Faecal sexual steroids in sex typing and endocrine status of great bustards

Bautista, Luis M.; Silván, Gema; Cáceres, Sara; Martínez-Fernández, Leticia; Bravo, Carolina; Illera, Juan Carlos; Alonso, Juan Carlos; Blanco, Guillermo

doi:10.1007/s10344-013-0735-6

Cited by 14 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…As in stress plasma (see above), Cort f decreased with age in both long-and short-lived species in some studies (Boves et al, 2016;López-Jiménez et al, 2016), while other studies found Cort f to be independent of age (Grunst, Grunst, Parker, Romero, & Rotenberry, 2014;Strong, Pereira, Shore, Henrys, & Pottinger, 2015). Similarly, there is inconsistency in the direction of the correlation between age and T concentrations (for positive, see e.g., Bautista et al, 2013; for negative, see e.g., Wilcoxen et al, 2013), although most studies found the plasma T concentration to be a trait independent of age, especially in males (reviewed in Kempenaers et al, 2008). To our knowledge, no study has investigated the effect of age on T f concentration.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…In the latter case, however, there was evidence of differences in stress Cort levels between a group of young and senescent individuals with higher Cort and a group of middle-aged individuals with lower Cort (Goutte et al, 2010). Similarly, there is inconsistency in the direction of the correlation between age and T concentrations (for positive, see e.g., Bautista et al, 2013; for negative, see e.g., Wilcoxen et al, 2013), although most studies found the plasma T concentration to be a trait independent of age, especially in males (reviewed in Kempenaers et al, 2008). As in stress plasma (see above), Cort f decreased with age in both long-and short-lived species in some studies (Boves et al, 2016;López-Jiménez et al, 2016), while other studies found Cort f to be independent of age (Grunst, Grunst, Parker, Romero, & Rotenberry, 2014;Strong, Pereira, Shore, Henrys, & Pottinger, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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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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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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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“…Two hundred and twelve fresh faeces were collected between March and May (2006–2007), with a total dry weight of 556.6 g. Faeces were collected at roosting sites at dawn (70.8% of all droppings, 82.8% g dry weight), at midday resting sites (26%, 16% g dry weight), and also throughout the day on fields where great bustard flocks had been previously located. Since males and females of this species live in separate flocks, faeces from both sexes could be easily distinguished [50] . Sexual segregation does not imply habitat segregation in this species (pers.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Males of a Strongly Polygynous Species Consume More Poisonous Food than Females

et al. 2014

Self Cite

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We present evidence of a possible case of self-medication in a lekking bird, the great bustard Otis tarda. Great bustards consumed blister beetles (Meloidae), in spite of the fact that they contain cantharidin, a highly toxic compound that is lethal in moderate doses. In addition to anthelminthic properties, cantharidin was effective against gastrointestinal bacteria that cause sexually-transmitted diseases. Although both sexes consumed blister beetles during the mating season, only males selected them among all available insects, and ingested more and larger beetles than females. The male-biased consumption suggests that males could use cantharidin to reduce their parasite load and increase their sexual attractiveness. This plausibly explains the intense cloaca display males perform to approaching females, and the meticulous inspection females conduct of the male's cloaca, a behaviour only observed in this and another similar species of the bustard family. A white, clean cloaca with no infection symptoms (e.g., diarrhoea) is an honest signal of both, resistance to cantharidin and absence of parasites, and represents a reliable indicator of the male quality to the extremely choosy females. Our results do not definitely prove, but certainly strongly suggest that cantharidin, obtained by consumption of blister beetles, acts in great bustards as an oral anti-microbial and pathogen-limiting compound, and that males ingest these poisonous insects to increase their mating success, pointing out that self-medication might have been overlooked as a sexually-selected mechanism enhancing male fitness.

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“…Fresh droppings (n ¼ 62) were collected from these sites at the following sunrise (Bautista et al, 2013). Three flocks of females (totalling 84 individuals) were located and tracked from afternoon to sunset to detect their roosting sites.…”

Section: Study Site and Sampling Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of great bustard (Otis tarda) gut passage on black nightshade (Solanumnigrum) seed germination

et al. 2014

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Effects of great bustard (Otis tarda) gut passage on black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) seed germinationLink to this article: http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S0960258514000178How to cite this article: C. Bravo, S. Velilla, L.M. Bautista and B. Peco (2014). Effects of great bustard (Otis tarda) gut passage on black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) seed germination. AbstractBirds are important seed dispersers for fleshy fruits through their transportation of ingested seeds. The seeds of many species germinate faster and in greater proportions after passing through a digestive tract, although the effects of this passage vary amongst bird and plant species. Many factors determine the germination success of ingested seeds, such as seed scarification during the digestion process, the fertilizing effect of droppings and the removal of pulp surrounding the seeds. In central Spain, the great bustard (Otis tarda) may act as a disperser of European black nightshade (Solanum nigrum). We analysed the germination success of ingested and non-ingested S. nigrum seeds. The fertilizing effect of bustard droppings and the disinhibition effect of the removal of Solanum pulp on final germination percentage, germination speed and viability were also assessed. Although ingested seeds germinated faster than non-ingested seeds, the former showed a lower germination percentage than the latter: 80 -87% versus 99%. Droppings and fruit pulp showed no effect on germination enhancement, except in one aspect: the germination speed of non-ingested seeds decreased when they were sprayed with a fruit extract. We confirm that seeds ingested by great bustards had lower germination success than non-ingested seeds. Although seed ingestion by great bustards reduced seedling emergence, the number of emerged seedlings was still quite large. Thus, great bustards may play a role as a S. nigrum seed dispersal vector.

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Faecal sexual steroids in sex typing and endocrine status of great bustards

Cited by 14 publications

References 34 publications

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

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

Males of a Strongly Polygynous Species Consume More Poisonous Food than Females

Effects of great bustard (Otis tarda) gut passage on black nightshade (Solanumnigrum) seed germination

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