The Open Ornithology Journal




(Discontinued)

ISSN: 1874-4532 ― Volume 13, 2020
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Glucose Concentrations in Closely Related Titmice (Baeolophus) Species Linked to Regional Habitat Differences Across an Avian Hybrid Zone



Jennifer C. Vaughn1, *, Gary Voelker1, J. Jill Heatley2
1 Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences and Texas A&M Biodiversity and Research Collections, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
2 Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX, USA

Abstract

Aims:

We used physiological data, in conjunction with habitat information, to elucidate the interactions between two hybridizing songbirds within a hybrid zone.

Background:

Hybrid zones are ideal regions to examine a variety of ecological, behavior, and evolutionary processes. In addition to genetics, behavior, and morphology, physiological differences may impact hybrid fitness, genetic introgression, and even the stability of a hybrid zone.

Objective:

To assess physiological differences in hybridizing species, we investigated selected venous blood analytes in two species of songbirds hybridizing along the Balcones Escarpment in central Texas.

Methods:

Using a portable blood analyzer, we assayed blood samples from Black-crested Titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus) and Tufted Titmouse (B. bicolor) individuals along a longitudinal transect that included the contact zone. Ecologically, this transect varies from higher elevation semi-arid regions on the Balcones Escarpment (and west across the Edwards Plateau) to lower elevation mesic forests east of the escarpment.

Results:

As expected, several blood analytes differed with age, sex, and sedative administration; however, we observed relatively increased blood glucose concentrations in Black-crested Titmice, which occupy the semi-arid habitats of west Texas. Furthermore, glucose concentrations were further elevated following rainfall events. Blood glucose concentrations often increase during stressful conditions and or related to changes in diet.

Conclusion:

We suspect that Black-crested Titmice have relatively increased blood glucose concentrations as a product of living in a semi-arid environment that causes chronic stress from unpredictable food and water resources. The link between rainfall and glucose may be a result of the increased and greater diversity of food availability after rainfall. Although further research is needed, we suspect that habitat differences and associated lack of physiological adaptations may be a limiting factor in westward range expansion in the more aggressive Tufted Titmice.

Keywords: Blood gas, Passeriformes, Speciation, Habitat, Geography, Electrolytes, Biochemistry.

Article Information


Identifiers and Pagination:

Year: 2020
Volume: 13
First Page: 10
Last Page: 23
Publisher Id: TOOENIJ-13-10
DOI: 10.2174/1874453202013010010

Article History:

Received Date: 10/02/2020
Revision Received Date: 30/03/2020
Acceptance Date: 15/04/2020
Electronic publication date: 31/07/2020
Collection year: 2020

© 2020 Vaughn et al.

open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0), a copy of which is available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.


* Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences and Texas A&M Biodiversity and Research Collections, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA; Tel: +1 214-908-3808; E-mail: jcary@tamu.edu


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