Leukocyte profile variation in Dupont’s Lark (Chersophilus duponti) in Spain and Morocco

• Published in: Journal of ornithology 2022-04, Vol.163 (2), p.539-551
• Main Authors: Bustillo-de la Rosa, Daniel, Calero-Riestra, María, Pérez-Granados, Cristian, Mereu, Silvia, Morales, Manuel B., Traba, Juan, López-Iborra, Germán M., Barrero, Adrián, Gómez-Catasús, Julia, Reverter, Margarita, Viñuela, Javier, Oñate, Juan J., Hervás, Israel, Justribó, Jorge Hernández, García, Jesús T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Blood parasites; Breeding seasons; Chersophilus duponti; Ecology; Fish & Wildlife Biology & Management; Life Sciences; Lymphocytes; Malaria; Original Article; Population density; Seasons; Variation; Zoology
• ISSN: 2193-7192; 2193-7206
• DOI: 10.1007/s10336-021-01958-x

Stress in birds has been widely studied through the measurement of heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (H/L ratio). In this study we aimed to assess for the first time the potential variation of stress, measured as H/L ratio, associated to geography (between-country variation) and seasonality (between seasons and within the breeding season), as well as the leukocyte profiles, in the threatened Dupont’s Lark ( Chersophilus duponti ), using samples from Spain and Morocco. Furthermore, we tested whether variation in H/L ratio was associated with variables such as population density, presence of blood parasites and individual body condition. We found that H/L ratio did not vary between countries, but individuals captured during the breeding season showed higher values of H/L compared to non-breeding ones. Neither male density, nor date within the breeding season had an effect on the H/L ratio. In Spain, individuals with higher body condition showed lower H/L ratio regardless of whether they were malaria-infected. In Morocco, malaria-infected individuals showed higher values of H/L ratio than the non-infected birds. Moreover, we found that our average values of H/L ratio in Morocco were within the ranges of other passerines, but not in Spain. Individuals with higher H/L ratios may be more stressed or present higher capability to face stressful situations. Although H/L ratio is a useful and relatively easy way to obtain measure of stress, the impact that the environment might have on stress and the way it is explained by H/L ratio must be addressed carefully. This study provides new insight for this species’ biology and provides useful reference information to test the status and survival of other populations.