Differential deposition of antimicrobial proteins in blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) clutches by laying order and male attractiveness |
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Authors: | Liliana D’Alba Matthew D Shawkey Peter Korsten Oscar Vedder Sjouke A Kingma Jan Komdeur Steven R Beissinger |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biology and Integrated Bioscience Program, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325-3908, USA;(2) Animal Ecology Group, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 14, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands;(3) Ecosystem Sciences Division, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA;(4) Present address: Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, UK;(5) Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Vogelwarte Radolfzell, Schlossallee 2, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany |
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Abstract: | Female birds can influence offspring fitness by varying the relative quantities of egg components they deposit within and
between clutches. Antimicrobial proteins (lysozyme, ovotransferrin, and avidin) are significant components of the avian albumen
and likely aid in defense of embryos from microbial infection. Within clutches, females may enhance antimicrobial defense
of early-laid eggs to protect them from the high risk of infection incurred before the onset of incubation. Among entire clutches,
females may invest more resources in young sired by more attractive males because they have higher reproductive value. We
tested these hypotheses by quantifying antimicrobial protein distribution within and among clutches in blue tit eggs. Contrary
to our hypothesis, clutches showed no differential deposition of lysozyme or avidin within clutches, but eggs laid in the
middle of the sequence had higher concentrations of ovotransferrin than eggs in the beginning and end. Consistent with our
second hypothesis, we found that females produced eggs with higher concentrations of lysozyme (although not ovotransferrin
or avidin) when mated to more attractive (more UV-reflective) males. Furthermore, females mated to polygynous males deposited
less lysozyme than those mated to monogamous males. These data suggest that allocation of lysozyme at the clutch level may
be a maternal effect mediated by male qualities. |
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