Evidence of links between haematological condition and foraging behaviour in northern gannets ( Morus bassanus )

Abstract

Haematological analyses can reveal the physiological condition of birds, which are known to efficiently disguise symptoms of stress and disease. However, the interpretation of such analyses requires species-specific baseline data, which are lacking for most free-living seabird species. We provide baseline reference data for several haematological parameters in northern gannets ( Morus bassanus ) and combine this with telemetry and dietary data to understand the links between haematological condition and foraging behaviour. Blood samples were collected from breeding northern gannets in July 2017 ( n = 15) and 2018 ( n = 28), which were also equipped with GPS tags. Smears were prepared for performing blood cell counts, including immature erythrocyte and microcyte percentages, total and differential leucocyte counts, heterophil : lymphocyte (H : L) ratio and total thrombocyte count; the remaining blood was used for stable isotope analysis and foraging behaviours were inferred from the recovered tag data. Blood cell counts revealed that the sampled birds were highly stressed and some showed an immune response, evident from the abnormal leucocyte counts and the H : L ratio. There were no sex-related differences in haematological parameters or diet, in contrast to foraging parameters where females undertook longer trips than males and spent proportionately more time in search behaviours. The percentage time spent actively foraging was weakly negatively correlated with the percentage of eosinophils. While there was no direct link between haematological condition and diet, one bird feeding at a relatively low trophic level undertook exceptionally short foraging trips and showed abnormal blood cell counts. This suggests a link between haematological condition and foraging ecology that can be employed in assessing seabird health.