title: Flight at low ambient humidity increases protein catabolism in migratory birds.
abstract: Although fat is the primary fuel for migratory flight in birds, protein is also used. Catabolism of tissue protein yields five times as much water per kilojoule as fat, and so one proposed function of protein catabolism is to maintain water balance during nonstop flights. To test the protein-for-water hypothesis, we flew Swainson's thrushes (Catharus ustulatus) in a climatic wind tunnel under high- and low-humidity conditions at 18°C for up to 5 hours. Flight under dry conditions increased the rates of lean mass loss and endogenous water production and also increased plasma uric acid concentration. These data demonstrate that atmospheric humidity influences fuel composition in flight and suggest that protein deposition and catabolism during migration are, in part, a metabolic strategy to maintain osmotic homeostasis during flight.
authors: Department of Biology, Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada. agerson2@uwo.ca
authors: Alexander R
authors: AR
authors: Gerson
authors: Christopher G
authors: CG
authors: Guglielmo
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D025041:Animal Migration; D000818:Animals; D030161:Avian Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001823:Body Composition; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005426:Flight, Animal; D006706:Homeostasis; D006813:Humidity; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D020308:Songbirds / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood; D014919:Wind
chemical_list: D030161:Avian Proteins; D014527:Uric Acid