期刊
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
卷 160, 期 2, 页码 260-266出版社
ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2011.06.011
关键词
Stress response; Corticosterone; Heart rate; European starling; Temperature; Fight-or-flight; Catecholamines; Weather
资金
- U.S. National Science Foundation [IOS-1048529]
- Direct For Biological Sciences
- Division Of Integrative Organismal Systems [1048529] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
Free-ranging animals continuously adjust to changes in their environment. The stress response, typified by increases in heart rate and glucocorticoids, is an important physiological response regulating these changes. This study investigated heart rate, corticosterone and behavioral responses of European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) to a rapid 30 min decrease in temperature using an air-conditioning unit. Ten wild-caught birds were divided into pairs and exposed to four different trials. Three trials were controls: undisturbed birds; exposing birds to only the noise of the air-conditioning unit; and exposing the birds to 20 degrees C airflow. For the experimental trial birds were exposed to 12 degrees C air, leading to a rapid but modest 3 degrees C drop in ambient temperature inside the birdcages. Heart rate and behavior were recorded before and during trials, while blood samples were collected before and after each trial for corticosterone measurements. Cooling, but none of the control conditions, induced an increase in heart rate and corticosterone. Additionally, cooling led to an increase in perch hopping and feather ruffling. We conclude that minor changes in temperature can elicit a stress response in European starlings, which suggests that this may be an important mechanism by which animals cope with minor rapid environmental changes. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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