Meeting Abstract

51.3  Tuesday, Jan. 5  Energy, growth and oxidative stress in Leach’s storm-petrels (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) HAUSSMANN, M.F.*; MAUCK, R.A.; Bucknell Univ, Lewisburg, PA; Kenyon College, Gambier, OH mfh008@bucknell.edu

Limitation in energy allocation is the main force underlying life history trade-offs. Aerobic species have evolved the capability to use oxygen for efficient energy release. A consequence of this process is the formation of free radicals, which can damage biological tissues and modulate the aging process. This places oxidative stress as a potentially important mechanism driving life history evolution. We manipulated food availability to nestling Leach’s storm-petrels to investigate the interplay between energy, growth, and oxidative stress. Control nestlings (N = 20) received food from parents normally over the entire 65 day nestling period. Restriction nestlings (N = 20) received approximately half that during the Early Nestling Period (ENP; hatch to day 40), then approximately twice normal amounts during the Late Nestling Period (LNP; day 40 to day 60). We monitored chick growth parameters daily and collected blood samples at hatch, day 40, and day 60. Catalase activity differed between Control and Restriction birds (P < 0.01). While catalase levels in Control birds increased in both the ENP and LNP, Restriction birds showed no change in catalase during the ENP and an increase to control levels over the LNP. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) differed between Control and Restriction birds (P < 0.01). LPO levels decreased during the ENP in Control birds and remained low through the LNP. In Restriction birds, LPO increased during the ENP, then decreased during the LNP to reach levels similar to those of Control birds. Our results provide strong evidence for the effect of food availability on oxidative stress. Because oxidative stress underlies physiological health and aging, nutritional stress early in development may impact an individual’s life history trajectory.