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Research | Open Access

Endocrine response of early-hatching Asian Short-toed Lark nestlings exposed to cold temperature in a high-latitude grassland habitat

Jing Shang1,2,†, Liang Zhang1,2,†, Xinyu Li1,2,†, Shuping Zhang1( )
Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment in Minority Areas (National Ethnic Affairs Commission), Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China

†Jing Shang, Liang Zhang, Xinyu Li contributed equally to the work

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Abstract

Background

In high latitude grassland habitats, altricial nestlings hatching in open-cup nests early in the breeding season must cope with cold temperature challenges. Thyroid hormones (triiodothyronine, T3 and thyroxine, T4) and corticosterone play a crucial role in avian thermoregulation response to cold. Investigating the endocrine response of altricial nestlings to temperature variation is important for understanding the adaptive mechanisms of individual variation in the timing of breeding in birds.

Methods

We compared nest temperature, ambient temperature, body temperature, plasma T3, T4 and corticosterone levels in Asian Short-toed Lark (Alaudala cheleensis) nestlings hatching in the early-, middle-, and late-stages of the breeding season in Hulunbuir grassland, northeast China.

Results

Mean nest temperature in the early-, middle- and late-stage groups was−1.85, 3.81 and 10.23 ℃, respectively, for the 3-day-old nestlings, and 6.83, 10.41 and 11.81 ℃, respectively, for the 6-day-old nestlings. The nest temperature significantly correlated with body temperature, plasma T3, T4 and corticosterone concentrations of nestlings. Body temperature of 3-day-old nestlings in the early and middle groups was significantly lower than that of the late group, but there was no significant difference between the nestlings in the early and middle groups. The T4 and T3 concentrations and the ratio of T3/T4 of both 3- and 6-day-old nestlings in the early-stage group were significantly higher compared to the middle and late groups. The corticosterone levels of 3-day-old nestlings were significantly higher in the early-stage group compared to the middle- and late-stage groups.

Conclusion

Nestlings hatching early responded to cold temperature by increasing thyroid hormones and corticosterone levels even in the early days of post hatching development when the endothermy has not been established. These hormones may play a physiological role in neonatal nestlings coping with cold temperature challenges.

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Avian Research
Volume 12 Issue 1,
January 2021
Article number: 55
DOI: 10.1186/s40657-021-00291-4
Cite this article:
Shang J, Zhang L, Li X, et al. Endocrine response of early-hatching Asian Short-toed Lark nestlings exposed to cold temperature in a high-latitude grassland habitat. Avian Research, 2021, 12(1): 55. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-021-00291-4

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Received: 12 July 2021
Accepted: 20 October 2021
Published: 28 October 2021
© The Author(s) 2021.

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