Evaluation of physiological parameters of Kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) feeding on fishery discards in Patagonia, Argentina

D'AMICO, V.L.; FAZIO, A.; PALACIOS, M. G.; CARABAJAL, E.; BERTELLOTTI, M.

WATERBIRDS (DE LEON SPRINGS, FLA.)

WATERBIRD SOC

Año: 2018 vol. 41 p. 310 - 315

1524-4695

Negative effects of ecotourism on wildlife are rising worldwide. Conservation physiology can play a major role in protectingwildlife by providing early alerts on changes in the status of individuals exposed to tourist activities. We measured anintegrated set of immune and health-state indices to evaluate the effects of ecotourism on Magellanic penguins(Spheniscus magellanicus). We studied two reproductive colonies that differed in the intensity of tourism and populationtrends: Punta Tombo (higher tourism intensity, declining population) and San Lorenzo (lower tourism intensity, growingpopulation). Within each colony, we compared individuals from an area that was exposed to tourists and a control areawhere tourism was excluded. Adult penguins exposed to tourism at Punta Tombo, but not at San Lorenzo, showed physiologicalalterations indicative of chronic stress (higher heterophil to lymphocyte ratios) and parasitic infection (elevated heterophiland eosinophil counts). Penguin chicks exposed to tourism at Punta Tombo, but not at San Lorenzo, also showedphysiological alterations indicative of poor immune and general-health condition: lower humoral innate immunity, haematocrit,and glucose levels and higher inflammatory responses likely due to increased prevalence of fleas. Our results indicatethat individuals of a declining population exposed to high levels of tourism express physiological indicators of chronicstress and poor health that could make adults and juveniles vulnerable to disease. These effects are expressed despite along history of exposure and behavioural habituation to human visitation. In contrast, individuals of a growing populationexposed to more recent and lower levels of tourism showed no effect. Our study demonstrates how a diverse physiologicaltoolkit within a conservation physiology approach can provide important information for a better comprehension ofanthropogenic effects on wild animals in our changing world.