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Body condition, hormonal correlates and consequences for survival in common tern chicks

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Abstract

Although sibling competition in avian species has been extensively studied, the proximate mechanisms remain largely unknown. Recent research proposed that steroid hormones, in particular testosterone (T) and corticosterone (CORT), might play a role either in promoting competitive behavioral displays or in response to chronic nutritional stress accompanied by a sustained competitive situation. Here, we examine body condition, endogenous T levels and fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM) as non-invasive measures of CORT in sibling broods of wild common tern chicks (Sterna hirundo) during three post-natal developmental stages. In this species, distinct within-brood size asymmetries are imposed by an asynchronous hatching interval, and sexes show slightly different growth patterns. First-hatched (a-)chicks were in better condition than their later-hatched sibling (b-chick). FGM levels inversely covaried with condition and were elevated at the end of pre-fledging development. T levels of a- and b-chicks changed with age, although the direction of the changes differed, with b-chicks eventually having higher levels than their older siblings. Survival to fledging was not associated with FGM but with T levels, which tended to be higher in surviving chicks. Our results are discussed with regard to how plasticity in steroid hormones could be involved in mediating sibling competition in common terns.

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Acknowledgments

This study would not have been possible without the help of numerous people during field work, especially C. Bauch, J. Riechert, J. Sprenger, L. Schmidt and G. Wagenknecht. We are obliged to R. Nagel and J. Trauernicht for technical assistance and H. Niederstucke for help with testosterone assays. We thank L. Szostek for checking the English. F. Bairlein and two anonymous referees provided useful comments on an earlier draft of the manuscript. Field work was carried out under license of the Conservation Board Wilhelmshaven “Untere Naturschutzbehörde, Wilhelmshaven” and LAVES, Oldenburg, and complied with the current laws of the country. The study was financially supported by the German Research Association Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (BE 916/8).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany

    Alexander Braasch & Peter H. Becker

  2. Department of Biomedical Sciences/Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria

    Rupert Palme

  3. Department of Endocrinology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173, Hannover, Germany

    Hans-Otto Hoppen

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  1. Alexander Braasch
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Correspondence to Alexander Braasch.

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Braasch, A., Palme, R., Hoppen, HO. et al. Body condition, hormonal correlates and consequences for survival in common tern chicks. J Comp Physiol A 197, 1009–1020 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-011-0663-4

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