In vertebrates, developmental conditions can affect not only fledging success but also the phenotype of the offspring, with potential long-term consequences on adult performance. However, surprisingly the potential impact of anthropogenic disturbance on developing chicks is rarely investigated, notably in Antarctic wildlife. In this study, we specifically investigated the effects of repeated nest visits, capture, and handling on offspring survival and several complementary offspring phenotypic traits in the Snow Petrel (Pagodroma nivea) chicks after thermal emancipation. We did not find any significant effect of our disturbance protocol on the morphology (body size, body mass, body condition), the physiology (breath rate, stress-induced corticosterone levels) and the behaviour (defense behaviour) of developing Snow Petrels. This specific disturbance protocol did not have any significant effect on chick survival, but there was a non-significant trend towards a lower survival for the disturbed group (p = 0.1006), which showed an especially high mortality during a period of repeated snow storms. To conclude, investigator disturbance seems to have little effect on Snow Petrel chicks after thermal emancipation, but to remain cautious, we recommend to avoid capture and handling of Snow Petrel chicks during or soon after inclement weather.

中文翻译：

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重复捕获和处理会影响生长中的雪海燕 (Pagodroma nivea) 的表型和存活率吗？

在脊椎动物中，发育条件不仅会影响羽翼丰满的成功，还会影响后代的表型，对成年表现有潜在的长期影响。然而，令人惊讶的是，很少有人研究人为干扰对发育中的雏鸡的潜在影响，尤其是在南极野生动物中。在这项研究中，我们专门研究了重复巢穴访问、捕获和处理对热解放后雪海燕 (Pagodroma nivea) 小鸡的后代存活和几种互补的后代表型特征的影响。我们没有发现我们的干扰方案对发育的雪海燕的形态（体型、体重、身体状况）、生理学（呼吸频率、压力引起的皮质酮水平）和行为（防御行为）有任何显着影响。这种特定的干扰方案对小鸡的存活率没有任何显着影响，但干扰组的存活率有降低的非显着趋势 (p = 0.1006)，这表明在反复暴风雪期间死亡率特别高。总而言之，研究人员的干扰似乎对热解脱后的雪海燕雏鸡几乎没有影响，但为了保持谨慎，我们建议避免在恶劣天气期间或之后不久捕获和处理雪海燕雏鸡。