Long-lasting consequences of elevated yolk testosterone levels on female reproduction |
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Authors: | Wendt Müller Jonas Vergauwen Marcel Eens |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biology–Ethology, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken C-1.27, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp (Wilrijk), Belgium |
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Abstract: | Maternal yolk androgens in bird eggs represent an important pathway along which offspring phenotype is shaped. Most of the
hormone-mediated maternal effects are highly important in the context of sibling competition. However, there is also increasing
evidence for long-lasting effects far beyond the nestling period, and these effects may have important consequences on the
reproductive success of the offspring. Here, we investigated the effects of experimentally elevated yolk testosterone concentrations
on growth and reproduction in female canaries. Elevated yolk testosterone concentrations enhanced the post-natal growth rate,
but not the asymptotic mass, and reduced the survival probability. The latter may be a consequence of the higher growth rate,
which may have rendered females hatching from testosterone-treated eggs (T-females) more vulnerable to harsh environmental
conditions. Adult T-females made a larger investment in their clutch by laying more but not heavier eggs than females hatching
from control-treated eggs. Our results suggest that the observed long-lasting effect on clutch size relates to changes in
the growth trajectory rather than being a direct consequence of testosterone, since studies manipulating early growth conditions
obtained similar results. Clearly, further studies are now required in order to investigate the intriguing relationship between
yolk testosterone, elevated growth rates, and clutch size. |
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Keywords: | Maternal effects Egg size Developmental stress Growth |
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