Egg composition in relation to social environment and maternal physiological condition in the collared flycatcher |
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Authors: | Rita Hargitai Kathryn E Arnold Márton Herényi József Prechl János Török |
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Institution: | 1. Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, E?tv?s Loránd University, Pázmány P. sétány 1/C, H-1117, Budapest, Hungary 4. Institute of Environmental Sciences, College of Nyíregyháza, Sóstói út 31/B, H-4401, Nyíregyháza, Hungary 2. Division of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland 3. Immunology Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Pázmány P. sétány 1/C, H-1117, Budapest, Hungary
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Abstract: | Offspring survival can be influenced by resources allocated to eggs, which in turn may be affected by the environmental factors
the mother experiences during egg formation. In this study, we investigated whether experimentally elevated social interactions
and number of neighbouring pairs influence yolk composition of collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis). Social challenge was simulated by presentation of a conspecific female. Experimental females spent more time near the cage
and produced eggs with higher androgen concentration, but local breeding density did not affect yolk androgen level. Moreover,
we found that females exposed to more intra-specific interactions and those that bred at higher density produced eggs with
smaller yolk. These females may be more constrained in foraging time due to more frequent social encounters, and there might
be increased competition for food at areas of higher density. In contrast, the present study did not reveal any evidence for
the effect of social environment on yolk antioxidant and immunoglobulin levels. However, we found that yolk lutein and immunoglobulin
concentrations were related to the female’s H/L ratio. Also, yolk lutein and α-tocopherol levels showed a seasonal increase
and were positively related to the female’s plasma carotenoid level. Mothers may incur significant costs by transferring these
compounds into the eggs, thus only females in good physiological condition and those that lay eggs later, when food is probably
more abundant, could allocate higher amounts to the eggs without compromising their defence mechanisms. Our results suggest
that environmental circumstances during egg formation can influence conditions for embryonic development. |
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Keywords: | Androgens Antioxidants Breeding density Collared flycatcher Immunoglobulin Maternal effects Social challenge |
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