Gian Nicola Frongia (Author), Tanja Peric (Author), Giovanni Leoni (Author), Valentina Satta (Author), Fiammetta Berlinguer (Author), Marco Muzzeddu (Author), A. Prandi (Author), Salvatore Naitana (Author), A. Comin (Author)

Abstract

The use of a non-invasive approach to collect biological samples from natural populations represents a great means of gathering information while avoiding handling animals. Even if corticosterone is the main glucocorticoid investigated in birds, it has been observed a proportional direct link between corticosterone and cortisol concentrations. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) can be produced by the adrenal cortex and should have prominent antiglucocorticoid properties also in birds. The aim of this study was to verify if there is any difference in the cortisol and DHEA feather concentrations between clinically normal and physiologically compromised Griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) through the non-invasive approach of collecting moulted feathers without having to pluck them from the bird. The study was carried out using 8 physiologically compromised (PC) Griffons and 9 clinically normal Griffons considered as the control (CTRL) group that were necropsied or from the wildlife rehabilitation centre. Primary and secondary covert feathers were either collected directly from the birds’ cage floors, or, in the case of dead Griffons, they were plucked off the animals. The results, obtained by RIA, revealed that both cortisol (P<0.01) and DHEA (P<0.05) feather concentrations were higher in the PC than in the CTRL group. No difference was observed by comparing the cortisol/DHEA ratio between the two evaluated groups (P=0.15). Pearson’s correlation coefficients showed no correlation between feather hormone concentrations in the PC group (r=0.01, P=0.96) while a positive correlation in the CTRL group (r=0.65, P=0.006) was observed. In conclusion, our study reveals that moulted feathers can be a non-invasive and an interesting tool to evaluate the allostatic load of wild birds and they allowed to better understand the relationship between hormones of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and the physiological status of the birds.

Keywords

wild birds;raptors;HPA axis;steroids;coverts;

Data

Language: English
Year of publishing:
Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization: UNG - University of Nova Gorica
UDC: 59
COBISS: 5451259 Link will open in a new window
ISSN: 2300-8733
Views: 2369
Downloads: 109
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Other data

URN: URN:SI:UNG
Type (COBISS): Not categorized
Pages: str. 85-96
Volume: ǂVol. ǂ20
Issue: ǂiss. ǂ1
Chronology: 2020
DOI: 10.2478/aoas-2019-0051
ID: 11225605