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<p>Anthropogenic habitat disturbance is a widespread environmental stressor affecting wildlife physiology, often influencing immune function and stress-related indicators. In birds, variation in leukocyte profiles, particularly the ratio of heterophils to lymphocytes (H/L ratio), can serve as an indirect but reliable indicator of baseline physiological stress. Habitat generalist species, such as the Southern House Wren (<i>Troglodytes musculus</i>), offer a valuable model for studying the physiological consequences of living in landscapes with varying levels of human influence. In this study, we assessed leukocyte profiles and physiological stress responses of adult Southern House Wrens across three forest types (native, rural, and urban) during both breeding and non-breeding seasons in the southeastern Pampas region, Argentina. Overall, the leukocyte profiles of wrens were similar among the three forest types. Contrary to our expectations, the H/L ratio was highest in birds from undisturbed native forests. No significant seasonal effects were detected. These findings suggest that Southern House Wrens living in urban and rural forests may not only exhibit physiological habituation to anthropogenic stressors, but also experience fewer ecological challenges, such as reduced predation risk or competition, compared to those in undisturbed native forests. Our results provide baseline physiological data for the Southern House Wren and underscore the value of leukocyte profiles as cost-effective tools for assessing environmental stress and immune status in free-living birds.</p>

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Less disturbance, more stress: adaptive physiological responses of a habitat-generalist bird inhabiting forests with different levels of modification

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月9日

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  • Agostina Fanny Lunda Monassa,
  • Matilde Cavalli,
  • Alejandro V. Baladrón,
  • Nicolás M. Chiaradia,
  • Matías G. Pretelli

摘要

Anthropogenic habitat disturbance is a widespread environmental stressor affecting wildlife physiology, often influencing immune function and stress-related indicators. In birds, variation in leukocyte profiles, particularly the ratio of heterophils to lymphocytes (H/L ratio), can serve as an indirect but reliable indicator of baseline physiological stress. Habitat generalist species, such as the Southern House Wren (Troglodytes musculus), offer a valuable model for studying the physiological consequences of living in landscapes with varying levels of human influence. In this study, we assessed leukocyte profiles and physiological stress responses of adult Southern House Wrens across three forest types (native, rural, and urban) during both breeding and non-breeding seasons in the southeastern Pampas region, Argentina. Overall, the leukocyte profiles of wrens were similar among the three forest types. Contrary to our expectations, the H/L ratio was highest in birds from undisturbed native forests. No significant seasonal effects were detected. These findings suggest that Southern House Wrens living in urban and rural forests may not only exhibit physiological habituation to anthropogenic stressors, but also experience fewer ecological challenges, such as reduced predation risk or competition, compared to those in undisturbed native forests. Our results provide baseline physiological data for the Southern House Wren and underscore the value of leukocyte profiles as cost-effective tools for assessing environmental stress and immune status in free-living birds.