RT Journal Article
T1 Do Barn Swallow nestlings incur an oxidative cost of begging?
T2 Entstehen den Nestlingen von Rauchschwalben durch Betteln oxidative Kosten?
A1 Fuertes Recuero, Manuel
A1 Cantarero Carmona, Alejandro
A1 Redondo, Alberto J.
A1 Sánchez Sánchez, Nuria
A1 Redondo, Tomás
AB Some theoretical models predict that nestling begging must be a costly activity to transmit reliable information to parents about offspring hunger. One candidate cost is oxidative stress, which could impair growth or immune function. This hypothesis predicts that nestlings in a poor oxidative status should pay higher costs for a given amount of begging, hence beg at lower rates for a similar degree of hunger. To test this prediction, we experimentally induced a transient alteration of the oxidative status of Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) nestlings by administering them either a single dose of a pro-oxidant substance (BSO) or an antioxidant (vitamin E), and recorded their begging behaviour. Chicks treated with vitamin E increased their begging rates in the hours following treatment. However, and contrary to prediction, BSO nestlings did not decrease begging compared to controls. These inconsistent results are difficult to explain by the hypothesis that begging performance is mediated by the oxidative status of nestlings because chicks with an impaired oxidative status (the BSO group) begged the same as controls. Alternatively, vitamin E may alleviate the inhibitory effects on begging of stress responses mediated by glucocorticoids. This study suggests that oxidative costs of begging are minor or absent in this species. Future studies should consider alternative explanations for an association between oxidative status, antioxidant supplementation and begging behaviour, particularly those involving glucocorticoids.
PB Springer
SN 2193-7192
YR 2023
FD 2023-07-06
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/104188
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/104188
LA eng
NO Fuertes-Recuero, M., Cantarero, A., Redondo, A.J. et al. Do Barn Swallow nestlings incur an oxidative cost of begging?. J Ornithol 165, 231–239 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-023-02090-8
NO 2023 Acuerdos transformativos CRUE
NO Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (España)
DS Docta Complutense
RD 28 sept 2024