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Lifetime variation in feather corticosterone levels in a long-lived raptor

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Abstract

In long-lived animals, the challenges that threaten individual homeostasis, and the way they are dealt with, are expected to vary in an age-related manner, encompassing the progressive selection of superior phenotypes and the acquisition and improvement of key skills (e.g. foraging, breeding and fighting abilities). Since exposure to homeostatic challenges typically elevates circulating glucocorticoid (GC) levels in vertebrates (modulating the behavioural and physiological responses that mediate allostasis), we may expect concomitant age-related changes in these hormones. Here, we investigated whether the level of corticosterone (the main avian GC) deposited in feathers during regular moult reflected the expected lifelong progression of energetic challenges in a long-lived raptor, the black kite (Milvus migrans). Feather corticosterone values were highest in the youngest birds, gradually declined to reach minimum levels in prime age, 7- to 11-year-old birds, and then increased again slightly among the oldest, senescent birds (≥12 years old). This pattern mirrored the age-related changes in reproductive success and survival rates previously reported for this population, suggesting that feather corticosterone levels captured the most vulnerable and challenging periods experienced by these birds as they proceeded through life. Moreover, feather corticosterone levels were negatively related to body size, suggesting that larger birds either experienced fewer homeostatic challenges, or were better able to cope with them. Feather corticosterone measures thus provided a valuable snapshot of how allostatic loads vary along the life of individuals, supporting the idea of a tight, long-term link between cumulative physiological responses to ecological challenges and demographic performance.

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Acknowledgments

We thank F.J. Chicano, F.G. Vilches, J.M. Giralt and M. Anjos for their help in the field, the Laboratorio de Ecología Molecular at the Estación Biológica de Doñana (LEM-EBD) for conducting the molecular sexing analyses, and the personnel of the Reserva Biológica de Doñana for facilitating help and accommodation. J.B. was supported by a Ramón y Cajal contract from the Spanish Ministry and CSIC. Part of this study was funded by research projects CGL2008-01781, CGL2011-28103, CGL2015-69445-P and CGL2012-32544 of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and FEDER funds (European Union), JA-58 of the Consejería de Medio Ambiente de la Junta de Andalucía, the Excellence Projects RNM 1790, RNM 3822 and RNM 7307 of the Junta de Andalucía, and grant 511/2012 (National Parks) from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment.

Author contribution statement

LLJ, JB, FS, AT and FH conducted the fieldwork and analysed the data. SC and TM performed the laboratory analyses. All authors took part in the conceptual planning of the study and in the preparation of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), C/Américo Vespucio, 41092, Seville, Spain

    Lidia López-Jiménez, Julio Blas, Alessandro Tanferna, Fernando Hiraldo & Fabrizio Sergio

  2. Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, /SK S7 N 5E2, Saskatoon, Canada

    Sonia Cabezas & Tracy Marchant

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  1. Lidia López-Jiménez
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  2. Julio Blas
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  3. Alessandro Tanferna
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  6. Fernando Hiraldo
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  7. Fabrizio Sergio
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Correspondence to Lidia López-Jiménez.

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Communicated by Michael Sheriff.

The results of our work broaden the knowledge of adrenocortical function and feather CORT deposition in birds. We provide the first lifelong profile of ontogenetic variation in feather CORT levels in a raptor species. This measure appears to capture the most sensitive and energetically challenging periods in the life cycle of these birds and supports the idea of a tight link between cumulative physiological responses to ecological challenges and demographic performance.

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López-Jiménez, L., Blas, J., Tanferna, A. et al. Lifetime variation in feather corticosterone levels in a long-lived raptor. Oecologia 183, 315–326 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-016-3708-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-016-3708-0

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