1
|
Blanco G, Hornero-Méndez D. Interspecific differences in plasma carotenoid profiles in nestlings of three sympatric vulture species. Curr Zool 2023; 69:658-669. [PMID: 37876644 PMCID: PMC10591145 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoac090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Carotenoids are diet-based micronutrients important in health and coloration signaling. Related species with similar diets can differ in the kinds and levels of circulating carotenoids, which suggests specific physiological mechanisms to efficiently utilize these micronutrients, regardless of their availability. We explored whether diet and parental provisioning of unusual sources of carotenoids (fresh vegetal matter and vertebrate feces) can explain the occurrence and concentrations of carotenoids in the cinereous vulture Aegypius monachus, griffon vulture Gyps fulvus, and Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus nestlings, even when these pigments appear to not be deposited in their integumentary system. A greater diversity of wild prey in diet could be behind the profile of higher concentrations of carotenoids in the Egyptian vulture, the species with carotenoid-dependent coloration during adulthood, while differences in diet composition between cinereous and griffon vultures do not translate to different carotenoid profiles. The carotenoid profile appears to not be related to the ingestion of unusual matter rich in these compounds, although the infrequent occurrence of lycopene and unidentified γ-carotene-like compounds suggest that these vultures may be exploiting vegetal matter that left no identifiable unconsumed remains in the nest of Egyptian vultures. The consumption of green plant material by griffon vultures does not result in especially high levels of carotenoids when compared to the carotenoids found in cinereous vultures, which do not consume green plant material. Ungulate feces were not provisioned to Egyptian vulture nestlings, despite the fact they contain carotenoids that adults need for appropriate coloration. Overall, this study indicates that diet differences alone appear insufficient to explain contrasting interspecific carotenoid profiles, especially since all types of food consumed are considered to be poor in carotenoids, except vegetable matter. We suggest that nestling Egyptian vultures are comparatively efficient in uptaking carotenoids present in low concentrations in food when these compounds are not deposited in their integument, which suggests allocation to other functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Dámaso Hornero-Méndez
- Departament of Food Phytochemistry, Instituto de la Grasa (CSIC), Campus Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Seville, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Soler JJ, Martínez-Renau E, Azcárate-García M, Ruiz-Castellano C, Martín J, Martín-Vivaldi M. OUP accepted manuscript. Behav Ecol 2022; 33:494-503. [PMID: 35592878 PMCID: PMC9113258 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arac024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal coloration results from pigments, nanostructures, or the cosmetic use of natural products, and plays a central role in social communication. The role of cosmetic coloration has traditionally been focused in scenarios of sexual selection, but it could also take place in other contexts. Here, by using spotless starlings (Sturnus unicolor) as a model system, we explore the possibility that nestlings cosmetically use their intensely yellow-colored uropygial secretion to signal their genetic and/or phenotypic quality. In agreement with the hypothetical cosmetic use of the uropygial secretion, (i) video recorded nestlings collected secretion with the bill at the age of feathering, (ii) cotton swabs turned to the color of secretion after rubbing with them nestlings’ gape, and (iii) gape and skin colorations correlated positively with that of secretion. Furthermore, we found that (iv) secretion coloration has a genetic component, and (v) associated positively with Vitamin E supplementation and (vi) with plasma carotenoid concentration, which highlights the informative value of nestling secretion. Finally, (vii) coloration of begging-related traits and of secretion of nestlings predicted parental feeding preferences. Consequently, all these results strongly suggest that the cosmetic use of colored uropygial secretion might also play a role in parent-offspring communication, complementing or amplifying information provided by the flamboyant colored gapes and skin of nestlings. The use of makeups by offspring for communication with relatives has been scarcely explored and we hope that these results will encourage further investigations in birds and other taxa with parental care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan José Soler
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC), 04120 Almería, Spain
- Unidad asociada (CSIC): Coevolución: cucos, hospedadores y bacterias simbiontes, Universidad de Granada, 18071-Granada, Spain
- Address correspondence to Juan José Soler. E-mail:
| | - Ester Martínez-Renau
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC), 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Manuel Azcárate-García
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC), 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Cristina Ruiz-Castellano
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC), 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - José Martín
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), 28006-Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Martín-Vivaldi
- Unidad asociada (CSIC): Coevolución: cucos, hospedadores y bacterias simbiontes, Universidad de Granada, 18071-Granada, Spain
- Departamento de Zoología, Universidad de Granada, 18071-Granada, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Martínez‐Renau E, Ruiz‐Castellano C, Azcárate‐García M, Barón MD, Soler JJ. Coloration of spotless starling nestlings shows genetic and environmentally determined characteristics while begging for food. Funct Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ester Martínez‐Renau
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC) Almería Spain
| | - Cristina Ruiz‐Castellano
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC) Almería Spain
| | - Manuel Azcárate‐García
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC) Almería Spain
| | | | - Juan José Soler
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC) Almería Spain
- Unidad Asociada (CSIC): Coevolución: Cucos, Hospedadores y Bacterias Simbiontes Universidad de Granada Granada Spain
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Avilés JM. Avian egg and nestling detection in the wild: should we rely on visual models or behavioural experiments? Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20190485. [PMID: 32420848 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The fields of avian egg and nestling colour detection have rapidly advanced owing to the application of visual models, which have allowed assessing of evolutionary questions considering receiver perception. Here, I first review the literature aiming to identify patterns of avian visual model usage. Second, I elaborate on limitations in the application of the receptor-noise limited perceptual (RNL hereafter) model. A systematic literature review revealed that the RNL model was the most used approach (81% of studies) in the field, and that most studies (76%) were concerned with classic evolutionary questions in avian brood parasitism. Some known limitations of the RNL model deal with model assumptions and parameterization, or, a poor consideration of post-detection neural processes. Others, however, are specific of the fields of egg and nestling discrimination and deal with the highly variable nature of ambient light at the nests, the complex colour design of eggs and nestlings, the multi-dimensional nature of perception, and the possible implication of learning. I, therefore, conclude that visual models should be used with caution to establish inference about egg and nestling discrimination, and rather be used to provide reasonable hypotheses which need to be validated with behavioural experiments. This article is part of the theme issue 'Signal detection theory in recognition systems: from evolving models to experimental tests'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jesús M Avilés
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Spanish Council for Research (EEZA-CSIC), Carretera de Sacramento s/n, 04120, La Cañada de San Urbano, E04120 Almería, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Mariette MM. Acoustic Cooperation: Acoustic Communication Regulates Conflict and Cooperation Within the Family. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
|
6
|
Richardson KM, Parlato EH, Walker LK, Parker KA, Ewen JG, Armstrong DP. Links between personality, early natal nutrition and survival of a threatened bird. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 374:20190373. [PMID: 31352895 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
There is growing recognition that variation in animal personality traits can influence survival and reproduction rates, and consequently may be important for wildlife population dynamics. Despite this, the integration of personality research into conservation has remained uncommon. Alongside the establishment of personality as an important source of individual variation has come an increasing interest in factors affecting the development of personality. Recent work indicates the early environment, including natal nutrition, may play a stronger role in the development of personality than previously thought. In this study, we investigated the importance of three personality metrics (activity, boldness and acclimation time) for estimating survival of a threatened species, the hihi (Notiomystis cincta), and evaluated the influence of early natal nutrition on those metrics. Our results showed that boldness (as measured from a one-off cage test) had a positive effect on the probability of juvenile hihi surviving to adulthood. There was also a tendency for juveniles that received carotenoid supplementation in the nest to be bolder than those that did not, suggesting that the early environment had some influence on the expression of boldness in juvenile hihi. Linking the development of personality traits with ultimate effects on vital rates may benefit conservation management, as it could enable developmentally targeted management interventions. To our knowledge, this study is the first to identify potential linkages between early natal nutrition, personality and fitness in a wild-living population. This article is part of the theme issue 'Linking behaviour to dynamics of populations and communities: application of novel approaches in behavioural ecology to conservation'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kate M Richardson
- Wildlife Ecology Group, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Elizabeth H Parlato
- Wildlife Ecology Group, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Leila K Walker
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, UK.,Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Kevin A Parker
- Parker Conservation, PO Box 130, Warkworth, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - John G Ewen
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, UK
| | - Doug P Armstrong
- Wildlife Ecology Group, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Koch RE, Hill GE. Do carotenoid‐based ornaments entail resource trade‐offs? An evaluation of theory and data. Funct Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca E. Koch
- Department of Biological SciencesAuburn University Auburn Alabama
- School of Biological SciencesMonash University Clayton Vic. Australia
| | - Geoffrey E. Hill
- Department of Biological SciencesAuburn University Auburn Alabama
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Skin and flange colour, but not ectoparasites, predict condition and survival in starling nestlings. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-017-2292-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|
9
|
Avilés JM, Parejo D. Sex Difference in Condition Dependence of Carotenoid Gapes in the Eurasian Roller (Coracias garrulus). Physiol Biochem Zool 2016; 89:524-535. [PMID: 27792533 DOI: 10.1086/688756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
In altricial birds, sex differentiation can start early in the ontogeny in the form of color, physiology, and/or growth and may potentially result in sex-specific condition dependence of traits mediating parent-offspring communication. Carotenoids have long been hypothesized to modulate the expression of gape coloration, but their sex-specific role enforcing honesty of gape coloration remains poorly studied. In a within-nest design, we provided carotenoid supplementation to nestlings of the Eurasian roller (Coracias garrulus) and measured the response in circulating carotenoids, coloration of the gape, cutaneous immune responsiveness to phytohemagglutinin, and growth while accounting for the sex of nestlings. Male nestlings supplemented with carotenoids displayed enhanced pigmentation of their gapes and grew faster than control nestlings, but there was no within-individual correlation between gape color and growth in either carotenoid-supplemented or control males. Female nestlings, however, diverted most supplemented carotenoids into growing fast at the expense of reducing their level of circulating carotenoids and displaying less-pigmented gapes. Nestling cutaneous immune response was not affected by carotenoid supplementation in either sex. Our results provide only weak support for the hypothesis that carotenoids enforce the honesty of gape color signals in nestling rollers and demonstrate sex specificity in how nestlings divert a surplus of carotenoids into different physiological functions.
Collapse
|
10
|
MacLeod KJ, Brekke P, Tong W, Ewen JG, Thorogood R. Do mothers bias offspring sex ratios in carotenoid-rich environments? Behav Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arw141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
|
11
|
Minutes matter: brief hatching asynchrony adversely affects late-hatched hihi nestlings, but not life beyond the nest. Anim Behav 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
|
12
|
Paquet M, Smiseth PT. Maternal effects as a mechanism for manipulating male care and resolving sexual conflict over care. Behav Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arv230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
|
13
|
Rowe M, Pierson KL, McGraw KJ. Exploratory behavior is associated with plasma carotenoid accumulation in two congeneric species of waterfowl. Behav Processes 2015; 115:181-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2015.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2014] [Revised: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 04/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
|
14
|
Commentary: Parental care and the proximate links between maternal effects and offspring fitness. Oecologia 2015; 177:1089-92. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-015-3266-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2014] [Accepted: 02/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|
15
|
Avilés JM, Parejo D. Colour also matters for nocturnal birds: owlet bill coloration advertises quality and influences parental feeding behaviour in little owls. Oecologia 2013; 173:399-408. [PMID: 23443357 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-013-2625-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2012] [Accepted: 02/11/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Chromatic signals of offspring quality have been shown to play a role in parent-offspring communication in diurnal birds, but are assumed to be useless in dim light conditions because colour-based discrimination probably requires more light. A major ecological and evolutionary conundrum in this scenario is why the nestlings of some nocturnal owls display colourful beaks. Here, we test the hypothesis that yellow bill coloration of owlets of the nocturnal little owl Athene noctua may function as a chromatic signal revealing to parents aspects of quality of their offspring. In a first step, we examined physical variation in bill coloration and its covariation with owlet quality. Secondly, we studied parental provisioning in relation to an experimental manipulation of bill coloration of owlets. Bills of owlets showed higher within-nest variation in yellow-red chroma than in brightness. Plasma carotenoid concentration and nestling immunological status were not associated with chromatic or achromatic features of the bill. Interestingly, however, heavier owlets displayed more yellow bills than lighter ones. The effect of bill coloration on parental favouritism changed with brood size. Parents holding large broods preferentially fed owlets with enhanced over reduced yellow bill coloration, whereas those with small broods did not significantly bias feeding in relation to owlet bill coloration. Our results, based on integration of objective spectrophotometric assessment of colour and experimental procedures, confirm that parent little owls use bill coloration to reveal information on owlet body mass to adjust their feeding strategies, thus highlighting the importance of considering potential chromatic signals for a full comprehension of parent-offspring communication processes in nocturnal bird species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J M Avilés
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (EEZA-CSIC), General Segura 1, 04001, Almería, Spain,
| | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Walker LK, Armstrong DP, Brekke P, Chauvenet ALM, Kilner RM, Ewen JG. Giving hihi a helping hand: assessment of alternative rearing diets in food supplemented populations of an endangered bird. Anim Conserv 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L. K. Walker
- Department of Zoology; University of Cambridge; Cambridge UK
- Institute of Zoology; Zoological Society of London; London UK
| | - D. P. Armstrong
- Wildlife Ecology Group; Institute of Natural Resources; Massey University; Palmerston North New Zealand
| | - P. Brekke
- Institute of Zoology; Zoological Society of London; London UK
| | - A. L. M. Chauvenet
- Institute of Zoology; Zoological Society of London; London UK
- Division of Biology; Imperial College London; Ascot Berkshire UK
| | - R. M. Kilner
- Department of Zoology; University of Cambridge; Cambridge UK
| | - J. G. Ewen
- Institute of Zoology; Zoological Society of London; London UK
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Parents take both size and conspicuousness into account when feeding nestlings in dark cavity nests. Anim Behav 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2012.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
|
18
|
Sternalski A, Mougeot F, Bretagnolle V. Phenotypic variation in nestlings of a bird of prey under contrasting breeding and diet conditions. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2012.01981.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - François Mougeot
- Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (EEZA-CSIC); Carretera de Sacramento s/n; 04120 La Cañada de San Urbano; Almería; Spain
| | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Sternalski A, Mougeot F, Pérez-Rodríguez L, Bretagnolle V. Carotenoid-based coloration, condition, and immune responsiveness in the nestlings of a sexually dimorphic bird of prey. Physiol Biochem Zool 2012; 85:364-75. [PMID: 22705486 DOI: 10.1086/665981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
In many birds, nestlings exhibit brightly colored traits that are pigmented by carotenoids. Carotenoids are diet limited and also serve important health-related physiological functions. The proximate mechanisms behind the expression of these carotenoid-pigmented traits are still poorly known, especially in nestlings with sexual size dimorphism. In these nestlings, intrabrood competition levels and growth strategies likely differ between sexes, and this may in turn influence carotenoid allocation rules. We used dietary carotenoid supplementation to test whether wild marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) nestlings were carotenoid limited and whether carotenoid allocation strategies varied between sexes, which differ in their size and growth strategies. When supplemented, nestlings used the supplemental carotenoids to increase their coloration independently of their sex. We showed that the condition dependence of the carotenoid level and the response to an immune challenge (phytohemagglutinin test) differed between sexes, possibly because sexual size dimorphism influences growth strategies and/or intrabrood competition levels and access to different types of food. In this species, which often feeds on mammals, a trade-off likely exists between food quantity (energy) and quality (carotenoid content). Finally, carotenoid-based coloration expressed in marsh harrier nestlings appeared to be indicative of immune responsiveness rather than condition, therefore potentially advertising to parents nestling quality or value rather than nutritional need.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Sternalski
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
DUGAS MATTHEWB. Cross-fostering reveals that among-brood differences in ornamental mouth coloration mostly reflect rearing conditions in nestling house sparrows. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2011.01852.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
|
21
|
Low M, Makan T, Castro I. Food availability and offspring demand influence sex-specific patterns and repeatability of parental provisioning. Behav Ecol 2011. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arr145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|
22
|
Romano A, Rubolini D, Caprioli M, Boncoraglio G, Ambrosini R, Saino N. Sex-related effects of an immune challenge on growth and begging behavior of barn swallow nestlings. PLoS One 2011; 6:e22805. [PMID: 21818393 PMCID: PMC3144944 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2011] [Accepted: 07/05/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Parent-offspring conflicts lead the offspring to evolve reliable signals of individual quality, including parasite burden, which may allow parents to adaptively modulate investment in the progeny. Sex-related variation in offspring reproductive value, however, may entail differential investment in sons and daughters. Here, we experimentally manipulated offspring condition in the barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) by subjecting nestlings to an immune challenge (injection with bacterial lipopolysaccharide, LPS) that simulates a bacterial infection, and assessed the effects on growth, feather quality, expression of morphological (gape coloration) and behavioral (posture) begging displays involved in parent-offspring communication, as well as on food allocation by parents. Compared to sham-injected controls, LPS-treated chicks suffered a depression of body mass and a reduction of palate color saturation. In addition, LPS treatment resulted in lower feather quality, with an increase in the occurrence of fault bars on wing feathers. The color of beak flanges, feather growth and the intensity of postural begging were affected by LPS treatment only in females, suggesting that chicks of either sex are differently susceptible to the immune challenge. However, irrespective of the effects of LPS, parents equally allocated food among control and challenged offspring both under normal food provisioning and after a short period of food deprivation of the chicks. These results indicate that bacterial infection and the associated immune response entail different costs to offspring of either sex, but a decrease in nestling conditions does not affect parental care allocation, possibly because the barn swallow adopts a brood-survival strategy. Finally, we showed that physiological stress induced by pathogens impairs plumage quality, a previously neglected major negative impact of bacterial infection which could severely affect fitness, particularly among long-distance migratory birds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Romano
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Jacob S, Rieucau G, Heeb P. Multimodal begging signals reflect independent indices of nestling condition in European starlings. Behav Ecol 2011. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arr121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|
24
|
Thorogood R, Ewen JG, Kilner RM. Sense and sensitivity: responsiveness to offspring signals varies with the parents' potential to breed again. Proc Biol Sci 2011; 278:2638-45. [PMID: 21270035 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2010.2594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
How sensitive should parents be to the demands of their young? Offspring are under selection to seek more investment than is optimal for parents to supply, which makes parents vulnerable to losing future fitness by responding to manipulative displays. Yet, parents cannot afford to ignore begging and risk allocating resources inefficiently. Here, we show that parents may solve this problem by adjusting their sensitivity to begging behaviour in relation to their own likelihood of breeding again, a factor largely neglected in previous analyses of parent-offspring interactions. In two carotenoid-supplementation experiments on a New Zealand passerine, the hihi Notiomystis cincta, we supplemented adults to enhance their propensity to breed again, and supplemented entire broods to increase their mouth colour, thus enhancing their solicitation display. We found that adults that attempted two breeding attempts a season were largely insensitive to the experimentally carotenoid-rich gapes of their brood, whereas those that bred just once responded by increasing their rate of provisioning at the nest. Our results show that parents can strategically vary their sensitivity to begging in relation to their future reproductive potential. By restricting opportunities for offspring to influence provisioning decisions, parents greatly limit the potential for offspring to win parent-offspring conflict.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rose Thorogood
- Department of Zoology, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Brekke P, Bennett PM, Wang J, Pettorelli N, Ewen JG. Sensitive males: inbreeding depression in an endangered bird. Proc Biol Sci 2010; 277:3677-84. [PMID: 20591862 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2010.1144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Attempts to conserve threatened species by establishing new populations via reintroduction are controversial. Theory predicts that genetic bottlenecks result in increased mating between relatives and inbreeding depression. However, few studies of wild sourced reintroductions have carefully examined these genetic consequences. Our study assesses inbreeding and inbreeding depression in a free-living reintroduced population of an endangered New Zealand bird, the hihi (Notiomystis cincta). Using molecular sexing and marker-based inbreeding coefficients estimated from 19 autosomal microsatellite loci, we show that (i) inbreeding depresses offspring survival, (ii) male embryos are more inbred on average than female embryos, (iii) the effect of inbreeding depression is male-biased and (iv) this population has a substantial genetic load. Male susceptibility to inbreeding during embryo and nestling development may be due to size dimorphism, resulting in faster growth rates and more stressful development for male embryos and nestlings compared with females. This work highlights the effects of inbreeding at early life-history stages and the repercussions for the long-term population viability of threatened species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Brekke
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, UK.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Sibling competition and conspicuousness of nestling gapes in altricial birds: a comparative study. PLoS One 2010; 5:e10509. [PMID: 20463902 PMCID: PMC2865545 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0010509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2010] [Accepted: 04/12/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Nestlings of altricial birds capture parents' attention through conspicuous visual displays, including exposure of their gape coloration which informs parents about their level of need, competitive ability or health; information that parents use for deciding food allocation among their offspring. Thus, because nestlings compete with nest mates for parental care, nestling conspicuousness is expected to increase with level of sibling competition along bird phylogeny. Methodology/Principal Findings We test this prediction by jointly using information of brood reduction, clutch size and duration of nestling period as proxies for intensity of sibling competition, and visual models that assess detectability of nestlings by adult birds. As predicted, we found a positive association between nestling conspicuousness and intensity of brood reduction, while clutch size and duration of nestling period did not enter in the best models. Level of brood reduction was positively related with the achromatic component of nestling conspicuousness and body mass was negatively related with the chromatic component. Conclusions These associations are in agreement with the hypothesis that sibling competition for parental attention has driven the evolution of visual nestling conspicuousness in a context of parent-offspring communication in altricial birds.
Collapse
|
27
|
Ligon RA, Hill GE. Feeding decisions of eastern bluebirds are situationally influenced by fledgling plumage color. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 21:456-464. [PMID: 22476433 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arq002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2009] [Revised: 12/21/2009] [Accepted: 12/31/2009] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The relative amount of resources that avian parents provide to individual offspring within a brood represents a strategy that can have large effects on reproductive success. We tested whether parental feeding decisions of eastern bluebirds Sialia sialis are influenced by offspring plumage color by presenting pairs of differently colored fledglings side by side and observing how they were provisioned by parents. After a control period, we manipulated blue plumage color so that one sibling in each trial became relatively dark and one became relatively bright. During neither the control nor the experimental periods did either parent consistently feed naturally brighter or experimentally brightened sons more than drab sons. Under specific circumstances, however, both parents directed a higher proportion of their feeding attempts to more brightly colored sons. Paternal feeding attempts to brighter offspring during both the control and experimental periods increased in relation to the brightness of these fledglings relative to their brothers. Maternal feeding decision, on the other hand, were influenced by numerous variables during control and experimental periods including the date of the trial, the difference in mass between fledglings, the feeding behavior of fathers during the trial, the relative investment by fathers during the nestling stage, and the amount of UV chroma in fledgling plumage. Taken together, these results suggest that equal provisioning of offspring is the strategy most commonly adopted by eastern bluebirds but more brightly colored offspring will be fed preferentially when resources for offspring are limited.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Russell A Ligon
- Department of Biological Sciences, 331 Funchess hall, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
|
29
|
|
30
|
Dugas MB. House sparrow, Passer domesticus, parents preferentially feed nestlings with mouth colours that appear carotenoid-rich. Anim Behav 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2009.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|
31
|
Geens A, Dauwe T, Eens M. Does anthropogenic metal pollution affect carotenoid colouration, antioxidative capacity and physiological condition of great tits (Parus major)? Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2009; 150:155-63. [PMID: 19394439 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2009.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2009] [Revised: 04/16/2009] [Accepted: 04/17/2009] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Although several studies have shown that carotenoid-based signals are negatively affected by (metal) pollution, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. There are two possible, not mutually exclusive, hypotheses to explain the metal-induced fading of carotenoid colouration. Metal pollution could affect oxidative stress levels and/or the diet. We assessed the expression of the yellow breast of adult and nestling great tits (Parus major) and related this to physiological parameters in plasma indicative of oxidative stress (total antioxidative capacity) and nutritional condition (albumin, triglyceride, total protein, cholesterol and uric acid concentrations). In four study sites along a metal pollution gradient, both adult and nestling great tits had significantly reduced carotenoid colouration at the most polluted sites. While nestlings' total antioxidative capacity was significantly affected by metal pollution, there was no significant effect on adults' total antioxidative capacity. Both for adult and nestling birds, no clear relation between total antioxidative capacity and carotenoid colouration was found. However, there were significant differences among sites in nutritional parameters, indicating that metal pollution might affect diet composition and quality. We found strong among brood variation in nestlings for all variables (except cholesterol), suggesting that there might be a considerable genetic and/or parental investment factor involved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ann Geens
- Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Maternally invested carotenoids compensate costly ectoparasitism in the hihi. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009; 106:12798-802. [PMID: 19620733 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0902575106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Dietary ingested carotenoid biomolecules have been linked to both improved health and immunity in nestling birds. Here, we test whether maternally invested egg carotenoids can offset the cost of parasitism in developing nestling hihi (Notiomystis cincta) from the bloodsucking mite (Ornithonyssus bursa). Our results reveal clear negative effects of parasitism on nestlings, and that maternally derived carotenoids compensate this cost, resulting in growth parameters and ultimate mass achieved being similar to nonparasitized young. Our results offer an unique example of a direct positive relationship between enhanced maternal investment of carotenoids and an ability to cope with a specific and costly parasite in young birds. As O. bursa infestations reduce population viability in hihi, our findings also highlight the importance of key nutritional resources for endangered bird populations to better cope with common parasite infestations.
Collapse
|
33
|
Ruuskanen S, Doligez B, Tschirren B, Pitala N, Gustafsson L, Groothuis TGG, Laaksonen T. Yolk androgens do not appear to mediate sexual conflict over parental investment in the collared flycatcher Ficedula albicollis. Horm Behav 2009; 55:514-9. [PMID: 19470362 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2009.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2008] [Revised: 01/26/2009] [Accepted: 01/28/2009] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Males and females are in conflict over parental care, as it would be favourable for one parent to shift labour to the other. Yolk hormones may offer a mechanism through which female birds could influence offspring traits in ways that increase the relative investment by the male. We studied the role of yolk androgens in mediating sexual conflict over parental care in the collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis). In a cross-fostering experiment, the male's proportion of total feeding visits increased with increasing androgen levels in the foster eggs. This could suggest that sexual conflict over parental care may be influenced by the female's differential allocation of yolk androgens or a maternal effect associated with yolk androgens. However, when we experimentally elevated yolk androgen levels, male feeding rates did not differ between control and androgen-manipulated nests. This suggests that other egg components correlated with yolk androgen levels, rather than yolk androgen levels per se, may influence male parental effort. In conclusion, yolk androgens per se do not appear to mediate sexual conflict over parental investment in the collared flycatcher.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suvi Ruuskanen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Thorogood R, Brunton D, Castro I. Simple techniques for sexing nestling hihi (Notiomystis cincta) in the field. NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 2009. [DOI: 10.1080/03014220909510146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
|
35
|
Thorogood R, Kilner RM, Karadaş F, Ewen JG. Spectral mouth colour of nestlings changes with carotenoid availability. Funct Ecol 2008. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2008.01455.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
|