Plasma Corticosterone Levels of Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla Overwintering in a Tropical Coastal Lagoon of Northeastern Venezuela: Effect of Capture and Handling

Authors: Mata, Astolfo¹; Marín, Gedio²; Rodríguez, Jon Paul¹; Yuraí Guerrero, Hilda³; Cardillo, Elizabeth³

Source: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Volume 1163, Number 1, April 2009 , pp. 460-463(4)

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Abstract:

Semipalmated sandpiper Calidris pusilla arrives on the coasts of Venezuela between the middle of August and early September, staying there until May when birds prepare for vernal migration. To investigate possible relationships between corticosterone levels and body mass changes during preparation for migration, we sampled birds during wintering (January) and vernal premigration (May) over 2 years. Body mass and fat increased significantly from wintering to vernal premigration in both years. Capture stress levels of corticosterone varied between 30 and 150 ng mL⁻¹, the highest being during wintering. These results strongly suggest that increase in body mass of C. pusilla during preparation for vernal migration in a tropical environment was promoted by a decreased corticosterone secretion response to stress.

Keywords: corticosterone; semipalmated sandpiper; migration; tropical lagoon; body mass; stress; capture handling

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2008.03669.x

Affiliations: 1: Laboratorio de Biología de Organismos, Centro de Ecología, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas, Venezuela 2: Laboratorio de Ornitología, Departamento de Biología, Núcleo de Sucre, Universidad de Oriente, Cumaná, Venezuela 3: Laboratorio de Neuroendocrinología Comparada, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela

Publication date: 2009-04-01