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Correlates of oxidative stress in wild kestrel nestlings (Falco tinnunculus)

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Abstract

The fitness of an organism can be affected by conditions experienced during early development. In light of the impact that oxidative stress can have on the health and ageing of a bird species, this study evaluated factors accounting for the variation in oxidative stress levels in nestlings of the Eurasian kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) by measuring the serum concentration of reactive oxygen metabolites and the serum antioxidant barrier against hypochlorite-induced oxidation. The ratio between these two variables was considered as an index of oxidative stress, with higher values meaning higher oxidative damage. Six-chick broods showed the highest level of oxidative stress, while no effect of sex was found. Age showed an inverse relationship with the oxidants and the levels of oxidative stress, with younger birds having higher levels. Hatching date, body condition, body mass and carotenoid concentration did not show any relationship with oxidants, antioxidants or degree of oxidative stress. These findings suggest that intrabrood sibling competition could play a role in determining oxidative stress, and that in carnivorous birds other antioxidant molecules could be more important than carotenoids to reduce oxidative stress.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to G. Di Lieto for helping with the data collection and to A. Sorace for ringing the birds. TERNA and ACEA allowed the monitoring of nest boxes on their utility lines. In particular, we are grateful to G. Cavallari, N. Landini and A. Olivieri from ENEL, and to G. La Catena, G. Noia and C. Puliti from ACEA. Ornis italica sponsored part of the fieldwork. Three reviewers improved the manuscript with their valuable comments. P. W. Christie for improving the English. D. Costantini was supported by a PhD fellowship from the University of Rome La Sapienza. G. Dell’Omo was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation and the NCCR “Neural Plasticity and Repair”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e dell’Uomo, Università La Sapienza, Viale dell’Università 32, 00185, Rome, Italy

    David Costantini & Alberto Fanfani

  2. Dipartimento di Biologia Evolutiva e Funzionale, Università di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11, 43100, Parma, Italy

    Stefania Casagrande & James Tagliavini

  3. Dipartimento di Sanità Alimentare ed Animale, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy

    Stefania De Filippis & Gianfranco Brambilla

  4. Division of Neuroanatomy and Behaviour, Anatomy Institute, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland

    Giacomo Dell’Omo

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  1. David Costantini
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  2. Stefania Casagrande
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Correspondence to David Costantini.

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Communicated by G. Heldmaier

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Costantini, D., Casagrande, S., De Filippis, S. et al. Correlates of oxidative stress in wild kestrel nestlings (Falco tinnunculus). J Comp Physiol B 176, 329–337 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-005-0055-6

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