Exercise and reduced muscle mass in starlings

John P. Swaddle and Andrew A. Biewener ()
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John P. Swaddle: Centre for Behavioural Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol
Andrew A. Biewener: Centre for Behavioural Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol

Nature, 2000, vol. 406, issue 6796, 585-586

Abstract: Abstract Muscles are often viewed as force- producing structures that increase or decrease in size according to their activity1,2. But an increased muscle mass, although desirable for extra power, may also impose unwanted costs. Here we show that flight-muscle mass in starlings induced to perform more take-off flights actually decreases as a result of exercise. Our findings indicate that birds can strategically regulate a lower muscle mass to make themselves lighter and so cut flying costs without compromising their flight performance. This suggets that muscle size may be influenced by factors other than workload.

Date: 2000
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DOI: 10.1038/35020695

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