Abstract
We present the normal baseline variation in haematology of 59 Northern Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) collected from two high arctic sites in Nunavut, Canada. We found no differences between males and females in any haematological variable, but leukocyte profiles differed between non-breeding and breeding birds and also between breeding birds at different colonies. Breeding birds also had higher thrombocyte counts than non-breeders. Given that the Arctic is experiencing significant environmental changes due to climate warming, reference haematological values from seabirds may prove useful in monitoring the impacts on arctic ecosystems.
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Acknowledgements
These studies would not have been possible without the financial and logistic support of Environment Canada (Canadian Wildlife Service and Northern Ecosystem Initiative), Natural Resources Canada (Polar Continental Shelf Project), Carleton University, and the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board. The Avian Energetics Lab at Bird Studies Canada provided dissection work, and Nic McLellan conducted all blood smear analyses. Our deep thanks to the many excellent field assistants on the Cape Vera and Prince Leopold Island projects and to two anonymous referees for helpful comments on the paper.
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Edwards, D.B., Mallory, M.L. & Forbes, M.R. Variation in baseline haematology of Northern Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) in the Canadian High Arctic. Comp Clin Path 14, 206–209 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-005-0589-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-005-0589-8