Molecular Nutrition

Discussion on Measuring Methods of Stress in Birds

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  • College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China

Received date: 2018-03-20

  Online published: 2018-10-20

Abstract

Glucocorticoid could be used to reflect the stress level of birds and to understand the environmental influence on bird survival and reproduction. In previous studies, blood, feces and feather were used as glucocorticoid test materials of birds. But so far only blood and feces were used in Chinese references. The feather glucocorticoids detection and its ecological research are still almost in blank, and the hormone detection method need to be further studied. In this article, we reviewed the research progress of blood, feces and feather sampling techniques, including the advantages and disadvantages of each sampling technique and factors affecting the detection rates. And then we discussed the importance of the feather sampling as a noninvasive or micro damage sampling technique in stress monitoring of birds. We suggest that feather sampling technology complement the sampling of blood and feces rather than the alternative hormone studies. Based on this study, the application of feather corticosteroid testing is discussed. Its formation mechanism and ecological significance could be the focus of future research.

Cite this article

LI Yuezhu, GUO Jinxin, WANG Yu, SUI Jinling . Discussion on Measuring Methods of Stress in Birds[J]. Chinese Journal of Animal Nutrition, 2018 , 30(10) : 3864 -3874 . DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-267x.2018.10.010

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