Journal article

Publication year: 2010

Pages: 347-354

Journal: Journal of Ornithology

Volume number: 151

Issue number: 2

ISSN: 0021-8375

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-009-0461-8

Publisher: Springer

Abstract: 
Wild birds exposed to stressors may modulate their investment in immunity. We studied the leucocytes of breeding burrowing parrots (Cyanoliseus patagonus) in Patagonia during five breeding seasons, during which global climate events such as a strong La Nia and a weak El Nio occurred. We observed strong inter-annual variation in the ratio of heterophils to lymphocytes (H/L), with higher H/L during the adverse conditions of La Nia compared with the favourable conditions of El Nio for the studied region. Nevertheless, highest H/L were found in the breeding season following a La Nia event; this is probably explained by a combination of long-term detrimental effects of climatic conditions and other, e.g. biotic, stressors. Males had higher H/L than females, and H/L ratios were negatively related to individual body condition.

Harvard Citation style: Plischke, A., Quillfeldt, P., Lubjuhn, T., Merino, S. and Masello, J. (2010) Leucocytes in adult burrowing parrots Cyanoliseus patagonus in the wild: variation between contrasting breeding seasons, gender, and individual condition, Journal of Ornithology, 151(2), pp. 347-354. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-009-0461-8

APA Citation style: Plischke, A., Quillfeldt, P., Lubjuhn, T., Merino, S., & Masello, J. (2010). Leucocytes in adult burrowing parrots Cyanoliseus patagonus in the wild: variation between contrasting breeding seasons, gender, and individual condition. Journal of Ornithology. 151(2), 347-354. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-009-0461-8