Seasonal variation in body mass and energy budget in Chinese bulbuls(<i>pycnonotus sinensis</i>)

Mengsi Wu; Yuchao Xiao; Fang Yang; Limeng Zhou; Weihong Zheng; Jinsong Liu

doi:10.1186/s40657-014-0004-8

Avian Research 2014, 5(1): 4 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-014-0004-8

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Open Access | Issue | Published: 23 September 2014

Seasonal variation in body mass and energy budget in Chinese bulbuls(pycnonotus sinensis)

Show Author's Information Hide Author's Information Mengsi Wu^¹, Yuchao Xiao^¹, Fang Yang^¹, Limeng Zhou^¹, Weihong Zheng^{¹^,²}(

), Jinsong Liu^{¹^,²}

School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China

Key Laboratory for Subtropical Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection in Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou 325035, China

Keywords:

Morphology, Seasonal variation, Digestive tract, Energy budget, Pycnonotus sinensis

Cite this article:

Wu M, Xiao Y, Yang F, et al. Seasonal variation in body mass and energy budget in Chinese bulbuls(pycnonotus sinensis). Avian Research, 2014, 5(1): 4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-014-0004-8

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Abstract Full text About this article

Abstract

Background

Seasonal adjustments in body mass and energy budget are important for the survival of small birds in temperate zones. Seasonal changes in body mass, body temperature, gross energy intake (GEI), digestible energy intake (DEI), body fat content, as well as length and mass of the digestive tract, were measured in Chinese Bulbuls (Pycnonotus sinensis) caught in the wild at Wenzhou, China.

Methods

Body mass was determined with a Sartorius balance. The caloric contents of the dried food and feces were then determined using a oxygen bomb calorimeter. Total fat was extracted from the dried carcasses by ether extraction in a Soxhlet apparatus. The digestive tract of each bird was measured and weighed, and was then dried to a constant mass.

Results

Body mass showed a significant seasonal variation and was higher in spring and winter than in summer and autumn. Body fat was higher in winter than in other seasons. GEI and DEI were significantly higher in winter. The length and mass of the digestive tract were greatest in winter and the magnitude of both these parameters was positively correlated with body mass, GEI and DEI. Small passerines typically have higher daily energy expenditure in winter, necessitating increased food consumption.

Conclusions

This general observation is consistent with the observed winter increase in gut volume and body mass in Chinese Bulbuls. These results suggest that Chinese Bulbuls adjust to winter conditions by increasing their body mass, body fat, GEI, DEI and digestive tract size.

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About this article

Seasonal variation in body mass and energy budget in Chinese bulbuls(pycnonotus sinensis)

Show Author's information Hide Author's Information Mengsi Wu^¹, Yuchao Xiao^¹, Fang Yang^¹, Limeng Zhou^¹, Weihong Zheng^{¹^,²}(

), Jinsong Liu^{¹^,²}

School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China

Key Laboratory for Subtropical Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection in Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou 325035, China

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keywords: Morphology, Seasonal variation, Digestive tract, Energy budget, Pycnonotus sinensis

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Acknowledgements

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Publication history

Received: 01 August 2018

Accepted: 06 August 2014

Published: 23 September 2014

Issue date: January 2014

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Dr David L. Swanson for providing several references. We thank Dr Ron Moorhouse revising the English and providing some suggestions. This study was financially supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31070366 and No. 31470472), the Natural Science Foundation (LY13C030005) in Zhejian Province and the Zhejiang Province 'Xinmiao' Project.

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