the same generation and test whether FCC was repeatable or varied between two consecutive generations. Then, we explored whether FCC (a) was associated with individual health status, (b) correlated with previous reproductive success and (c) was related to future reproductive success. Results showed high stability of FCC among feathers of the same generation, while FCC differed between successive generations. We also observed that FCC, age and health status were negatively associated with subsequent reproductive success the following season, while no association was found with previous reproductive success. Overall, our study supports the use of feathers as a stable measure of corticosterone over the same feather replacement generation and emphasizes the usefulness of FCC as a biomarker of subsequent reproductive success. Keywords Birds • Chronic stress • Glucocorticoids • Non-invasive • Biomarker Zusammenfassung Feder-Corticosteron beim Waldrapp Geronticus eremita: Eine zeitlich stabile Matrix ermöglicht Voraussagen über den Reproduktionserfolg Das Messen der Corticosteronkonzentrationen in Federn (engl. feather corticosterone concentration, FCC) ist ein immer stärker genutzter, integrierter Index für die Stressreaktion eines Vogels. Dies ermöglicht wertvolle Einblicke in nachfolgende Carry-Over-Effekte. Jedoch ist immer noch unklar, in welchem Ausmaß der Corticosteronspiegel, der während der Mauserzeit in den Federn erreicht wird, mit der individuellen Physiologie in energetisch höchst anspruchsvollen Situationen zusammenhängt. Weiterhin ist die Stabilität und Messwiederholbarkeit der FCC innerhalb einer und zwischen aufeinanderfolgenden Federgenerationen noch ungeklärt. In dieser Studie haben wir die FCC von 24 in Gefangenschaft gehaltenen Waldrappen Geronticus eremita untersucht. Wir sammelten Körperfedern zu drei verschiedenen Zeitpunkten in zwei aufeinanderfolgenden Jahren (2015-2016), um die individuenspezifische FCC-Stabilität in Federn der gleichen Generation zu untersuchen und um zu testen, ob die FCC-Messungen zwischen zwei aufeinanderfolgenden Jahren Communicated by L. Fusani.

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Section: Feather Steroid Extractionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Within-individual Stability Of Fccmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Feather corticosterone in Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita: a stable matrix over time able to predict reproductive success

et al. 2020

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“…A frequent question of many eco-physiological studies is how T and Cort concentrations change in relation to age and/or sex (Monclús et al, 2017;Wilcoxen, Bridge, Boughton, Hahn, & Schoech, 2013). Previous studies based on analyses of plasma have shown that T concentrations are higher in males compared to females, following its role as the main sexual hormone in males responsible for their breeding behavior and morphological and other physiological traits (reviewed in Kempenaers et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous studies based on analyses of plasma have shown that T concentrations are higher in males compared to females, following its role as the main sexual hormone in males responsible for their breeding behavior and morphological and other physiological traits (reviewed in Kempenaers et al, 2008). Compared with T, sex differences in Cort are less obvious (Fairhurst et al, 2015;Monclús et al, 2017). Large seasonal variations in Cort levels circulating in the blood, the sampling of the analyzed matrix in different periods (Romero, Ramenofsky, & Wingfield, 1997), together with a possible shift in the relationship between Cort and fitness during the breeding season (reviewed in Bonier, Martin, Moore, & Wingfield, 2009) could be the reasons for the absence of a clear sex pattern in Cort concentrations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feather steroid hormone concentrations in relation to age, sex, and molting time in a long‐distance migratory passerine

Adámková

Bílková

Tomášek

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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In birds, concentrations of testosterone (T) and corticosterone (Cort) are closely connected with many morphological, behavioral, and other physiological traits, including reproduction, metabolism, immunity, and fitness. The direction of the effect of these hormones on above‐mentioned traits, and the potential feedback between hormones are in general unclear; in addition, knowledge on how age and sex can affect T and Cort concentrations is still inconsistent. Our study used a novel method to analyze testosterone and corticosterone in feathers (Tf, Cortf) based on the precolumn chemical derivatization of hormones before liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) analysis. Unlike previously used methods (RIA, EIA), our analytical procedure allows simultaneous analysis of both hormones from small amounts of feathers (4–25 mg) and, thus, overcomes the problem of insufficient detection limits. We applied this method to reveal associations between Tf and Cortf hormone concentrations and feather growth, age, and sex in feathers grown during the postbreeding (flanks) and prebreeding (tails) periods in barn swallows (Hirundo rustica). There was neither a correlation between prebreeding and postbreeding Tf, nor between prebreeding and postbreeding Cortf. Tail Cortf concentrations were negatively associated with tail feather growth rates. Feather hormone concentrations were correlated in the prebreeding period, negatively in males but positively in females. Both Cortf and Tf were higher in young birds compared to older ones, indicating either an age‐related decrease in hormone concentrations within individuals, or the selective disappearance of individuals with high steroid concentrations. Males and females did not differ in Cortf, but Tf concentrations were higher in males than females, particularly during the prebreeding period. In this study, we provide an effective method for analyzing hormones in feathers in an ecological context, especially in situations when the total amount of feathers available for the analysis is limited.

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Non‐native grazers affect physiological and demographic responses of greater sage‐grouse

Behnke

Street

Davies

et al. 2022

Ecology and Evolution

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Non‐native ungulate grazing has negatively impacted native species across the globe, leading to massive loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Despite their pervasiveness, interactions between non‐native grazers and native species are not fully understood. We often observe declines in demography or survival of these native species, but lack understanding about the mechanisms underlying these declines. Physiological stress represents one mechanism of (mal)adaptation, but data are sparse. We investigated glucocorticoid levels in a native avian herbivore exposed to different intensities of non‐native grazing in the cold desert Great Basin ecosystem, USA. We measured corticosterone, a glucocorticoid in feathers for a large sample (n = 280) of female greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) from three study areas in Northern Nevada and Southern Oregon with different grazing regimes of livestock and feral horses. We found that greater feral horse density was associated with higher corticosterone levels, and this effect was exacerbated by drought conditions. Livestock grazing produced similar results; however, there was more model uncertainty about the livestock effect. Subsequent nesting success was lower with increased feather corticosterone, but corticosterone levels were not predictive of other vital rates. Our results indicate a physiological response by sage‐grouse to grazing pressure from non‐native grazers. We found substantial among‐individual variation in the strength of the response. These adverse effects were intensified during unfavorable weather events, highlighting the need to reevaluate management strategies in the face of climate change.

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Relationship between feather corticosterone and subsequent health status and survival in wild Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Cited by 16 publications

References 66 publications

Feather corticosterone in Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita: a stable matrix over time able to predict reproductive success

Feather corticosterone in Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita: a stable matrix over time able to predict reproductive success

Feather steroid hormone concentrations in relation to age, sex, and molting time in a long‐distance migratory passerine

Non‐native grazers affect physiological and demographic responses of greater sage‐grouse

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