Seasonal variation in thermoregulatory capacity of three closely related Afrotropical Estrildid finches introduced to Europe

Pacioni, Cesare; Sentís, Marina; Керимов, А.Б.; Bushuev, Andrey; Lens, Luc; Strubbe, Diederik

doi:10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103534

Cited by 6 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 113 publications

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“…This hypothesis is in accord with empirical evidence from great tits ( Parus major ; Kaliński et al 2014), zebra finches ( Taeniopygia guttata ; Jimeno et al 2018, Montoya et al 2018) and African striped mice ( Rhabdomys pumilio ; Schradin et al 2015). Though the thermoneutral zone of the species in this study are unknown, data from other Afrotropical species (Wikelski et al 2003), including three estrildids (Pacioni et al 2023), suggest that most of the temperature range in our dataset (approx. 19-23 °C) falls well below this zone.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Sources of variation in baseline and stress-induced blood glucose levels in two free-living tropical passerine species

Pouadjeu

Tomášek

Kauzál

et al. 2023

Journal of Vertebrate Biology

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Blood glucose plays an essential role in the body's energy metabolism; however, sources of variation in baseline and stress-induced changes in glucose concentration remain poorly understood in tropical passerines. This study assesses intra-annual variation in baseline and stress-induced glucose concentration changes in two common free-living Afrotropical passerines, the village weaver (Ploceus cucullatus) (Müller, 1776) and the black-crowned waxbill (Estrilda nonnula) (Hartlaub, 1883), captured around Dschang, western Cameroon, using intrinsic (sex, body mass, moult and breeding status) and environmental (season, temperature and rainfall) variables as predictors. In black-crowned waxbills, we found that baseline glucose was significantly elevated in the dry season, with the same trend observed in the village weaver. Stress-induced elevations in glucose concentration were observed in the black-crowned waxbills in the dry season, but only when the temperature was fitted as a covariate. Village weaver females showed higher stress-induced changes in glucose compared to males. Body mass and moulting were not predictors of baseline or stress-induced changes in glucose concentrations. This study reveals that some fluctuations in glucose levels may be mediated by seasonal changes in temperature (but not rainfall), sex, and breeding status.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Sources of variation in baseline and stress-induced blood glucose levels in two free-living tropical passerine species

Pouadjeu

Tomášek

Kauzál

et al. 2023

Journal of Vertebrate Biology

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“…The assessment of winter BMR in Gontrode was conducted at night using open flow‐through respirometry (Lighton, 2018). To measure BMR, the oxygen consumption (VO 2 ) of 40 individuals was monitored, following the methods described in Pacioni et al (2023). To maximize the likelihood of birds being post‐absorptive during measurements, the first 2 h of measurement were discarded (Secor, 2009).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ambient air was delivered by two pumps at a flow rate of 400 mL/min. The chambers were maintained at 25°C, which falls within the birds' thermoneutral zone (Bech & Mariussen, 2022; Pacioni et al, 2023), determined according to the procedures outlined by van de Ven et al (2013). The birds were measured in cycles, along with several baselines, with the timing and duration of measurements varying depending on the number of birds present during each session.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Metabolic adjustments to winter severity in two geographically separated great tit (Parus major) populations

Pacioni,

Bushuev,

Sentís

et al. 2024

J Exp Zool Pt A

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Understanding the potential limits placed on organisms by their ecophysiology is crucial for predicting their responses to varying environmental conditions. A main hypothesis for explaining avian thermoregulatory mechanisms is the aerobic capacity model, which posits a positive correlation between basal (basal metabolic rate [BMR]) and summit (Msum) metabolism. Most evidence for this hypothesis, however, comes from interspecific comparisons, and the ecophysiological underpinnings of avian thermoregulatory capacities hence remain controversial. Indeed, studies have traditionally relied on between‐species comparisons, although, recently, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of intraspecific variation in ecophysiological responses. Therefore, here, we focused on great tits (Parus major), measuring BMR and Msum during winter in two populations from two different climates: maritime‐temperate (Gontrode, Belgium) and continental (Zvenigorod, Russia). We tested for the presence of intraspecific geographical variation in metabolic rates and assessed the predictions following the aerobic capacity model. We found that birds from the maritime‐temperate climate (Gontrode) showed higher BMR, whereas conversely, great tits from Zvenigorod showed higher levels of Msum. Within each population, our data did not fully support the aerobic capacity model's predictions. We argued that the decoupling of BMR and Msum observed may be caused by different selective forces acting on these metabolic rates, with birds from the continental‐climate Zvenigorod population facing the need to conserve energy for surviving long winter nights (by keeping their BMR at low levels) while simultaneously being able to generate more heat (i.e., a high Msum) to withstand cold spells.

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“…For instance, Dutenhoffer and Swanson (1996) found that in 10 bird species from southeast South Dakota, whole-body and mass-independent BMR and Msum were positively correlated, and the same was true for black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) in Canada (Lewden et al, 2012). Findings from tropical birds, in contrast, found a lack of support for the aerobic capacity model, which may be explained by the fact that tropical species presumably experience less strong selection for high thermogenic capacity (Swanson & Garland, 2009;Wiersma et al, 2007a;Wiersma, 2007b;Pacioni et al, 2023). For example, Wiersma et al (2007a) found that mass-independent Msum and mass-independent BMR were not correlated in 19 tropical lowland forest birds.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal variation in great tit (Parus major) energy requirements: reallocation versus increased demand

Pacioni

Sentís

Hambly³

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Understanding how birds annually allocate energy to cope with changing environmental conditions and physiological states is a fundamental question in avian ecology. The two main hypotheses to explain annual patterns in energy use are "reallocation" and "increased demand". The reallocation hypothesis suggests equal energetic costs in winter and breeding seasons, while the increased demand suggests that energy demand should be highest during breeding. Under the standard aerobic capacity model of endothermy, birds are expected to adjust the mass and/or metabolic intensity of their bodies in ways that are consistent with expected cold- and/or activity-induced costs. Here, we look for metabolic signatures of reallocation versus increased demands in the energy requirements of a small, resident passerine of a temperate-zone (great tit, Parus major). To do so, we measured whole-body and mass-independent basal (BMR), summit (Msum), and field (FMR) metabolic rates during late winter and during the chick-rearing period (breeding). We also assessed whether, and to what extent, metabolic rates conform to the predictions of the aerobic capacity model of endothermy. We found that great tits showed no substantial differences in energy expenditure between winter and the breeding season, providing support for the reallocation hypothesis. Only mass-independent Msum showed seasonal variation, with significantly higher values (~4%) in winter compared to the breeding season. Our results also lend support to the predictions of the aerobic capacity model for the evolution of endothermy, as we found that whole-body BMR and Msum were positively related. We argue that both energy reallocation and the limited increase in mass-independent Msum are consistent with the relatively mild winter temperatures recorded during our study period. Our results confirm that both BMR and Msum are flexible traits that vary in ways that are consistent with expected cold- and/or activity-induced costs.

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Seasonal variation in thermoregulatory capacity of three closely related Afrotropical Estrildid finches introduced to Europe

Cited by 6 publications

References 113 publications

Sources of variation in baseline and stress-induced blood glucose levels in two free-living tropical passerine species

Sources of variation in baseline and stress-induced blood glucose levels in two free-living tropical passerine species

Metabolic adjustments to winter severity in two geographically separated great tit (Parus major) populations

Seasonal variation in great tit (Parus major) energy requirements: reallocation versus increased demand

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