An Evaluation of Condition Indices for Birds

Johnson, Douglas H.; Krapu, Gary L.; Reinecke, Kenneth J.; Jorde, Dennis G.

doi:10.2307/3801673

Cited by 124 publications

(65 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…For adult weight (AW), we calculated residual adult weight in grams when plotted versus wing chord length, a measure of sizeindependent weight (Johnson et al, 1985). When adults were relatively heavy compared to birds of a similar size, values were positive, while birds that were light for their size had negative values.…”

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Individual variation in baseline and stress-induced corticosterone and prolactin levels predicts parental effort by nesting mourning doves

Miller

Vleck

Otis

2009

Hormones and Behavior

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Endocrine systems have an important mechanistic role in structuring life-history trade-offs. During breeding, individual variation in prolactin (PRL) and corticosterone (CORT) levels affects behavioral and physiological processes that drive trade-offs between reproduction and self-maintenance. We examined patterns in baseline (BL) and stress induced (SI; level following a standard capture-restraint protocol) levels of PRL and CORT for breeding mourning doves (Zenaida macroura). We determined whether the relationship of adult condition and parental effort to hormone levels in wild birds was consistent with life-history predictions. Both BL PRL and BL CORT level in adults were positively related to nestling weight at early nestling ages, consistent with the prediction of a positive relationship of hormone levels to current parental effort of adults and associated increased energy demand. Results are consistent with the two hormones acting together at baseline levels to limit negative effects of CORT on reproduction while maintaining beneficial effects such as increased foraging for nestling feeding. Our data did not support predictions that SI responses would vary in response to nestling or adult condition. The magnitude of CORT response in the parents to our capture-restraint protocol was negatively correlated with subsequent parental effort. Average nestling weights for adults with the highest SI CORT response were on average 10-15% lighter than expected for their age in follow-up visits after the stress event. Our results demonstrated a relationship between individual hormone levels and within population variation in parental effort and suggested that hormonal control plays an important role in structuring reproductive decisions for mourning doves. RightsWorks produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted. Endocrine systems have an important mechanistic role in structuring life-history trade-offs. During breeding, individual variation in prolactin (PRL) and corticosterone (CORT) levels affects behavioral and physiological processes that drive trade-offs between reproduction and self-maintenance. We examined patterns in baseline (BL) and stress induced (SI; level following a standard capture-restraint protocol) levels of PRL and CORT for breeding mourning doves (Zenaida macroura). We determined whether the relationship of adult condition and parental effort to hormone levels in wild birds was consistent with life-history predictions. Both BL PRL and BL CORT level in adults were positively related to nestling weight at early nestling ages, consistent with the prediction of a positive relationship of hormone levels to current parental effort of adults and associated increased energy demand. Results are consistent with the two hormones acting together at baseline levels to limit negative effects of CORT on reproduction while maintaining beneficial effects such as increased foraging for nestli...

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Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Individual variation in baseline and stress-induced corticosterone and prolactin levels predicts parental effort by nesting mourning doves

Miller

Vleck

Otis

2009

Hormones and Behavior

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“…Lipids are the dominant fuel source during migratory flight in many bird species, and carcass fat has generally been determined by petroleum ether lipid extraction (Dobush et al, 1985;Johnson et al, 1985;Ringelman and Szymczak, 1985;Miller, 1989;Gauthier et al, 1992;Harder and Kirkpatrick, 1994;Dabbert et al, 1997). However, lipid extraction is both expensive and time consuming (Johnson et al, 1985).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, lipid extraction is both expensive and time consuming (Johnson et al, 1985). Because of this, easier and less expensive methods have been developed to estimate body nutrient reserves.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because of this, easier and less expensive methods have been developed to estimate body nutrient reserves. These methods involve equations or indices based on: 1) morphometric measurements including body mass (Johnson et al, 1985;Ringelman and Szymczak, 1985;Miller, 1989;Smith et al, 1992;Dabbert et al, 1997); 2) amounts of fat and protein in different tissues (Chappell and Titman, 1983;Whyte and Bolen, 1984;Johnson et al, 1985;Hohman and Taylor, 1986;Miller, 1989;Smith et al, 1992;Dabbert et al, 1997); or 3) water content of the carcass (Child and Marshall, 1970;Campbell and Leatherland, 1980;Johnson et al, 1985;Miller, 1989;Conway et al, 1994;Karasov and Pinshow, 1998). For example, body mass was found to be a good predictor of nutrient reserves in northern pintails from Texas (Smith et al, 1992) and California (Miller, 1989).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Estimation of Carcass Fat and Protein in Northern Pintails (Anas Acuta) During Spring Migration

Dombrowski

Bourgeois

Couture

et al. 2003

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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“…(Ferrer 1993). Since the 1970s, blood parameters have increasingly been used as physiological indicators, body condition indices have been developed, and reference values have been assessed for many species (e.g., Johnson et al 1985;Ferrer et al 1987;Dujowich et al 2005). However, most of these studies have dealt with domestic or captive animals; few of them provided chemistry values for wild species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors affecting plasma biochemistry parameters and physical condition of Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) nestlings

Muriel

Schmidt²,

Calabuig

et al. 2013

J Ornithol

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We assessed the normal values for 15 blood plasma biochemistry parameters and three indices of body condition (IBCs) in free-living Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) nestlings in Brandenburg (Germany). Values were compared with those of other raptors, and possible sexual and age-related differences were examined. In addition, we looked for possible relationships of habitat quality (measured in terms of foraging conditions and human disturbances) to nestling nutritional condition and productivity. Female nestlings showed higher mean urea levels and lower glucose values than males, which could be related to higher growth rates and nutrient demand of females at the end of the nestling period. Seven parameters also showed variation with age, probably relating to increasing body mass, metabolic rates, and physical activity during the pre-fledging stage. Conversely, the IBCs showed poor correlations with selected nutritional parameters, probably due to the homogeneously acceptable nutritional conditions of the nestlings. Finally, we found that Ospreys did not seem to adjust initial parental investment in relation to habitat quality, since productivity was not affected by habitat indicators. However, in large broods, but not in small ones, nestling nutritional condition improved as foraging conditions improved. These results suggest that females that are in better physical condition seem to produce more and better nourished nestlings in better foraging conditions. Wir beurteilten Normalwerte für 15 biochemische Blutplasma-Parameter und drei Indizes für die Körperkondition (Indices of Body Condition-IBCs) bei freilebenden nestjungen Fischadlern (Pandion haliaetus) in Brandenburg (Deutschland). Die Werte wurden mit denen anderer Greifvogelarten verglichen und mögliche geschlechts-und altersabhängige Unterschiede wurden untersucht. Zusätz-lich haben wir denkbare Zusammenhänge zwischen der Habitatqualität-gemessen anhand der Lage von Gebieten der Nahrungssuche und anhand menschlicher Störung-und dem Ernährungszustand der Nestlinge sowie der Reproduktion untersucht. Weibliche Nestlinge zeigten höhere Harnstoff-Durchschnittswerte und geringere GlukoseWerte als männliche, was mit einer höheren Wachstumsrate und einem höheren Nährstoffbedarf bei den jungen Weibchen gegen Ende der Nestlingsperiode zusammenhängen kann. Sieben Parameter zeigten Veränderungen abhängig vom Alter, wahrscheinlich im Zusammenhang mit der zunehmenden Körpermasse, mit dem höheren Metabolismus und mit der steigenden körperlichen Aktivität während der

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An Evaluation of Condition Indices for Birds

Cited by 124 publications

References 28 publications

Individual variation in baseline and stress-induced corticosterone and prolactin levels predicts parental effort by nesting mourning doves

Individual variation in baseline and stress-induced corticosterone and prolactin levels predicts parental effort by nesting mourning doves

Estimation of Carcass Fat and Protein in Northern Pintails (Anas Acuta) During Spring Migration

Factors affecting plasma biochemistry parameters and physical condition of Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) nestlings

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