ArticleIntegrative and comparative biology2022
Energetic Lifestyle Drives Size and Shape of Avian Erythrocytes.
Article in Integrative and comparative biology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 14 citations in OpenAlex.
- Diverging trends in erythrocyte size elucidate cardiovascular evolution in stem dinosaurs and crocodilians.Proceedings. Biological sciences · 2025Article
- Emerging concepts in the molecular cell biology and functions of mammalian erythrocytes.The Journal of biological chemistry · 2025Review
- Scaling of erythrocyte shape and nucleus size among squamate reptiles: reanalysis points to constrained, proportional rather than adaptive changes.Royal Society open science · 2023Article
- Altered dynamics of mitochondria and reactive oxygen species in the erythrocytes of migrating red-headed buntings.Frontiers in physiology · 2023Article
- Seasonal Changes in Hematological Parameters in House Sparrows of Subtropical Pakistan.Integrative organismal biology (Oxford, England) · 2023Article
- Ecological and life-history correlates of erythrocyte size and shape in Lepidosauria.Journal of evolutionary biology · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
The size and shape of red blood cells (erythrocytes) is determined by key life history strategies in vertebrates. They have a fundamental role to deliver oxygen to tissues, and their ability to do so is shaped by the tissue's need and their shape. Despite considerable interest in how other components of blood are shaped by ecology and life history, few studies have considered erythrocytes themselves. We tested how erythrocyte size and shape varied in relation to energetically demanding activities using a dataset of 631 bird species. We found that in general, birds undergoing greater activities such as long distance migration had smaller and more elongated cells, while those with greater male-male competition had smaller and rounder cells. Smaller, more elongated erythrocytes allow more rapid oxygenation/deoxygenation and support greater aerobic activity. The rounder erythrocytes found in species with strong male-male competition may stem from younger erythrocytes deriving from androgen-induced erythropoiesis rates. Finally, diving species of bird had larger erythrocytes, indicating that erythrocytes are acting as a vital oxygen store. In summary, erythrocyte size and shape in birds are driven by the need to deliver oxygen during energetically costly activities.
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