Meeting Abstract
Many avian species live in both urban and rural environments, which can be beneficial or detrimental to the overall fitness of the residing population. Rural environments may offer a more natural setting with resources historically familiar to most species, whereas the urban environment may offer greater food predictability, protected nesting sites, and safety from some types of predators. Life in the urban environment may be detrimental to species or individuals that are not well adapted to living in close proximity to humans and infrastructure. Our study examined the health of urban and rural American Goldfinches, (Spinus tristis), and American Robins, (Turdus migratorius), by examining body condition and feather color. Both species obtain carotenoids to color their bright mating plumage from the environment and carotenoids also participate in anti-oxidant defense mechanisms. Brighter plumage may therefore reflect both environmental availability to carotenoids and/or higher individual condition or exposure to metabolic stress. Through this study we hope to better understand how these different habitats, and the potential trade-offs they offer, are impacting the health and overall fitness of these two species.
