Individual and environmental factors influencing preen gland's morphology and physiology in the barn owl Tyto alba

Abstract

Avian preen gland helps birds cope with their environment, although its overall functioning remains unclear. We shed light on the complexity of the preen gland's functioning by studying how multiple factors associate with gland morphology (size and shape) and physiology (wax secreted) in barn owls Tyto alba. Individual factors (sex, breeding stage, body condition) were more important predictors of preen gland than environmental factors (temperature, humidity, brood size). Sex, depending on breeding stage in adults, influenced preen gland traits, pointing to the preen gland's regulation by sex hormones and a greater pressure on females to protect their eggs, offspring and themselves throughout reproduction. Adults and fledglings in better condition had larger glands, pointing to the existence of physiological costs. Temperature and humidity, in interaction with plumage coloration, also influenced but to a lesser extent preen gland traits, suggesting that melanin pigmentation and preen gland act as superseding mechanisms when protecting plumage against microorganisms. Finally, fledglings living in larger broods had larger glands, suggesting a role for the social environment in preen gland's functioning. Overall, our study supports the idea that preen gland functions in diverse biological contexts within the same species and is thus subject to multiple selective pressures.