The use of haemoglobin concentrations to assess physiological condition in birds: a review

Abstract

Total blood hemoglobin concentration is increasingly often used to assess physiological condition in wild birds, although its robustness has not been explicitly evaluated over a wide range of avian taxa. This review summarizes how reliable is hemoglobin concentration in assessing physiological condition and how it is related to various components of fitness and individual quality in birds.

Spatial variation in haemoglobin concentration of nestling Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus): a long-term perspective

“…Because the measuring of habitat quality in a direct way is often not feasible, the evaluation of individual condition offers an alternative method to assess habitat quality (Homyack 2010;Ellis et al 2012). Body condition indices have been used to evaluate impacts of stressors and disturbances, assessing habitat fragmentation or to provide insights into the nutritional status of animals in different habitat types Bańbura et al 2013;Milenkaya et al 2013;Kaliński et al 2014;Minias 2015). Currently, relatively few landscape ecologists employ physiological approaches to evaluate habitat quality.…”

“…The concentration of haemoglobin was shown to be a relatively simple biochemical indicator of bird metabolism and condition (Sergent et al 2004;Simmons and Lill 2006;Minias 2015;Johnstone et al 2015). It reflects the presence of pathogens and parasites, as well as the nutritional status of organism (a drop in haemoglobin concentration suggests nutritional deficiency ;Campbell 1995;Simon et al 2004;Kasprzyk et al 2006;Słomczyński et al 2006).…”

“…All those features support the use of the haemoglobin level as a relatively reliable indicator of physiological condition in field and experimental studies on birds (Stevens 1996;Kilgas et al 2006a;Kaliński et al 2009Kaliński et al , 2012Pyrke and Rollins 2012;Lill et al 2013;Minias 2014;Minias et al 2014;Glądalski et al 2015a). But it is important to emphasize that some recent studies recommend caution when using blood characteristics to evaluate physiological condition in some species (Fair et al 2007;Lill et al 2013;Minias 2015;Johnstone et al 2015). Also the use of haemoglobin concentration as a body condition index in a particular population should not be automatically extended to other populations (Fair et al 2007;Smith and Barber 2012;Lill et al 2013;Minias 2015;Glądalski et al 2015a).…”

“…But it is important to emphasize that some recent studies recommend caution when using blood characteristics to evaluate physiological condition in some species (Fair et al 2007;Lill et al 2013;Minias 2015;Johnstone et al 2015). Also the use of haemoglobin concentration as a body condition index in a particular population should not be automatically extended to other populations (Fair et al 2007;Smith and Barber 2012;Lill et al 2013;Minias 2015;Glądalski et al 2015a). Knowledge of phenotypic and ecological factors that directly influence the level of haemoglobin in free living birds is relatively poor Minias 2015).…”

“…Also the use of haemoglobin concentration as a body condition index in a particular population should not be automatically extended to other populations (Fair et al 2007;Smith and Barber 2012;Lill et al 2013;Minias 2015;Glądalski et al 2015a). Knowledge of phenotypic and ecological factors that directly influence the level of haemoglobin in free living birds is relatively poor Minias 2015). Also, comparisons of hemoglobin concentrations between urban and non-urban populations of birds are scarce.…”