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Determining seabird body condition using nonlethal measures.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  22237292     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Data-Review    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Abstract Energy stores are critical for successful breeding, and longitudinal studies require nonlethal methods to measure energy stores ("body condition"). Nonlethal techniques for measuring energy reserves are seldom verified independently. We compare body mass, size-corrected mass (SCM), plasma lipids, and isotopic dilution with extracted total body lipid content in three seabird species (thick-billed murres Uria lomvia, all four measures; northern fulmars Fulmarus glacialis, three measures; and black-legged kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla, two measures). SCM and body mass were better predictors of total body lipids for the species with high percent lipids (fulmars; [Formula: see text]) than for the species with low percent lipids (murres and kittiwakes; [Formula: see text]). The relationship between SCM and percent body lipids, which we argue is often a better measure of condition, was also poor ([Formula: see text]) for species with low lipids. In a literature comparison of 17 bird species, percent lipids was the only predictor of the strength of the relationship between mass and total body lipids; we suggest that SCM be used as an index of energy stores only when lipids exceed 15% of body mass. Across all three species we measured, SCM based on the ordinary least squares regression of mass on the first principal component outperformed other measures. Isotopic dilution was a better predictor of both total body lipids and percent body lipids than were mass, SCM, or plasma lipids in murres. Total body lipids decreased through the breeding season at both sites, while total and neutral plasma lipid concentrations increased at one site but not another, suggesting mobilization of lipid stores for breeding. A literature review showed substantial variation in the reliability of plasma markers, and we recommend isotopic dilution (oxygen-18, plateau) for determination of energy reserves in birds where lipid content is below 15%.
Authors:
Shoshanah R Jacobs; Kyle Elliott; Mélanie F Guigueno; Anthony J Gaston; Paula Redman; John R Speakman; Jean-Michel Weber
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article     Date:  2012-01-03
Journal Detail:
Title:  Physiological and biochemical zoology : PBZ     Volume:  85     ISSN:  1537-5293     ISO Abbreviation:  Physiol. Biochem. Zool.     Publication Date:  2012 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2012-01-12     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  100883369     Medline TA:  Physiol Biochem Zool     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  85-95     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada; 2Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada; 3Science and Technology, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3, Canada; 4University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, United Kingdom.
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