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Jerzy Banbura - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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experimental nest replacement suggests that the bacterial load of nests may mediate nestling Physiological Condition in cavity nesting great tits parus major
Journal of Ornithology, 2020Co-Authors: Agnieszka Zablotni, Adam Kalinski, Jaroslaw Wawrzyniak, Miroslawa Banbura, Joanna Skwarska, Michal Glądalski, Marcin Markowski, Jerzy BanburaAbstract:Nests of secondary-cavity breeding birds are structures constructed to lay and incubate eggs and raise nestlings to fledging. These nests are characterized by relatively stable Conditions, which makes them a suitable habitat for various microorganisms. It has been suggested that bacteria inhabiting nests and nestling skin may affect nestlings both positively and negatively. In this study, nests of Great Tits Parus major were replaced with artificial nests on the fifth day of the nestling phase in two different study sites to create two categories of nests: (i) natural and (ii) artificial with a reduced bacterial load. Four days later, bacterial samples were collected from the nestling skin and from the edge of the nest to assess skin and nest bacterial loads, expressed as colony forming units (CFUs). It was predicted that (i) the previous season occupancy of nest boxes would influence bacterial loads, (ii) the experimental treatment would reduce nest and skin bacterial loads, and (iii) that nest and skin bacterial loads would affect the Condition of the nestlings, assessed as the hemoglobin concentration in blood when nestlings were 14 days old. Occupancy in the previous season did not affect the bacterial load. The skin bacterial load was significantly lower in artificial nests, although the nest bacterial load did not differ between natural and artificial nests. Nestlings from artificial nests had higher hemoglobin, and hemoglobin concentration was negatively associated with the nest but not the skin bacterial load. Our results suggest that the bacterial load in nests may negatively affect the Physiological Condition of avian hosts.
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consequences of experimental addition of fresh aromatic plants into nests of blue tits cyanistes caeruleus on the Physiological Condition of nestlings
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2020Co-Authors: Michal Glądalski, Adam Kalinski, Jaroslaw Wawrzyniak, Miroslawa Banbura, Joanna Skwarska, Marcin Markowski, Piotr Zieliński, Jerzy BanburaAbstract:The blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) is one of a few known passerine birds that incorporate fresh fragments of aromatic plants in their nest during the nesting period. In this study, we experimentally tested whether aromatic plants in blue tit nests affect Physiological Condition of nestlings as indicated by hemoglobin and glucose in the blood. Nestlings in nests supplemented with fresh, aromatic plants had elevated blood hemoglobin, and therefore improved Physiological Condition, as compared with control nestlings. There was no difference between nestlings in two contrasting habitats (urban parkland and forest). Although mean levels of blood glucose did not differ between treatment and control nestlings, the blood of forest nestlings contained more glucose than the blood of parkland nestlings, which indicates poorer health for forest nestlings. In general, knowledge of the effects of incorporating fresh green, aromatic plant material into avian nests on Physiological Condition of nestlings is still fragmentary and more experimental studies are needed. The blue tit is one of a few known passerine birds that incorporate fresh fragments of aromatic plants in their nest during the nesting period. Little is known about the impact of this material on nestling body Condition, and there is a need to understand this behavior and its effects. We tested whether nestlings in nests supplemented with fresh, aromatic plants improved their Physiological Condition in comparison with control nestlings. The experiment showed that nestlings from supplemented nests improved their Physiological Condition by exhibiting elevated hemoglobin.
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effects of brood size manipulation on Physiological Condition of nestling blue tits cyanistes caeruleus
Acta Ornithologica, 2008Co-Authors: Jerzy Banbura, Adam Kalinski, Jaroslaw Wawrzyniak, Miroslawa Banbura, Joanna Skwarska, Robert Slomczynski, Piotr ZielińskiAbstract:Producing high quality offspring of good Physiological performance, able to survive to independence and, then, to reproductive maturity is a major component of life history strategies. The ability of nestling altricial birds to develop a good Physiological Condition depends to a large extent on the amount and quality of food provided by par- ents, as well as other aspects of parental care. We hypothesized that experimental changes to the original brood size should affect both parental Blue Tits and their offspring, resulting in corresponding changes in the body Condition of the nestlings. Over two breeding seasons, using two habitat sites, we conducted an experiment with two manipulative treatments applied to broods of three-day-old nestlings — the reduction or enlargement of broods by three nestlings, and one non-manipulative control treatment. Our aim was to test whether the experiment would affect a number of different measures of nestling Condition: blood concentrations of hemoglobin and glucose, heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and morphometric Condition index, all being analyzed when the nestlings were 13 days old. We found no effect in the case of hemoglobin, despite the fact that it had previously been shown to be sensitive to large-scale differences in trophic Conditions between habitats and years and to the experimental removal of nest parasites. All the remaining variables, i.e. heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, glucose concentration and morphometric Condition index, responded to the experimental treatments, showing different but reasonable patterns of variation. We suggest that an experimental increase in brood size definitely hinders the development of nestling Physiological Condition, but even an experimen- tal reduction of broods can affect some Physiological indicators (glucose), probably because of readjustments in the feeding rate.
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habitat and year to year variation in haemoglobin concentration in nestling blue tits cyanistes caeruleus
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A-molecular & Integrative Physiology, 2007Co-Authors: Jerzy Banbura, Adam Kalinski, Jaroslaw Wawrzyniak, Miroslawa Banbura, Joanna Skwarska, Robert Slomczynski, Piotr ZielińskiAbstract:Nutrition during the time spent at the nest is critical for the development of the body Condition in altricial birds, including nestling blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus). Trophic Conditions tend to be variable in time and space, which should influence the Physiological Condition of growing birds. In this paper, we consider haemoglobin concentration as a general indicator of chick Physiological Condition. Its variation is both consistent within broods and indicative/prognostic of survival from the moment of hatching to fledging. We show that haemoglobin concentration of nestling blue tits is on average higher in years and habitats characterised by rich abundance of caterpillars than under poor caterpillar availability. Haemoglobin seems to quite exactly reflect even relatively subtle differences in trophic Conditions.
Piotr Zieliński - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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consequences of experimental addition of fresh aromatic plants into nests of blue tits cyanistes caeruleus on the Physiological Condition of nestlings
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2020Co-Authors: Michal Glądalski, Adam Kalinski, Jaroslaw Wawrzyniak, Miroslawa Banbura, Joanna Skwarska, Marcin Markowski, Piotr Zieliński, Jerzy BanburaAbstract:The blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) is one of a few known passerine birds that incorporate fresh fragments of aromatic plants in their nest during the nesting period. In this study, we experimentally tested whether aromatic plants in blue tit nests affect Physiological Condition of nestlings as indicated by hemoglobin and glucose in the blood. Nestlings in nests supplemented with fresh, aromatic plants had elevated blood hemoglobin, and therefore improved Physiological Condition, as compared with control nestlings. There was no difference between nestlings in two contrasting habitats (urban parkland and forest). Although mean levels of blood glucose did not differ between treatment and control nestlings, the blood of forest nestlings contained more glucose than the blood of parkland nestlings, which indicates poorer health for forest nestlings. In general, knowledge of the effects of incorporating fresh green, aromatic plant material into avian nests on Physiological Condition of nestlings is still fragmentary and more experimental studies are needed. The blue tit is one of a few known passerine birds that incorporate fresh fragments of aromatic plants in their nest during the nesting period. Little is known about the impact of this material on nestling body Condition, and there is a need to understand this behavior and its effects. We tested whether nestlings in nests supplemented with fresh, aromatic plants improved their Physiological Condition in comparison with control nestlings. The experiment showed that nestlings from supplemented nests improved their Physiological Condition by exhibiting elevated hemoglobin.
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effects of brood size manipulation on Physiological Condition of nestling blue tits cyanistes caeruleus
Acta Ornithologica, 2008Co-Authors: Jerzy Banbura, Adam Kalinski, Jaroslaw Wawrzyniak, Miroslawa Banbura, Joanna Skwarska, Robert Slomczynski, Piotr ZielińskiAbstract:Producing high quality offspring of good Physiological performance, able to survive to independence and, then, to reproductive maturity is a major component of life history strategies. The ability of nestling altricial birds to develop a good Physiological Condition depends to a large extent on the amount and quality of food provided by par- ents, as well as other aspects of parental care. We hypothesized that experimental changes to the original brood size should affect both parental Blue Tits and their offspring, resulting in corresponding changes in the body Condition of the nestlings. Over two breeding seasons, using two habitat sites, we conducted an experiment with two manipulative treatments applied to broods of three-day-old nestlings — the reduction or enlargement of broods by three nestlings, and one non-manipulative control treatment. Our aim was to test whether the experiment would affect a number of different measures of nestling Condition: blood concentrations of hemoglobin and glucose, heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and morphometric Condition index, all being analyzed when the nestlings were 13 days old. We found no effect in the case of hemoglobin, despite the fact that it had previously been shown to be sensitive to large-scale differences in trophic Conditions between habitats and years and to the experimental removal of nest parasites. All the remaining variables, i.e. heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, glucose concentration and morphometric Condition index, responded to the experimental treatments, showing different but reasonable patterns of variation. We suggest that an experimental increase in brood size definitely hinders the development of nestling Physiological Condition, but even an experimen- tal reduction of broods can affect some Physiological indicators (glucose), probably because of readjustments in the feeding rate.
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habitat and year to year variation in haemoglobin concentration in nestling blue tits cyanistes caeruleus
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A-molecular & Integrative Physiology, 2007Co-Authors: Jerzy Banbura, Adam Kalinski, Jaroslaw Wawrzyniak, Miroslawa Banbura, Joanna Skwarska, Robert Slomczynski, Piotr ZielińskiAbstract:Nutrition during the time spent at the nest is critical for the development of the body Condition in altricial birds, including nestling blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus). Trophic Conditions tend to be variable in time and space, which should influence the Physiological Condition of growing birds. In this paper, we consider haemoglobin concentration as a general indicator of chick Physiological Condition. Its variation is both consistent within broods and indicative/prognostic of survival from the moment of hatching to fledging. We show that haemoglobin concentration of nestling blue tits is on average higher in years and habitats characterised by rich abundance of caterpillars than under poor caterpillar availability. Haemoglobin seems to quite exactly reflect even relatively subtle differences in trophic Conditions.
Adam Kalinski - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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experimental nest replacement suggests that the bacterial load of nests may mediate nestling Physiological Condition in cavity nesting great tits parus major
Journal of Ornithology, 2020Co-Authors: Agnieszka Zablotni, Adam Kalinski, Jaroslaw Wawrzyniak, Miroslawa Banbura, Joanna Skwarska, Michal Glądalski, Marcin Markowski, Jerzy BanburaAbstract:Nests of secondary-cavity breeding birds are structures constructed to lay and incubate eggs and raise nestlings to fledging. These nests are characterized by relatively stable Conditions, which makes them a suitable habitat for various microorganisms. It has been suggested that bacteria inhabiting nests and nestling skin may affect nestlings both positively and negatively. In this study, nests of Great Tits Parus major were replaced with artificial nests on the fifth day of the nestling phase in two different study sites to create two categories of nests: (i) natural and (ii) artificial with a reduced bacterial load. Four days later, bacterial samples were collected from the nestling skin and from the edge of the nest to assess skin and nest bacterial loads, expressed as colony forming units (CFUs). It was predicted that (i) the previous season occupancy of nest boxes would influence bacterial loads, (ii) the experimental treatment would reduce nest and skin bacterial loads, and (iii) that nest and skin bacterial loads would affect the Condition of the nestlings, assessed as the hemoglobin concentration in blood when nestlings were 14 days old. Occupancy in the previous season did not affect the bacterial load. The skin bacterial load was significantly lower in artificial nests, although the nest bacterial load did not differ between natural and artificial nests. Nestlings from artificial nests had higher hemoglobin, and hemoglobin concentration was negatively associated with the nest but not the skin bacterial load. Our results suggest that the bacterial load in nests may negatively affect the Physiological Condition of avian hosts.
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consequences of experimental addition of fresh aromatic plants into nests of blue tits cyanistes caeruleus on the Physiological Condition of nestlings
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2020Co-Authors: Michal Glądalski, Adam Kalinski, Jaroslaw Wawrzyniak, Miroslawa Banbura, Joanna Skwarska, Marcin Markowski, Piotr Zieliński, Jerzy BanburaAbstract:The blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) is one of a few known passerine birds that incorporate fresh fragments of aromatic plants in their nest during the nesting period. In this study, we experimentally tested whether aromatic plants in blue tit nests affect Physiological Condition of nestlings as indicated by hemoglobin and glucose in the blood. Nestlings in nests supplemented with fresh, aromatic plants had elevated blood hemoglobin, and therefore improved Physiological Condition, as compared with control nestlings. There was no difference between nestlings in two contrasting habitats (urban parkland and forest). Although mean levels of blood glucose did not differ between treatment and control nestlings, the blood of forest nestlings contained more glucose than the blood of parkland nestlings, which indicates poorer health for forest nestlings. In general, knowledge of the effects of incorporating fresh green, aromatic plant material into avian nests on Physiological Condition of nestlings is still fragmentary and more experimental studies are needed. The blue tit is one of a few known passerine birds that incorporate fresh fragments of aromatic plants in their nest during the nesting period. Little is known about the impact of this material on nestling body Condition, and there is a need to understand this behavior and its effects. We tested whether nestlings in nests supplemented with fresh, aromatic plants improved their Physiological Condition in comparison with control nestlings. The experiment showed that nestlings from supplemented nests improved their Physiological Condition by exhibiting elevated hemoglobin.
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effects of brood size manipulation on Physiological Condition of nestling blue tits cyanistes caeruleus
Acta Ornithologica, 2008Co-Authors: Jerzy Banbura, Adam Kalinski, Jaroslaw Wawrzyniak, Miroslawa Banbura, Joanna Skwarska, Robert Slomczynski, Piotr ZielińskiAbstract:Producing high quality offspring of good Physiological performance, able to survive to independence and, then, to reproductive maturity is a major component of life history strategies. The ability of nestling altricial birds to develop a good Physiological Condition depends to a large extent on the amount and quality of food provided by par- ents, as well as other aspects of parental care. We hypothesized that experimental changes to the original brood size should affect both parental Blue Tits and their offspring, resulting in corresponding changes in the body Condition of the nestlings. Over two breeding seasons, using two habitat sites, we conducted an experiment with two manipulative treatments applied to broods of three-day-old nestlings — the reduction or enlargement of broods by three nestlings, and one non-manipulative control treatment. Our aim was to test whether the experiment would affect a number of different measures of nestling Condition: blood concentrations of hemoglobin and glucose, heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and morphometric Condition index, all being analyzed when the nestlings were 13 days old. We found no effect in the case of hemoglobin, despite the fact that it had previously been shown to be sensitive to large-scale differences in trophic Conditions between habitats and years and to the experimental removal of nest parasites. All the remaining variables, i.e. heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, glucose concentration and morphometric Condition index, responded to the experimental treatments, showing different but reasonable patterns of variation. We suggest that an experimental increase in brood size definitely hinders the development of nestling Physiological Condition, but even an experimen- tal reduction of broods can affect some Physiological indicators (glucose), probably because of readjustments in the feeding rate.
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habitat and year to year variation in haemoglobin concentration in nestling blue tits cyanistes caeruleus
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A-molecular & Integrative Physiology, 2007Co-Authors: Jerzy Banbura, Adam Kalinski, Jaroslaw Wawrzyniak, Miroslawa Banbura, Joanna Skwarska, Robert Slomczynski, Piotr ZielińskiAbstract:Nutrition during the time spent at the nest is critical for the development of the body Condition in altricial birds, including nestling blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus). Trophic Conditions tend to be variable in time and space, which should influence the Physiological Condition of growing birds. In this paper, we consider haemoglobin concentration as a general indicator of chick Physiological Condition. Its variation is both consistent within broods and indicative/prognostic of survival from the moment of hatching to fledging. We show that haemoglobin concentration of nestling blue tits is on average higher in years and habitats characterised by rich abundance of caterpillars than under poor caterpillar availability. Haemoglobin seems to quite exactly reflect even relatively subtle differences in trophic Conditions.
Jaroslaw Wawrzyniak - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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experimental nest replacement suggests that the bacterial load of nests may mediate nestling Physiological Condition in cavity nesting great tits parus major
Journal of Ornithology, 2020Co-Authors: Agnieszka Zablotni, Adam Kalinski, Jaroslaw Wawrzyniak, Miroslawa Banbura, Joanna Skwarska, Michal Glądalski, Marcin Markowski, Jerzy BanburaAbstract:Nests of secondary-cavity breeding birds are structures constructed to lay and incubate eggs and raise nestlings to fledging. These nests are characterized by relatively stable Conditions, which makes them a suitable habitat for various microorganisms. It has been suggested that bacteria inhabiting nests and nestling skin may affect nestlings both positively and negatively. In this study, nests of Great Tits Parus major were replaced with artificial nests on the fifth day of the nestling phase in two different study sites to create two categories of nests: (i) natural and (ii) artificial with a reduced bacterial load. Four days later, bacterial samples were collected from the nestling skin and from the edge of the nest to assess skin and nest bacterial loads, expressed as colony forming units (CFUs). It was predicted that (i) the previous season occupancy of nest boxes would influence bacterial loads, (ii) the experimental treatment would reduce nest and skin bacterial loads, and (iii) that nest and skin bacterial loads would affect the Condition of the nestlings, assessed as the hemoglobin concentration in blood when nestlings were 14 days old. Occupancy in the previous season did not affect the bacterial load. The skin bacterial load was significantly lower in artificial nests, although the nest bacterial load did not differ between natural and artificial nests. Nestlings from artificial nests had higher hemoglobin, and hemoglobin concentration was negatively associated with the nest but not the skin bacterial load. Our results suggest that the bacterial load in nests may negatively affect the Physiological Condition of avian hosts.
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consequences of experimental addition of fresh aromatic plants into nests of blue tits cyanistes caeruleus on the Physiological Condition of nestlings
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2020Co-Authors: Michal Glądalski, Adam Kalinski, Jaroslaw Wawrzyniak, Miroslawa Banbura, Joanna Skwarska, Marcin Markowski, Piotr Zieliński, Jerzy BanburaAbstract:The blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) is one of a few known passerine birds that incorporate fresh fragments of aromatic plants in their nest during the nesting period. In this study, we experimentally tested whether aromatic plants in blue tit nests affect Physiological Condition of nestlings as indicated by hemoglobin and glucose in the blood. Nestlings in nests supplemented with fresh, aromatic plants had elevated blood hemoglobin, and therefore improved Physiological Condition, as compared with control nestlings. There was no difference between nestlings in two contrasting habitats (urban parkland and forest). Although mean levels of blood glucose did not differ between treatment and control nestlings, the blood of forest nestlings contained more glucose than the blood of parkland nestlings, which indicates poorer health for forest nestlings. In general, knowledge of the effects of incorporating fresh green, aromatic plant material into avian nests on Physiological Condition of nestlings is still fragmentary and more experimental studies are needed. The blue tit is one of a few known passerine birds that incorporate fresh fragments of aromatic plants in their nest during the nesting period. Little is known about the impact of this material on nestling body Condition, and there is a need to understand this behavior and its effects. We tested whether nestlings in nests supplemented with fresh, aromatic plants improved their Physiological Condition in comparison with control nestlings. The experiment showed that nestlings from supplemented nests improved their Physiological Condition by exhibiting elevated hemoglobin.
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effects of brood size manipulation on Physiological Condition of nestling blue tits cyanistes caeruleus
Acta Ornithologica, 2008Co-Authors: Jerzy Banbura, Adam Kalinski, Jaroslaw Wawrzyniak, Miroslawa Banbura, Joanna Skwarska, Robert Slomczynski, Piotr ZielińskiAbstract:Producing high quality offspring of good Physiological performance, able to survive to independence and, then, to reproductive maturity is a major component of life history strategies. The ability of nestling altricial birds to develop a good Physiological Condition depends to a large extent on the amount and quality of food provided by par- ents, as well as other aspects of parental care. We hypothesized that experimental changes to the original brood size should affect both parental Blue Tits and their offspring, resulting in corresponding changes in the body Condition of the nestlings. Over two breeding seasons, using two habitat sites, we conducted an experiment with two manipulative treatments applied to broods of three-day-old nestlings — the reduction or enlargement of broods by three nestlings, and one non-manipulative control treatment. Our aim was to test whether the experiment would affect a number of different measures of nestling Condition: blood concentrations of hemoglobin and glucose, heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and morphometric Condition index, all being analyzed when the nestlings were 13 days old. We found no effect in the case of hemoglobin, despite the fact that it had previously been shown to be sensitive to large-scale differences in trophic Conditions between habitats and years and to the experimental removal of nest parasites. All the remaining variables, i.e. heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, glucose concentration and morphometric Condition index, responded to the experimental treatments, showing different but reasonable patterns of variation. We suggest that an experimental increase in brood size definitely hinders the development of nestling Physiological Condition, but even an experimen- tal reduction of broods can affect some Physiological indicators (glucose), probably because of readjustments in the feeding rate.
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habitat and year to year variation in haemoglobin concentration in nestling blue tits cyanistes caeruleus
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A-molecular & Integrative Physiology, 2007Co-Authors: Jerzy Banbura, Adam Kalinski, Jaroslaw Wawrzyniak, Miroslawa Banbura, Joanna Skwarska, Robert Slomczynski, Piotr ZielińskiAbstract:Nutrition during the time spent at the nest is critical for the development of the body Condition in altricial birds, including nestling blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus). Trophic Conditions tend to be variable in time and space, which should influence the Physiological Condition of growing birds. In this paper, we consider haemoglobin concentration as a general indicator of chick Physiological Condition. Its variation is both consistent within broods and indicative/prognostic of survival from the moment of hatching to fledging. We show that haemoglobin concentration of nestling blue tits is on average higher in years and habitats characterised by rich abundance of caterpillars than under poor caterpillar availability. Haemoglobin seems to quite exactly reflect even relatively subtle differences in trophic Conditions.
Miroslawa Banbura - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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experimental nest replacement suggests that the bacterial load of nests may mediate nestling Physiological Condition in cavity nesting great tits parus major
Journal of Ornithology, 2020Co-Authors: Agnieszka Zablotni, Adam Kalinski, Jaroslaw Wawrzyniak, Miroslawa Banbura, Joanna Skwarska, Michal Glądalski, Marcin Markowski, Jerzy BanburaAbstract:Nests of secondary-cavity breeding birds are structures constructed to lay and incubate eggs and raise nestlings to fledging. These nests are characterized by relatively stable Conditions, which makes them a suitable habitat for various microorganisms. It has been suggested that bacteria inhabiting nests and nestling skin may affect nestlings both positively and negatively. In this study, nests of Great Tits Parus major were replaced with artificial nests on the fifth day of the nestling phase in two different study sites to create two categories of nests: (i) natural and (ii) artificial with a reduced bacterial load. Four days later, bacterial samples were collected from the nestling skin and from the edge of the nest to assess skin and nest bacterial loads, expressed as colony forming units (CFUs). It was predicted that (i) the previous season occupancy of nest boxes would influence bacterial loads, (ii) the experimental treatment would reduce nest and skin bacterial loads, and (iii) that nest and skin bacterial loads would affect the Condition of the nestlings, assessed as the hemoglobin concentration in blood when nestlings were 14 days old. Occupancy in the previous season did not affect the bacterial load. The skin bacterial load was significantly lower in artificial nests, although the nest bacterial load did not differ between natural and artificial nests. Nestlings from artificial nests had higher hemoglobin, and hemoglobin concentration was negatively associated with the nest but not the skin bacterial load. Our results suggest that the bacterial load in nests may negatively affect the Physiological Condition of avian hosts.
-
consequences of experimental addition of fresh aromatic plants into nests of blue tits cyanistes caeruleus on the Physiological Condition of nestlings
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2020Co-Authors: Michal Glądalski, Adam Kalinski, Jaroslaw Wawrzyniak, Miroslawa Banbura, Joanna Skwarska, Marcin Markowski, Piotr Zieliński, Jerzy BanburaAbstract:The blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) is one of a few known passerine birds that incorporate fresh fragments of aromatic plants in their nest during the nesting period. In this study, we experimentally tested whether aromatic plants in blue tit nests affect Physiological Condition of nestlings as indicated by hemoglobin and glucose in the blood. Nestlings in nests supplemented with fresh, aromatic plants had elevated blood hemoglobin, and therefore improved Physiological Condition, as compared with control nestlings. There was no difference between nestlings in two contrasting habitats (urban parkland and forest). Although mean levels of blood glucose did not differ between treatment and control nestlings, the blood of forest nestlings contained more glucose than the blood of parkland nestlings, which indicates poorer health for forest nestlings. In general, knowledge of the effects of incorporating fresh green, aromatic plant material into avian nests on Physiological Condition of nestlings is still fragmentary and more experimental studies are needed. The blue tit is one of a few known passerine birds that incorporate fresh fragments of aromatic plants in their nest during the nesting period. Little is known about the impact of this material on nestling body Condition, and there is a need to understand this behavior and its effects. We tested whether nestlings in nests supplemented with fresh, aromatic plants improved their Physiological Condition in comparison with control nestlings. The experiment showed that nestlings from supplemented nests improved their Physiological Condition by exhibiting elevated hemoglobin.
-
effects of brood size manipulation on Physiological Condition of nestling blue tits cyanistes caeruleus
Acta Ornithologica, 2008Co-Authors: Jerzy Banbura, Adam Kalinski, Jaroslaw Wawrzyniak, Miroslawa Banbura, Joanna Skwarska, Robert Slomczynski, Piotr ZielińskiAbstract:Producing high quality offspring of good Physiological performance, able to survive to independence and, then, to reproductive maturity is a major component of life history strategies. The ability of nestling altricial birds to develop a good Physiological Condition depends to a large extent on the amount and quality of food provided by par- ents, as well as other aspects of parental care. We hypothesized that experimental changes to the original brood size should affect both parental Blue Tits and their offspring, resulting in corresponding changes in the body Condition of the nestlings. Over two breeding seasons, using two habitat sites, we conducted an experiment with two manipulative treatments applied to broods of three-day-old nestlings — the reduction or enlargement of broods by three nestlings, and one non-manipulative control treatment. Our aim was to test whether the experiment would affect a number of different measures of nestling Condition: blood concentrations of hemoglobin and glucose, heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and morphometric Condition index, all being analyzed when the nestlings were 13 days old. We found no effect in the case of hemoglobin, despite the fact that it had previously been shown to be sensitive to large-scale differences in trophic Conditions between habitats and years and to the experimental removal of nest parasites. All the remaining variables, i.e. heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, glucose concentration and morphometric Condition index, responded to the experimental treatments, showing different but reasonable patterns of variation. We suggest that an experimental increase in brood size definitely hinders the development of nestling Physiological Condition, but even an experimen- tal reduction of broods can affect some Physiological indicators (glucose), probably because of readjustments in the feeding rate.
-
habitat and year to year variation in haemoglobin concentration in nestling blue tits cyanistes caeruleus
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A-molecular & Integrative Physiology, 2007Co-Authors: Jerzy Banbura, Adam Kalinski, Jaroslaw Wawrzyniak, Miroslawa Banbura, Joanna Skwarska, Robert Slomczynski, Piotr ZielińskiAbstract:Nutrition during the time spent at the nest is critical for the development of the body Condition in altricial birds, including nestling blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus). Trophic Conditions tend to be variable in time and space, which should influence the Physiological Condition of growing birds. In this paper, we consider haemoglobin concentration as a general indicator of chick Physiological Condition. Its variation is both consistent within broods and indicative/prognostic of survival from the moment of hatching to fledging. We show that haemoglobin concentration of nestling blue tits is on average higher in years and habitats characterised by rich abundance of caterpillars than under poor caterpillar availability. Haemoglobin seems to quite exactly reflect even relatively subtle differences in trophic Conditions.
