Abstract
Serinus canaria is a widespread domestic ornamental songbird, whose limited knowledge of biology make compelling studies aimed to monitor stress. Here, a commercial enzyme immunoassay was adopted to measure immunoreactive corticosterone (CORT) in single Serinus canaria dropping sample, to monitor the daily fecal excretion of CORT in birds bred singly or in-group and to detect the effect promoted by aviary or small transport cage restraint. A robust daily rhythm of CORT was recorded in animals held on short-day light cycle, independent of bred conditions (single or group), which persisted when space availability was modified in single bred animal (transfer in aviary and transport cages). By contrast, a significant change in CORT excretion was recorded when group bred animals are restrained in a smaller cage. The daily rhythm in CORT excretion in response to manipulation showed the greatest response at the beginning of the light period, followed by the absence of the peak usually recorded at the end of the dark phase. These data indicated that EIA could be used as a reliable noninvasive approach to monitor the stress induced by restraint conditions in Serinus canaria.
Highlights
The Serinus canaria is a small domestic songbird native of Canaria Islands that is usually maintained in captivity for ornamental purposes
A robust daily rhythm of CORT was recorded in animals held on short-day light cycle, independent of bred conditions, which persisted when space availability was modified in single bred animal
10 Serinus canaria bred individually were randomly divided in two experimental groups: Ctr and oral corticosterone challenged birds according to previously validated protocols [58, 62, 63]
Summary
The Serinus canaria is a small domestic songbird native of Canaria Islands that is usually maintained in captivity for ornamental purposes. Despite its spread and the increasing evidences demonstrating that stress is related to several environmental and social conditions as well the humaninduced disturbances, scarce information on the physiology of this bird is still available. Stress plays an important role in the maintenance of body homeostasis, conditioning health, and breeding outcomes. It is known that CORT are frontline hormones to overcome stressful situations. During shortterm stress, they improve fitness by energy mobilization [1, 2] and regulate behavior and suppress metabolic processes nonessential for survival. Severe or chronic stress may decrease individual fitness by immunosuppression and atrophy of tissues [3, 4] and the decreases of reproductive performance [5, 6] and there are indications of stereotypies [7]
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