Muscle damage and behavioral consequences from prolonged handling of albatross chicks for transmitter attachment

Abstract

Capture and handling are essential methods for many studies of wild animals but can induce several harmful effects on individuals being studied. The relationship between physiological and behavioral responses in individuals exposed to these effects is not well known. We measured the blood level of muscle enzymes, aspartate aminotrasnsferase (AST) and creatine kinase (CK), indicating muscle damage in hand‐reared short‐tailed albatross (Phoebastoria albatrus) chicks before and after prolonged restraint for transmitter attachment beyond the usual feeding. We analyzed the relationships between enzyme levels and albatross pre‐ and post‐fledging behaviors. Prolonged restraint for transmitter attachment elevated the blood levels of AST and CK in chicks. In chicks with higher levels of these enzymes, fledging date was earlier and the period to sustained flight after fledging was longer. These results indicated that prolonged handling for transmitter attachment on pre‐fledging albatross chicks caused moderate muscle damage and behavioral changes before and after fledging. Although immediate post‐fledging survival (the first 2 weeks at sea) did not appear to be affected, whether longer‐term survival may be influenced is unknown. Reducing handling time for albatross chicks is important to reduce muscle damage and behavioral consequences. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.

Translocation and hand‐rearing result in short‐tailed albatrosses returning to breed in the Ogasawara Islands 80 years after extirpation

“…() found that returning female Audouin's gulls had heavier pre‐fledging body mass than non‐returning females. Our results indicate a non‐significant trend toward the heavier, longer winged STAL returning to the translocation site on Mukojima, however, this result may be confounded by higher wing load having an unfavorable but temporary effect on pre‐ and post‐fledging behavior (Deguchi, Suryan & Ozaki, 2014a). Therefore, we conclude that body size might be important factor influencing the translocation success.…”

Long-term capture and handling effects on body condition, reproduction and survival in a semi-aquatic mammal

“…Often studies only evaluate capture stress that appears in the immediate days, weeks or the following breeding season after handling 30 . Even long-term studies that investigate capture and handling effects for several years sometimes fail to evaluate long-term effects of their procedures, since they only evaluate short-term effects within each year and season [50][51][52] . But as we show, capture effects might also have longer-term consequences for individuals, indicating the need for repeated evaluations of condition and fitness.…”

Sedation of Wild Pyrenean Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus aquitanicus) Using Intramuscular Midazolam

“…Early on into Ht, vitamin E/selenium combination (Esvex ® , S.P. Veterinaria, S.A., Tarragona, Spain) was administered IM, due to its reported ability to prevent capture myopathy in other wild avian species [ 16 , 17 , 39 , 40 ].…”

“…Mortality related to capture events has been reported in other wild avian species, i.e., 30.4% mortality of Red-legged Partridge ( Alectoris rufa ) was observed within 72 h following net capture due to capture myopathy and self-injuries [ 10 ]; 36% mortality within 12 days following capture and tagging of 33 Pileated Woodpeckers ( Dryocopus pileatus ) [ 11 ], and 100% mortality within 16 days of capture and tagging of 4 Little Bustards ( Tetrax tetrax ) [ 12 ]. Additionally, studies in other wild bird species (i.e., Wild Turkey Meleagridis gallopavo , Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis , Short-tailed Albatross Phoebastoria albatrus , Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus muta pyrenaica ) described mortality peaks within a few weeks following stressful situations, such as short handling periods, translocations, or reintroductions [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. In such cases, the related cause of death was often identified as natural mortality, underestimating the influence of complications linked to capturing procedures, such as capture myopathy (CM) [ 17 ].…”