Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Composition of the body mass overshoot in European barn owl nestlings (Tyto alba ): insurance against scarcity of energy or water?

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Comparative Physiology B Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

European barn owl chicks (Tyto alba) show a body mass overshoot prior to fledging that has been predicted to serve as an energy reservoir during periods of stochastic food availability. However, the composition of the mass overshoot has heretofore not been directly examined in nestlings of this or any other species displaying a body mass overshoot during growth (e.g., raptors and seabirds). To experimentally determine whether the overshoot in body mass in juvenile European barn owls (Tyto alba) may act as an energy reservoir, we compared the body composition of owl chicks raised on an ad libitum diet to those fed a restricted diet designed to eliminate the overshoot. Chicks raised on the two diets were also compared for differences in maturation of diverse functions (e.g., locomotion) and tissues (e.g., skeletal development). Contrary to expectations, our results on body composition in juvenile barn owls indicate that the mass overshoot prior to fledging is primarily comprised of an increased water compartment. Thus, we suggest that the mass overshoot in owls (and possibly in other species) does not serve as an energy reservoir but, rather, may function as an insurance against dehydration when hot in-nest conditions force chicks to rely on evaporative cooling: temperatures in barn owl nests can reach up to 43°C. We found no significant differences in maturation indexes between diet treatments at the time of fledging

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

Abbreviations

AD LIB:

Ad libitum

RESTR:

Restricted

References

  • Bintz GL, Mackin WW (1980) The effect of water availability on tissue catabolism during starvation in Richardson’s ground squirrels. Comp Biochem Physiol 65A:181–186

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bunn DS, Warburton AB, Wilson RDS (1982) In: Poyser T, Poyser AD (eds) The barn owl. Carlton, UK

  • Cherel Y, Charrassin J-B, Handrich Y (1993) Comparison of body reserves build up in prefasting chicks and adults of King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus). Physiol Zool 66:750–770

    Google Scholar 

  • Cherel Y, Charrassin J-B, Challet E (1994) Energy and protein requirements for molt in the king penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus. Am J Physiol 266:1182–1188

    Google Scholar 

  • Cherel Y, Robin J-P, Le Maho Y (1988) Physiology and biochemistry of long-term fasting in birds. Can J Zool 66:159–166

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Close B, Banister K, Baumans V, Bernoth E-M, Bromage N, Bunyan J, Erhardt W, Flecknell P, Gregory N, Hackbarth H, Morton D, Warwick V (1997) Recommendations for euthanasia of experimental animals: part 2. Lab Anim 31:1–32

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dawson WR, O’Connor TP (1996) Energetic features of avian thermoregulatory responses In: Carey C (ed) Avian energetics and nutritional ecology. Chapman et Hall, London, pp 85–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Dijkstra C (1988) Reproductive tactics in the Kestrel Falco tinnunculus a study in evolutionary biology. Ph.D. these University of Groningen, The Netherland

  • Drent RH, Daan S (1980) The prudent parent: energetic adjustments in avian breeding. Ardea 68:225–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Durant JM (2002) The influence of hatching order on the thermoregulatory behaviour of barn owl Tyto alba nestlings. Avian Sci 2:167–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Durant JM, Gendner J-P, Handrich Y (2004) Should I brood or should I hunt: a female barn owl’s dilemma. Can J Zool. doi:10.1139/Z04–078

  • Durant JM, Handrich Y (1998) Growth and food requirement flexibility in captive chicks of the European barn owl (Tyto alba). J Zool 245:137–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Durant JM, Massemin S, Thouzeau C, Handrich Y (2000) Body reserves and nutritional needs during laying preparation in barn owls. J Comp Physiol. doi:10.1007/s003600050283

  • Folch J, Lees M, Sloane Stanley GH (1957) A simple method for the isolation and purification of total lipids from animal tissues. J Biol Chem 226:497–509

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hayward LS, Wingfield JC (2004) Maternal corticosterone is transferred to avian yolk and may alter offspring growth and adult phenotype. Gen Comp Endocrinol. doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2003.11.002

  • Holt DW, Melvin SM, Steele B (1992) Nestling growth rates of short-eared owls. Wilson Bull 104:326–333

    Google Scholar 

  • Hõrak P, Tegelmann L, Ots I, Møller AP (1999) Immune function and survival of great tit nestlings in relation to growth conditions. Oecologia. doi:10.1007/s004420050934

  • Janczak AM, Braastad BO, Bakken M (2006) Behavioral effects of embryonic exposure to corticosterone in chickens. Appl Anim Behav Sci. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2005.04.020

  • Kitaysky AS, Kitaiskaia E, Piatt J, Wingfield JC (2003) Benefits and costs of increased levels of corticosterone in seabird chicks. Horm Behav. doi:10.1016/S0018-506X(02)00030-2

  • Kitaysky AS, Kitaiskaia EV, Wingfield JC, Piatt JF (2001) Dietary restriction causes chronic elevation of corticosterone and enhances stress response in red-legged kittiwake chicks. J Comp Physiol B. doi:10.1007/s003600100230

  • Kitaysky AS, Piatt JF, Wingfield JC, Romano M (1999) The adrenocortical stress-response of black-legged kittiwake chicks in relation to dietary restrictions. J Comp Physiol B. doi:10.1007/s003600050225

  • Korpimäki E (1981) On the ecology and biology of Tengmalm’s owl (Aegolius funereus) in Southern Ostrobothnia and Suomenselkä, western Finland. Ph.D. thesis, University of Oulu, Finland

  • Kristan DM, Gutiérrez RJ, Franklin B (1996) Adaptative of growth patterns in juvenile spotted owls. Can J Zool 74:1882–1886

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lacombe D, Bird DM, Hibbard KA (1994) Influence of reduced food availability on growth of captive American kestrels. Can J Zool 72:2084–2089

    Google Scholar 

  • Landys MM, Piersma T, Guglielmo CG, Jukema J, Ramenofsky M, Wingfield JC (2005) Metabolic profile of long-distance migratory flight and stopover in a shorebird. Proc R Soc. doi:10.1098/rspb.2004.2952

  • Landys MM, Piersma T, Visser GH, Jukema J, Wijker A (2000) Water balance during real and simulated long-distance migratory flight in the bar-tailed godwit. Condor 102:645–652

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lesage L, Gauthier G (1998) Growth and organ development in greater snow goose goslings. Auk 114:229–241

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindström Å, Piersma T (1993) Mass changes in migrating birds: the evidence for fat and protein storage re-examined. Ibis 135:70–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Love OP, Bird DM, Shutt LJ (2003) Corticosterone levels during post-natal development in captive American kestrels (Falco spaverius). Gen Comp Endocrinol 130:135–141

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Massemin S, Groscolas R, Handrich Y (1997) Body composition of the European barn owl during the nonbreeding period. Condor 99:789–797

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Metcalfe NB, Monaghan P (2001) Compensation for a bad start: grow now, pay later? TREE. doi:10.1016/S0169-5347(01)02124-3

  • Mikkola H (1983) In: Poyser T, Poyser AD (eds) Owls of Europe. Carlton, London

  • Murphy ME (1996) Nutrition and metabolism. In: Carey C (ed) Avian energetics and nutritional ecology. Chapman & Hall, New York, pp 31–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Naguib M, Nemitz A, Gil D (2006) Maternal developmental stress reduces reproductive success of female offspring in zebra finches. Proc R Soc B. doi:10.1098/rspb.2006.3526

  • Newton I (1979) In: Poyser T, Poyser AD (eds) Population ecology of raptors. Carlton, London

  • O’Connor RJ (1977) Growth strategies in nestling passerines. Living Bird 16:2009–2238

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips RA, Hamer KC (1999) Lipid reserves, fasting capability and the evolution of nestling obesity in procellariiform seabirds. Proc R Soc B. doi:10.1098/rspb.1999.0783

  • Pryce CR, Rüedi-Bettschen D, Dettling AC, Feldon J (2002) Early life stress: long-term physiological impact in rodents and primates. News Physiol Sci 17:150–155

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds SJ, Waldron S (1999) Body water dynamics at the onset of egg-laying in the Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata. J Avian Biol 30:1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ricklefs RE (1983) Avian postnatal development. In: Farner DS, King JR (eds) Avian biology VII. Academic, New York, pp 1–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Ricklefs RE, Schew WA (1994) Foraging stochasticity and lipid accumulation by nestling petrels. Funct Ecol 8:159–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roulin A (1998) Cycle de reproduction et abondance du diptère parasite Carnus hemapterus dans les nichées de chouettes effraies Tyto alba. Alauda 66:265–272

    Google Scholar 

  • Sapolsky RM, Romero ML, Munck AU (2000) How do glucocorticoids influence stress responses? Integrative permissive, suppressive, stimulatory, and preparation actions. Endocr Rev 21:55–89

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt-Nielsen K (1990) Animal physiology: adaptation and environment. Cambridge University Press, London, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Starck JM, Ricklefs RE (1998) Avian growth and development: evolution within the Altricial-Precocial spectrum. Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoleson SH, Beissinger SR (1997) Hatching asynchrony, brood reduction, and food limitation in a neotropical Parrot. Ecol Monogr 67:131–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor I (1994) Barn owls: predator-prey relationships and conservation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Thouzeau C, Massemin S, Handrich Y (1997) Bone marrow fat mobilization in relation to lipid and protein catabolism during prolonged fasting in barn owls. J Comp Physiol B. doi:10.1007/s003600050043

  • Thouzeau C, Robin J-P, Le Maho Y, Handrich Y (1999) Body reserve dynamics and energetics of barn owls during fasting in the cold. J Comp Physiol B. doi:10.1007/s003600050262

  • Van der Ziel CE, Visser GH (2000) The effect of food restriction on morphological and metabolic development in two lines of growing Japanese quail chicks. Physiol Biochem Zool 74(1):52–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Warham J (1990) The petrels: their ecology and breeding systems. Academic, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitman BA, Breuner CW, Dufty AM (2005) Investigator handling, stress and nestlings: should we be concerned? Int Comp Biol 45:1096

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank E Mioskowski and A Wulgué for help with laboratory analyses. We also thank L Ciannelli for valuable comments on earlier drafts of the manuscript. This study was conducted in compliance with current French laws and after experiments were approved by French authorities: Authorisation of the Ministère de l’Agriculture et de la Pêche nb 04196.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), University of Oslo, PO Box 1066 Blindern, 0316, Oslo, Norway

    Joël M. Durant

  2. Department of Zoology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA

    Mėta M. Landys

  3. Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie (DEPE), Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien (IPHC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 23 rue Becquerel, 67087, Strasbourg Cedex 02, France

    Yves Handrich

Authors
  1. Joël M. Durant
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mėta M. Landys
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yves Handrich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joël M. Durant.

Additional information

Communicated by G. Heldmaier.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

(DOC 240 kb)

(DOC 956 kb)

(DOC 62 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Durant, J.M., Landys, M.M. & Handrich, Y. Composition of the body mass overshoot in European barn owl nestlings (Tyto alba ): insurance against scarcity of energy or water?. J Comp Physiol B 178, 563–571 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-007-0246-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-007-0246-4

Keywords