Abstract

Migration is a demanding time for birds, and birds face numerous physiological, behavioral, and environmental challenges. As migratory birds balance the costs of numerous stressors during migration, this could result in detrimental physiological trade-offs. Understanding the trials and trade-offs that birds encounter during migration has important conservation implications. I utilized two component studies to better understand challenges encountered by migratory songbirds as well as to identify physiological metrics that may provide insight into these challenges. For the first study, I used nested PCR and DNA sequencing to determine parasite prevalence and diversity of avian haemosporidians in Canada Warblers (Cardellina canadensis) and Black-throated Blue Warblers (Setophaga caerulescens). I further evaluated if haemosporidian infections were related to immune condition, as assessed via total white blood cell (WBC) counts and heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratios, or refueling patterns and/or migration timing. There was a high haemosporidian prevalence in sampled birds (51.5%). However, although haemosporidians appear to be a routine challenge faced by birds during migration, the analyses provided no evidence that Canada Warblers and Black-throated Blue Warblers experience physiological or behavioral trade-offs as a result of infections. In the second study, I used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) developed for migratory birds to measure heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) in three species of Catharus thrushes during spring and fall migration. HSP60 was significantly higher during spring migration relative to fall migration, and there was moderate variation in HSP60 across species. HSP60 was not strongly associated with white blood cell counts, scaled mass index, plasma uric acid, or migration arrival date. Results suggest that HSP60 could exhibit correlations with numerous stressors associated with the challenges of long-distance migratory flight and that HSP60 is a robust metric of physiological stress suitable for avian migration studies.

Publication Date

7-2-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Environmental Science (MS)

Department, Program, or Center

Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences

College

College of Science

Advisor

Susan Smith Pagano

Advisor/Committee Member

Maureen Ferran

Advisor/Committee Member

Elizabeth Hane

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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