Oxidative stress as link between environmental quality and fitness in wild birds
Researcher(s): Mrs Shona Smith
Supervisor(s): Dr David Costantini, Prof Neil Metcalfe, Dr Ruedi Nager
Department: Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, MVLS
Institution: University of Glasgow
Brief Description: My current project aims to investigate the link between growth and oxidative stress in wild blue tits. During my first field season, I manipulated brood size in order to create some ‘enlarged’ broods. Chicks within these broods were expected to grow at a reduced rate due to a reduction of food per chick. The next stage of the experiment involved re-standardisation of all broods, so that chicks from previously enlarged broods would show compensatory growth. I expect these chicks to show the highest levels of oxidative stress.
The measures of oxidative stress I am interested in are protein carbonyls (from protein oxidation), hydroperoxides (from protein, lipid and nucleic acid oxidation), TAC (total antioxidant capacity), GPX (glutathione peroxidase; an enzymatic antioxidant) and thiols (important antioxidants in birds).
Finally, I will investigate the effects of habitat quality by comparing two woodland sites, as well as the difference between the edge and middle of each site. This is interesting since light levels, temperature and prey availability may vary across sights.
Funding Source(s): NERC
Project Status: 2nd year
Start Date: 1st October 2011
End Date: 1st October 2014
Shona Smith's Research Profile Page
