Signatures of natural selection in the mitochondrial genomes of Tachycineta swallows and their implications for latitudinal patterns of the 'pace of life'.

Latitudinal variation in avian life histories can be summarized as a slow-fast continuum, termed the 'pace of life', that encompasses patterns in life span, reproduction, and rates of development among tropical and temperate species. Much of the variation in avian pace of life is tied to differences in rates of long-term metabolic energy expenditure. Given the vital role of the mitochondrion in metabolic processes, studies of variation in the mitochondrial genome may offer opportunities to establish mechanistic links between genetic variation and latitudinal 'pace of life' patterns.

Phylogeny of the Tachycineta genus of New World swallows: insights from complete mitochondrial genomes.

The Tachycineta genus of swallows is comprised of nine species that range from Alaska to southern Chile. We sequenced the entire mitochondrial genome of each member of Tachycineta and generated a completely resolved phylogenetic hypothesis for the corresponding mitochondrial gene tree. Our analyses confirm the presence of two sub-clades within Tachycineta that are associated with geography: a North American/Caribbean clade and a South/Central American clade.

Behavioral and physiological effects of photoperiod-induced migratory state and leptin on a migratory bird, Zonotrichia albicollis: I. Anorectic effects of leptin administration.

The hormone leptin is involved in the regulation of energy balance in mammals, mainly by reducing food intake and body adiposity and increasing energy expenditure. During energetically demanding periods, leptin's action is often altered to facilitate fat deposition and maintain high rates of food intake. Despite the present controversy over the existence of an avian leptin, there is evidence that a leptin receptor exists in birds and its activation influences energy intake and metabolism.

Behavioral and physiological effects of photoperiod-induced migratory state and leptin on Zonotrichia albicollis: II. Effects on fatty acid metabolism.

The migratory flights of birds are fuelled largely by fatty acids. Fatty acid transporters, including FAT/CD36, FABPpm and H-FABP, and enzymes involved in fatty acid oxidation (CPT, CS, HOAD) are seasonally up-regulated in flight muscle to meet the demands of this intense aerobic exercise. The mechanisms that control these biochemical changes in response to migration are mostly unknown.

Migration- and exercise-induced changes to flight muscle size in migratory birds and association with IGF1 and myostatin mRNA expression.

Seasonal adjustments to muscle size in migratory birds may result from preparatory physiological changes or responses to changed workloads. The mechanisms controlling these changes in size are poorly understood. We investigated some potential mediators of flight muscle size (myostatin and insulin-like growth factor, IGF1) in pectoralis muscles of wild wintering or migrating white-throated sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis), captive white-throated sparrows that were photoperiod manipulated to be in a `wintering' or `migratory' (Zugunruhe) state, and captive European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) that were either exercised for 2 weeks in a wind tunnel or untrained.

Lack of leptin activity in blood samples of Adélie penguin and bar-tailed godwit.

Unsuccessful attempts to identify the leptin gene in birds are well documented, despite the characterization of its receptor (LEPR). Since leptin and LEPR have poor sequence conservation among vertebrates, we speculated that a functional assay should represent the best way to detect leptin in birds. Using a leptin bioassay that is based on activation of the chicken LEPR in cultured cells, blood samples from wild birds with extreme seasonal variation in voluntary food intake and fat deposition (Adélie penguins and bar-tailed godwits) were tested for leptin activity.

Laterality and flight: concurrent tests of side-bias and optimality in flying tree swallows.

Behavioural side-bias occurs in many vertebrates, including birds as a result of hemispheric specialization and can be advantageous by improving response times to sudden stimuli and efficiency in multi-tasking. However, behavioural side-bias can lead to morphological asymmetries resulting in reduced performance for specific activities. For flying animals, wing asymmetry is particularly costly and it is unclear if behavioural side-biases will be expressed in flight; the benefits of quick response time afforded by side-biases must be balanced against the costs of less efficient flight due to the morphological asymmetry side-biases may incur.

Plasma metabolite profiles: effects of dietary phospholipids in a migratory passerine (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii).

Plasma metabolites, including triglycerides, beta -hydroxybutyrate, and glycerol, can be used to estimate mass change in birds. Although dietary fatty acids can be ingested and absorbed as phospholipids, they have been largely overlooked as a potential indicator of mass change. The plasma ratio of triglyceride to phospholipid could also provide insight into diet quality because a high ratio in food items indicates high relative energy content.

A field validation of plasma metabolite profiling to assess refueling performance of migratory birds.

Plasma metabolite profiling offers a potential means to assess stopover refueling performance of migratory birds from a single capture. However, this method has not previously been validated where site quality has been determined independently using analysis of capture data. We captured and blood sampled six passerine bird species refueling at known high-quality (BASE) and low-quality (TIP) sites at Long Point, Ontario, Canada.