Effects of the maternal and current social environment on female body mass and reproductive traits in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

Abstract

The social environment of breeding females can affect their phenotype, with potential adaptive maternal effects on offspring that experience a similar environment. We housed Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) females in two group sizes (pairs versus groups of four) and studied the effects on their offspring under matched and mismatched conditions. We measured F1 body mass, reproduction, and plasma levels of androgens and corticosterone. F1 group housing led to an increase in body mass. In addition, F1 group housing had a positive effect on mass in daughters of pair-housed P0 females only, which were heaviest under mismatched conditions. At the time of egg collection for the F2 generation, F1 group-housed females were heavier, irrespective of the P0 treatment. F1 females in groups laid heavier eggs, with higher hatching success, and produced heavier offspring, most likely a maternal effect of F1 mass. F1 plasma hormones were affected by neither the P0 nor the F1 social environment. These results contrasted with effects in the P0 generation (reported previously), in which plasma hormone levels, but not mass, differed between social environments. This may be due to changes in adult sex ratios as P0 females were housed with males, whereas F1 females encountered males only during mating. Our study demonstrates potentially relevant mismatch effects of the social environment on F1 body mass and maternal effects on F2 offspring, but further study is needed to understand their adaptive significance and physiological mechanisms.

Stress in the social context: a behavioural and eco-evolutionary perspective

“…There are fewer data on intergenerational social stressors in non-mammals; in birds, the effects of maternal social stress on offspring stress physiology and behaviour are inconclusive. For example, Langen et al (2019) showed that in Japanese quail ( Coturnix japonica ), maternal group size has no effect on offspring glucocorticoid response, whereas in gulls ( Larus fuscus ), parental density affects offspring social behaviour ( Salas et al, 2022 ). Furthermore, zebra finch offspring from parents where mothers experienced pair separation and re-pairing are less behaviourally responsive to isolation (vocalisations and perch hops: Schweitzer et al, 2014 ), and, in quail, maternal social instability increases offspring emotional reactivity (e.g.…”

Plastic maternal effects of social density on reproduction and fitness in the least killifish, Heterandria formosa

“…Environmental parental effects, also known as transgenerational plasticity, are widespread in plants and animals (Bell & Hellmann, 2019; De Long et al, 2021; Donohue, 2009; Herman & Sultan, 2011; Meaney, 2001; Roach & Wulff, 1987; Rossiter, 1991; Weaver et al, 2004). Transgenerational plasticity has been demonstrated in response to a wide variety of ecological factors: temperature (Betini et al, 2020; Landy & Travis, 2018; Lee et al, 2020; Penney et al, 2021; Salinas & Munch, 2012; Sun et al, 2018; Tougeron et al, 2020), salinity (Griffiths et al, 2021), food availability (Kangassalo et al, 2020; Plaistow et al, 2006; Vega‐Trejo et al, 2018), exposure to predation risk (Hellmann et al, 2020; Lehto & Tinghitella, 2020; McGhee et al, 2021; Tariel et al, 2020), herbivory (Sobral, Sampedro, et al, 2021), and conspecific density (Langen et al, 2019; Li et al, 2019; Meise et al, 2016). However, the extent to which these effects represent adaptive plasticity between parent and offspring generations remains contentious (Marshall & Uller, 2007; Sanchez‐Tojar et al, 2020; Uller et al, 2013; Yin et al, 2019).…”

“…There are compelling examples of adaptive plasticity (Allen et al, 2008; Galloway & Etterson, 2007; Kangassalo et al, 2020; Sun et al, 2018; Tougeron et al, 2020). However, many studies have either failed to find transgenerational plasticity where it was expected or found it to be maladaptive (Betini et al, 2020; Griffiths et al, 2021; Langen et al, 2019; Martin et al, 2019; Neylan et al, 2022; Penney et al, 2021). For any single ecological agent like conspecific density, some experiments demonstrate an adaptive effect (Langen et al, 2019) while others do not (Zipple et al, 2019).…”

“…herbivory (Sobral, Sampedro, et al, 2021), and conspecific density (Langen et al, 2019;Li et al, 2019;Meise et al, 2016). However, the extent to which these effects represent adaptive plasticity between parent and offspring generations remains contentious (Marshall & Uller, 2007;Sanchez-Tojar et al, 2020;Uller et al, 2013;Yin et al, 2019).…”

Timing of reproduction modifies transgenerational effects of chronic exposure to stressors in an annual vertebrate

“…A situation in which there can be far-ranging inter-and transgenerational effects arises when a female's state affects her reproductive decisions or investment. This can shape various aspects of the life-history and reproductive strategy of her offspring (the F1 generation) [19][20][21]. These in turn can influence the development, survival and reproductive success of her grandoffspring (the F2 generation).…”