Environmental effects shape the maternal transfer of carotenoids and vitamin E to the yolk

Abstract

IntroductionMaternal effects occur when the phenotype of the offspring is influenced by the phenotype of the mother, which in turn depends on her heritable state as well as on influences from the current and past environmental conditions. All of these pathways may, therefore, form significant sources of variation in maternal effects. Here, we focused on the maternal transfer of carotenoids and vitamin E to the egg yolk, using canaries as a model species. Maternal yolk carotenoids and vitamin E are known to generate significant phenotypic variation in offspring, representing examples of maternal effects. We studied the intra-individual consistency in deposition patterns across two years and the mother-daughter resemblance across two generations in order to estimate the level of heritable variation. The effects of the current environmental conditions were studied via a food supplementation experiment, while the consequences of past environmental conditions were estimated on the basis of the early growth trajectories.ResultsThere was a significant effect of the current environmental conditions on the yolk carotenoid and vitamin E deposition, but this effect varied between antioxidant components. The deposition of yolk carotenoids and vitamin E were linked to the process of yolk formation. Past environmental conditions did not contribute to the variation in yolk carotenoid and vitamin E levels nor did we find significant heritable variation.ConclusionsThe transfer of carotenoids or vitamin E may be an example where current environmental variation is largely passed from the mother to the offspring, despite the numerous intermediate physiological steps that are involved. Differences in the effect of the environmental conditions as experienced by the mother during laying may be due to differences in availability as well as physiological processes such as competitive exclusion or selective absorption.

Conspicuous carotenoid-based pelvic spine ornament in three-spined stickleback populations—occurrence and inheritance

“…A larger data set would be needed to reveal a significant estimate when heritability is this low in order to avoid Type II-errors. Such a low genetic component concurs with previous estimates in other species like plumage coloration in blue tits ( Cyanistes caeruleus ) (Hadfield et al, 2006) and canaries ( Serinus canaria ) (Muller et al, 2012). A low correlation between carotenoid-based coloration of nestlings and that of their parent great tits ( Parus major ) (Pagani-Núñez et al, 2014) has also been documented.…”

Antioxidant systems in chick embryo development. Part 1. Vitamin E, carotenoids and selenium

“…Chicken egg yolk pigmentation is due to presence of carotenoids which are working in the body as an integral part of the antioxidant system, providing recycling other antioxidants including vitamin E and affecting various transcription factors including Nrf2 and NF-κB. Carotenoids are easily accumulating in the egg yolk and transferring to the developing embryo ( Surai et al., 2001c , Surai et al., 2001d , Surai, 2012a , Surai, 2012b ) and the deposition of yolk carotenoids is linked to the process of yolk formation ( Müller et al., 2012 ). It is interesting to note that high carotenoid concentrations were present in species with large body, brain and egg sizes, high absolute metabolic rate and a resident lifestyle ( Galván et al., 2012 ).…”

Environmental constraints can explain clutch size differences between urban and forest blue tits: insights from an egg removal experiment

“…Thus, they must acquire the nutrients for egg production daily from their diet when laying (80,98,99). Breeding females need to source sufficient resources to deposit in the egg during this period, including sulphur-rich proteins (25,100), antioxidants (36,101,102), fatty acids (37,103), and calcium (33,35,104,105). However, in the city, there could be lower availability of these resources when compared to the forest, as invertebrate prey may be less abundant (13,47).…”