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

• Published in: European Journal of Wildlife Research
• Main Authors: Müller, Kerstin E., Altenkamp, Rainer, Raila, Jens, Schmidt, Daniel, Dietrich, Robert, Hurtienne, Andrea, Wink, Michael, Krone, Oliver, Brunnberg, Leo, Schweigert, Florian J. (Prof. Dr.)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Institut für Ernährungswissenschaft; Accipiter gentilis; Haliaeetus albicilla; Northern Goshawk; osprey; Pandion haliaetus
• Online Access: https://publishup.uni-potsdam.de/opus4-ubp/frontdoor/index/index/docId/36584; https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-011-0516-z

In this study, we investigated the alpha-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). alpha-Tocopherol plasma concentrations were determined by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. alpha-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 alpha-tocopherol plasma concentrations than nestlings of the other species (both P<0.001). Adult male ospreys and white-tailed sea eagles had significantly higher alpha-tocopherol concentrations compared to adult females (both P<0.005). Adult ospreys and northern goshawks had significantly higher alpha-tocopherol plasma concentrations compared to their nestlings (both P<0.001). In adult female northern goshawks, plasma concentrations of alpha-tocopherol increased significantly before egg laying (P<0.001). These results demonstrate alpha-tocopherol plasma concentrations in birds of prey to be species specific and influenced by age and reproductive status.