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Plasma concentration of α-tocopherol in different free-ranging birds of prey

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Abstract

In this study, we investigated the α-tocopherol plasma concentrations in healthy free-ranging nestlings of the white-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) (n = 32), osprey (Pandion haliaetus) (n = 39), northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) (n = 25), common buzzard (Buteo buteo) (n = 31), and honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus) (n = 18) as well as of free-ranging adults of the white-tailed sea eagle (n = 10), osprey (n = 31), and northern goshawk (n = 45). α-Tocopherol plasma concentrations were determined by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. α-Tocopherol plasma concentrations in nestlings of osprey, white-tailed sea eagle, and northern goshawk did not differ significantly amongst the species, but the common buzzard and honey buzzard nestlings had significantly lower α-tocopherol plasma concentrations than nestlings of the other species (both P < 0.001). Adult male ospreys and white-tailed sea eagles had significantly higher α-tocopherol concentrations compared to adult females (both P < 0.005). Adult ospreys and northern goshawks had significantly higher α-tocopherol plasma concentrations compared to their nestlings (both P < 0.001). In adult female northern goshawks, plasma concentrations of α-tocopherol increased significantly before egg laying (P < 0.001). These results demonstrate α-tocopherol plasma concentrations in birds of prey to be species specific and influenced by age and reproductive status.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank G. Dietrich, St. Fischer, A. Hallau, U. Hain, S. Herold, B. Heuer, H.D. Martens, W. Nachtigall, M.-C. Rothmund, R. Schönbrodt, Z. Shamaev, P. Sömmer, D. Stoewe, H. Tauchnitz, and F. Ziesemer for their generous help in capturing the birds and sampling the specimens. H. Sauer-Gürth (IPMB) assisted sexing the birds using PCR. D. Schmidt was supported by a grant from the Deutsche Ornithologen-Gesellschaft. K. Müller was supported by a grant from the Freie Universität of Berlin, Germany.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Small Animal Clinic, College of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Oertzenweg 19b, 14163, Berlin, Germany

    Kerstin Müller & Leo Brunnberg

  2. Institute of Biology and Zoology (Section Evolutionary Biology), Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 1-3, 14195, Berlin, Germany

    Rainer Altenkamp

  3. Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, 14558, Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Germany

    Jens Raila, Andrea Hurtienne & Florian J. Schweigert

  4. Bird Conservation Centre of the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU), Ziegelhütte 21, 72116, Mössingen, Germany

    Daniel Schmidt

  5. Flemmingstr. 4, 12163, Berlin, Germany

    Robert Dietrich

  6. Institute of Pharmacy & Molecular Biotechnology (IPMB), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Michael Wink

  7. Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany

    Oliver Krone

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  1. Kerstin Müller
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Correspondence to Kerstin Müller.

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Communicated by C. Gortázar

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Müller, K., Altenkamp, R., Raila, J. et al. Plasma concentration of α-tocopherol in different free-ranging birds of prey. Eur J Wildl Res 57, 1043–1049 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-011-0516-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-011-0516-z

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