Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory

16 Sep, 10 AM - 19 Sep, 04 AM

The eared grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) is the world?s most abundant grebe. These migrating waterbirds are inefficient fliers that migrate to Mexico every winter after they have exhausted food in their fall staging areas. The fuel substrates eared grebes use to power migration has not been well-studied. Past studies suggest fat as the primary fuel type for long distance flight in birds (Jenni-Eiermann and Jenni 1994; Stevens 1996). However, very few have investigated this in waterbirds. In particular, there has not yet been a study of fuel substrates and plasma metabolites related to staging and migration in eared grebes. Plasma metabolites are often used in fuel substrate studies because they are good indicators of fuel types being used since they are reflected in the blood as fuel is being catabolized. The objective of this study is to measure metabolite concentrations in fall-staging grebes at rest and staging, which includes swimming and diving. The metabolite concentrations measured from staging and resting grebes will serve as reference points for migrating grebes by looking at how each metabolite concentration such as triglycerides change with physiological state. Ultimately, I would like to compare metabolite concentrations of staging grebes to those of migrating grebes. A comparison of metabolite concentrations among different physical behaviors will suggest how grebes use different fuel substrates to power different physical activities, especially migration. This aspect of the energetics of eared grebes will contribute to a better physiological understanding of migrating waterbirds, including less abundant species that soon may be in need of conservation efforts and are more difficult to locate and study in the field. Plasma metabolites also play an important role in habitat conservation because different metabolite concentrations found in migratory birds serve as good habitat quality indicators especially for refueling and stopover sites for migrants.

Visit #24721 @Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory

Approved

Under Project # 23491 | Research

Plasma Metabolites as Indicators of Fuel Substrate Use in Eared Grebes (Podiceps nigricollis)

graduate_student - University of San Diego

Reservation Members(s)

Allison Yoshida Sep 16 - 19, 2011 (4 days)

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Dorm 1 Sep 16 - 19, 2011
Lab 1 1 Sep 16 - 19, 2011
Lab 2 1 Sep 16 - 19, 2011
Lab 3 1 Sep 16 - 19, 2011
Lab 4 1 Sep 16 - 19, 2011
Lab 5 1 Sep 16 - 19, 2011
Q1 1 Sep 16 - 19, 2011
Q8 1 Sep 16 - 19, 2011