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Development of parameters influencing blood oxygen carrying capacity in the welcome swallow and fairy martin

Prudence Simmons1, Alan Lill

  • 1Wildlife Ecology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia.

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology
|March 7, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Welcome swallow and fairy martin nestlings exhibit a unique mass-overshoot-recession growth profile. Their blood oxygen-carrying capacity parameters, including hematocrit and hemoglobin, peaked before fledging, unlike typical passerines.

Area of Science:

  • Avian biology
  • Comparative physiology
  • Developmental biology

Background:

  • Welcome swallow (Hirundo neoxena) and fairy martin (Petrochelidon ariel) are altricial bird species.
  • These species exhibit a mass-overshoot-recession (MOR) growth profile, where nestlings exceed adult mass before fledging.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the developmental trajectory of blood oxygen-carrying capacity (O2Cap) parameters in relation to the MOR growth profile.
  • To determine if O2Cap parameters plateau before fledging or increase continuously during nestling development.

Main Methods:

  • Quantified changes in hematocrit (Hct), erythrocyte count (RBC), and whole blood hemoglobin (Hb) throughout nestling development.
  • Analyzed mean erythrocyte volume (MCV) and mean erythrocyte hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) to understand red blood cell characteristics.

Main Results:

  • O2Cap parameters (Hct, RBC, Hb) increased significantly (1.8- to 2.8-fold), doubling overall O2Cap during development.
  • Peak values for Hct, Hb, and RBC occurred well before fledging, contrasting with standard passerine growth.
  • Mean erythrocyte volume (MCV) decreased, while mean erythrocyte hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) increased linearly.

Conclusions:

  • The timing of O2Cap parameter increase in MOR species differs from standard passerines and other MOR species.
  • This study highlights unique physiological adaptations in swallows related to their slow development and MOR growth profile.
  • Further research is needed to understand the evolutionary and ecological drivers of these distinct O2Cap developmental patterns.

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