scholarly journals Oxidative status and telomere length are related to somatic and physiological maturation in chicks of European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)

2019 ◽  
Vol 222 (20) ◽  
pp. jeb204719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francois Criscuolo ◽  
Allison Cornell ◽  
Sandrine Zahn ◽  
Tony D. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Telomere Length ◽  
Sturnus Vulgaris ◽  
Oxidative Status ◽  
European Starlings

scholarly journals Telomere length, individual quality and fitness in female European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) during breeding

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Criscuolo ◽  
M.F. Fowler ◽  
V.A. Fuhrer ◽  
S. Zahn ◽  
T.D. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Telomere Length ◽  
Sturnus Vulgaris ◽  
Individual Quality ◽  
Energy Status ◽  
European Starlings ◽  
Adult Individual ◽  
Weak Support ◽  
Provisioning Rate ◽  
Linear Chromosomes

AbstractTelomeres, short guanine-rich repeats that cap linear chromosomes, are involved in cell senescence and organismal ageing. Our present understanding of telomere function oscillates between a marker of individual quality, which should be positively correlated with reproduction, to a marker of costs of reproduction (e.g. due to DNA damage). To test these ‘quality’ and ‘cost’ hypotheses, we tested the output of very simple predictions in a free-living population of European starlings Sturnus vulgaris where reproductive success of adult females was followed over 2 breeding seasons (with 2 broods per breeding). If telomere length indicate individual quality, low quality females (LQ, no fledgling) should have lower telomere lengths than high quality females (which produced fledglings in 1st and 2nd broods). Additionally, physiological determinants of adult individual quality (established in a previous study) and provisioning rate should be positively associated with adult telomere lengths. Finally, telomere length should predict future reproductive success. Adult telomere length was lower in LQ females but only during the chick-rearing period. Females producing larger clutches at fledging in the 1st brood of the 1st year also had longer telomeres. Provisioning rate was positively related to telomere length, as were plasma markers of oxidative damage, non-esterified fatty acids and triglycerides. Despite these associations, we found weak support for telomeres as indicators of individual quality. Telomere length failed in predicting future reproduction success and there was a lack of consistency in within-individual telomere length over the breeding season. In starlings, we suggest that telomere length may indicate current breeding capacities and energy status of female adults, rather than future fecundity/survival.

Nestling European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) adjust their begging calls in noise

Bioacoustics ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Maheshi E. Dharmasiri ◽  
Colleen A. Barber ◽  
Andrew G. Horn
Keyword(s):  
Sturnus Vulgaris ◽  
European Starlings

Castration does not decrease nonreproductive aggression in yearling male European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)

2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 394-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rianne Pinxten ◽  
Elke De Ridder ◽  
Maarten De Cock ◽  
Marcel Eens
Keyword(s):  
Sturnus Vulgaris ◽  
European Starlings

Evidence for sexy sons in European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)

2005 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 375-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helga Gwinner ◽  
Hubert Schwabl
Keyword(s):  
Sturnus Vulgaris ◽  
European Starlings

Testosterone Implants Affect Molt in Male European Starlings, Sturnus vulgaris

1985 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 597-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Günther Schleussner ◽  
John P. Dittami ◽  
Eberhard Gwinner
Keyword(s):  
Sturnus Vulgaris ◽  
European Starlings
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