McClelland, Grant B
Dietary fatty acid content changes the long-term acclimation response of a captive bird (Taeniopygia guttata) to ambient temperatures
Due to climate change and managed care, birds may face interacting effects of novel diets and environmental temperatures. I examined how captive zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) responded to a 6-month acclimation to either thermoneutral or cool temperatures when provided with saturated or unsaturated fatty acid enriched diets. Body mass was lower on the unsaturated fatty acid diet, but only in cool conditions. Individuals in cool temperatures and saturated fatty acid enriched diets had heavier organs, but pectoralis mass and metabolic rate did not display an effect of diet. While birds on each treatments illustrated similar initial increases in plasma fatty acid unsaturation, composition and concentration of constituent fatty acid varied based on their diet and temperature. Individuals on the unsaturated fatty acid enriched diet and cool treatments had lower survivorship. Collectively, my research will allow researchers to better predict how birds will be impacted by shifting or novel environments.
Author Keywords: chronic acclimation, fatty acids, metabolic rate, Taeniopygia guttata, temperature, unsaturation