Physiological condition of nestling great tits (Parus major) declines with the date of brood initiation: a long term study of first clutches.

ABSTRACT: In seasonal environments, a temporal decline in breeding performance (e.g. clutch size, nestling condition, and fledging success) of altricial bird species is a well-known phenomenon. In this study, we present the effect of laying phenology on the physiological condition of nestling great tits (Parus major) in 14 consecutive breeding seasons. We used blood haemoglobin and baseline glucose concentrations as indicators of nestling physiological condition. Nestling blood haemoglobin reflects food base quality and availability during the breeding period. Blood glucose concentration can be used as a supplementary reverse index of condition, since it is negatively related to environmental quality. It might be indicative of the stress caused by unfavourable extrinsic factors, though, due to poten

SUBMITTER: Kalinski A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6614424 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature