Sources of variation in baseline and stress-induced blood glucose levels in two free-living tropical passerine species

Blood glucose plays an essential role in the body's energy metabolism; however, sources of variation baseline and stress-induced changes concentration remain poorly understood tropical passerines. This study assesses intra-annual two common free-living Afrotropical passerines, village weaver (Ploceus cucullatus) (Müller, 1776) black-crowned waxbill (Estrilda nonnula) (Hartlaub, 1883), captured around Dschang, western Cameroon, using intrinsic (sex, body mass, moult breeding status) environmental (season, temperature rainfall) variables as predictors. In waxbills, we found that was significantly elevated dry season, with same trend observed weaver. Stress-induced elevations were waxbills but only when fitted a covariate. Village females showed higher compared to males. Body mass moulting not predictors or concentrations. reveals some fluctuations levels may be mediated by seasonal (but rainfall), sex, status.