Effects of Implanted Radiotransmitters on Captive Mourning Doves

Schulz, John H.; Bermudez, A. J.; Tomlinson, James L.; Firman, Jeffre D.; He, Zhuoqiong

doi:10.2307/3802012

Cited by 42 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Our results, although based on a small sample size, are consistent with studies that have revealed no changes in hematological parameters of captive doves with either backpack transmitters (Small et al 2004, 2005) or implanted transmitters (Schulz et al 1998, 2001, 2005). Such results support the continued use of transmitters, provided they meet suggested weight limits (<3% of body mass; Bird Banding Lab, Patuxent, Maryland).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Hematological stress indices reveal no effect of radio-transmitters on wintering Hermit Thrushes

Davis

Diggs

Cooper

et al. 2008

Journal of Field Ornithology

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ABSTRACT. Radio-telemetry is often used to track birds, and several investigators have examined the possible effects of radio-transmitters on birds. One approach to this question is to determine if transmitters induce physiological stress. Using hematological indicators of stress (heterophil-lymphocyte [H/L] ratios), studies of captive birds have revealed no evidence that radio-transmitters cause stress. However, studies in captivity may not reflect conditions faced by birds in the wild, especially during energetically demanding times, such as the overwintering period. We examined the possible effect of backpack-style transmitters on overwintering Hermit Thrushes (Catharus guttatus) in South Carolina by examining H/L ratios from blood smears made before and after transmitter attachment. We captured and recaptured eight thrushes in an early winter period and 11 in a late winter period, and in both cases found that H/L ratios did not change after 1 mo of carrying transmitters. H/L ratios also did not differ significantly (in either trial) between thrushes with and without transmitters. Furthermore, thrushes that carried transmitters during both of our trials did not have higher final H/L ratios than those that carried transmitters during just one trial (the late winter). These results indicate that carrying backpack-style transmitters for 1 mo did not induce stress in overwintering Hermit Thrushes. These results are consistent with studies of captive birds, and provide support for the continued use of backpack radio-transmitters in this species, as long as weight recommendations are met. SINOPSIS. Losíndices de estrés hematológico revelan ningún efecto de las radiotransmisores sobre Catharus guttatus durante el inviernoLa radio telemetría es comúnmente usada para el seguimiento de las aves y algunos investigadores han examinado los posibles efectos de los radiotransmisores sobre las aves. Una manera de investigar esta pregunta es determinar si los transmisores causan estrés fisiológico. Cuando se usan los indicadores hematológicos del estrés (tasas de heterofilos-linfocitos [H/L]), los estudios sobre las aves en cautiverio han revelado que no existe evidencia que los radiotransmisores causan el estrés. Sin embargo, los estudios realizados en cautiverio posiblemente no reflejan las condiciones en las cuales se encuentran las aves silvestres, especialmente durante tiempos energéticamente costosos como es laépoca de invierno. Examinamos el posible efecto de los transmisores de tipo mochila sobre los individuos de Catharus guttatus en Carolina del Sur mediante un examen de la tasa H/L basado en muestras de sangre tomadas antes y después de la colocación de radiotransmisores. Capturamos y recapturamos ocho individuos a comienzos del invierno y 11 individuos a finales del invierno. En los dos casos encontramos que las tasas de H/L no cambiaron después de un mes durante la cual las aves llevaron radiotransmisores. Las tasas de H/L tampoco variaron significativamente en las dos pruebas entre individuos con radiotransmisor...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Hematological stress indices reveal no effect of radio-transmitters on wintering Hermit Thrushes

Davis

Diggs

Cooper

et al. 2008

Journal of Field Ornithology

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“…An index comprising the relative abundance of both lymphocytes and heterophils is the heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio, which is widely used to estimate stress in poultry (e.g. Gross and Siegel 1983;Maxwell 1993) and also in wild birds (Trust et al 1994;Birkhead et al 1998;Schulz et al 1998;Camplani et al 1999;Totzke et al 1999). For counting leukocytes, a drop of blood was smeared on individually-marked microscope slides, air-dried, fixed in absolute methanol, and stained with azure-eosin.…”

Section: Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carotenoid-based plumage coloration of male greenfinches reflects health and immunocompetence

2003

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Hypotheses of parasite-mediated sexual selection (PMSS) propose that elaborate male ornaments have evolved due to female preferences. Females would benefit from mating with more ornamental males if males' ornamentation signals their health status and ability to provide parasite resistance genes for the offspring. Carotenoid-based plumage coloration of birds has been hypothesised to honestly reflect an individual's health status due to trade-off in allocation of carotenoids between maintenance and signalling functions. The prediction of this hypothesis, namely that individuals with brighter plumage are able to mount stronger immune responses against novel antigens and reveal generally better health state, was tested in captive male greenfinches (Carduelis chloris). Greenfinches with brighter yellow breast feathers showed stronger humoral immune response against novel antigen (SRBC) while no relationship between plumage coloration and an estimate of cell-mediated immune responsiveness (PHA response) was detected. Elaborately ornamental individuals had better general health state as indicated by the negative correlations between plumage brightness and heterophil haemoconcentration. Consistent with the concept of PMSS, these results suggest that carotenoid-based plumage coloration in greenfinches honestly signals immunocompetence and health status.

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“…We collected 0.3 cc of blood from each dove by puncturing the alar wing vein (Campbell 1995, Jenkins 1997a) with a 25-gauge needle and 1-cc syringe coated with EDTA to prevent coagulation. Immediately after collecting the blood sample, we made smears, air-dried them, stained each with Wright-Giemsa stain at the laboratory (University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Columbia, Missouri), and examined them under a light microscope (Schulz et al 1998(Schulz et al , 2001. We identified white blood cells using standard avian guidelines, and we counted heterophils and lymphocytes on each slide until the cumulative total was 100 cells (Campbell 1995); all slides were read by the same person.…”

Section: Blood Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acute Lead Toxicosis in Mourning Doves

Schulz

Millspaugh

Bermudez

et al. 2006

Journal of Wildlife Management

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Previous research has suggested that free‐ranging mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) may ingest spent lead pellets, succumb to lead toxicosis, and die in a relatively short time (i.e., an acute lead toxicosis hypothesis). We tested this hypothesis by administering 157 captive mourning doves 2–24 lead pellets, monitoring pellet retention and short‐term survival, and measuring related physiological characteristics. During the 19‐ to 21‐day posttreatment period, 104 doves that received lead pellets died (deceased doves) and 53 survived (survivors); all 22 birds in a control group survived. Within 24‐hr of treatment, blood lead levels increased almost twice as fast for deceased doves compared to survivors (F1,208 = 55.49; P < 0.001). During the first week, heterophil:lymphocyte (H:L) ratios increased twice as fast for deceased doves than with survivors (F1,198 = 23.14, P < 0.001). Posttreatment survival differed (χ2 = 37.4, P < 0.001) among the 5 groups of doves that retained different numbers of pellets, and survival ranged from 0.57 (95% CI: 0.44–0.74) for doves that retained ≤2 lead pellets 2 days posttreatment compared to 0.08 (95% CI: 0.022–0.31) for those doves that retained 13–19 lead pellets on 2 days posttreatment; significant differences existed among the 5 groups. After controlling for dove pretreatment body mass, each additional lead pellet increased the hazard of death by 18.0% (95% CI: 1.132–1.230, P < 0.001) and 25.7% (95% CI: 1.175–1.345, P < 0.001) for males and females, respectively. For each 1‐g increase in pretreatment body mass, the hazard of death decreased 2.5% (P = 0.04) for males and 3.8% (P = 0.02) for females. Deceased doves had the highest lead levels in liver (49.20 ± 3.23 ppm) and kidney (258.16 ± 21.85 ppm) tissues, whereas controls showed the lowest levels (liver, 0.08 ± 0.041 ppm; kidney, 0.17 ± 0.10 ppm). For doves dosed with pellets, we observed simultaneous increases in blood lead levels and H:L ratios, whereas packed‐cell volume (PCV) values declined. Our results support an acute lead toxicosis hypothesis. Although further research is necessary to investigate the magnitude of lead shot ingestion and toxicosis in mourning doves, we recommend that management agencies initiate development of a long‐term strategic plan aimed at implementing a nontoxic shot regulation for mourning dove hunting.

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Effects of Implanted Radiotransmitters on Captive Mourning Doves

Cited by 42 publications

References 16 publications

Hematological stress indices reveal no effect of radio-transmitters on wintering Hermit Thrushes

Hematological stress indices reveal no effect of radio-transmitters on wintering Hermit Thrushes

Carotenoid-based plumage coloration of male greenfinches reflects health and immunocompetence

Acute Lead Toxicosis in Mourning Doves

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