Data from: Energy status and antioxidant response in microfilariae-infected male village weavers (Ploceus cucullatus) across pre- and post-breeding periods in Amurum Forest Reserve
Data files
Dec 05, 2025 version files 6.87 KB
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oxidaa.csv
4.23 KB
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README.md
2.64 KB
Abstract
We investigated the relationship between microfilariae and energy status and the oxidative damage-defense mechanism of male village weavers (Ploceus cucullatus) during pre-breeding and post-breeding seasons (which also coincides with the birds' moult periods). Specifically, we investigated (i) how glucose concentrations in filarial-infected male village weavers varied during pre- and post-breeding periods and (ii) how the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) of the infected birds would also vary during these two periods. A total of 117 adult male birds were trapped. During the pre-breeding period, 53% (33 of 62) of the individuals undergoing a pre-breeding moult were infected, and 47% (29 of 62) were non-infected. During the post-breeding period, 42% (23 of 55) of the individuals undergoing a post-breeding moult were infected, and 58% (32 of 55) were non-infected. We observed a significant positive relationship (P < 0.05) between microfilaria infection status and plasma glucose levels, as well as between infection status and the moulting phases. However, the interaction between infection status and moult phase was negatively correlated with plasma glucose concentration. Also, we found that both moult phases and infection status were positively correlated with SOD, and that the interaction between infection status and MDA correlated negatively with SOD. However, there was no direct relationship observed between MDA and SOD levels. Our findings suggest that the effect of MDA on SOD may depend on microfilaria infection status. This implies that male village weavers could be experiencing fitness costs due to oxidative imbalance—potentially through compromised antioxidant defenses during the pre-breeding and post-breeding periods in infected individuals.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.83bk3jb69
Description of the data and file structure
Files and variables
1. Overview
This dataset oxidaa.csv contains biochemical measurements from a study examining how micrifilarial infection influences oxidative stress in weaver birds (family: Ploceidae) across two breeding phases:
- Pre-breeding (Pre-)
- Post-breeding (Post-)
The dataset includes both infected and uninfected birds, with measurements of three blood biomarkers associated with oxidative stress and metabolic status:
- glu – Blood glucose concentration
- mda – Malondialdehyde (marker of lipid peroxidation / oxidative damage)
- sod – Superoxide dismutase activity (antioxidant enzyme)
The data appear in tidy format with one measurement per row.
2. File Contents
Variables (Columns):
Column: Description
- species: Species name (all entries here = “weavers”)
- Infected: Infection status (“yes” = microfilarial-infected; “no” = uninfected)
- Period: Sampling period relative to breeding cycle (“Pre-” or “Post-”)
- glu: Blood glucose level (mg/dL)
- mda: Malondialdehyde concentration (nmol/mL)
- sod: Superoxide dismutase activity (U/mL)
3. Dataset Structure
- Total observations: 117
- Groups represented:
- Pre-breeding, uninfected
- Post-breeding, uninfected
- Pre-breeding, infected
- Post-breeding, infected
Each combination of infection status and period includes multiple biological replicates.
4. Study Context (Based on Manuscript Description)
This dataset accompanies a manuscript analysing whether microfilarial infection alters oxidative stress physiology in free-living weavers. Specifically:
- MDA is used as a proxy for oxidative damage.
- SOD reflects antioxidant defense capacity.
- Glucose is included as a relevant metabolic measure that may shift with infection or breeding stage.
- The Pre-breeding period is metabolically demanding, while the Post-breeding period tends to show lower baseline oxidative stress.
The manuscript compares these biomarkers between infected vs. uninfected birds and across periods to test whether infection intensifies oxidative challenges.
Code/software
Ms Excel and R
Access information
Other publicly accessible locations of the data
- Not applicable
Data was derived from the following sources
- Not applicable