title: When moult overlaps migration: moult-related changes in plasma biochemistry of migrating common snipe.
abstract: Moult of feathers entails considerable physiological and energetic costs to an avian organism. Even under favourable feeding conditions, endogenous body stores and energy reserves of moulting birds are usually severely depleted. Thus, most species of birds separate moult from other energy-demanding activities, such as migration or reproduction. Common snipeGallinago gallinagois an exception, as during the first autumn migration many young snipe initiate the post-juvenile moult, which includes replacement of body feathers, lesser and median wing coverts, tertials, and rectrices. Here, we evaluated moult-related changes in blood plasma biochemistry of the common snipe during a period of serious trade-off in energy allocation between moult and migration. For this purpose, concentrations of basic metabolites in plasma were evaluated in more than 500 young snipe migrating through Central Europe. We found significant changes in the plasma concentrations of total protein, triglyceride and glucose over the course of moult, while the concentrations of uric acid and albumin did not change. Total protein concentration increased significantly in the initial stage of moult, probably as a result of increased production of keratin, but it decreased to the pre-moult level at the advanced stage of moult. Plasma triglyceride concentration decreased during the period of tertial and rectrice moult, which reflected depletion of endogenous fat reserves. By contrast, glucose concentration increased steadily during the course of moult, which could be caused by increased catabolism of triglycerides (via gluconeogenesis) or, alternatively, due to increased glucocorticoids as a stress response. Our results suggest that physiological changes associated with moult may be considered important determinants of the low pace of migration typical of the common snipe.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, University of Łódź , Łódź , Poland.
authors.forename: Patrycja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Podlaszczuk
authors.affiliation: Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, University of Łódź , Łódź , Poland.
authors.forename: Radosław
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Włodarczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, University of Łódź , Łódź , Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Janiszewski
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrocardiology, Medical University of Łódź , Łódź , Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaczmarek
authors.affiliation: Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, University of Łódź , Łódź , Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Minias
keywords: Common snipe; Gallinago gallinago; Moult-migration overlap; Moulting; Physiology; Plasma biochemistry