Maternal immunoglobulin concentration in Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis) eggs in relation to parental quality and laying order

Abstract

Summary 1.The immune system of newly hatched birds is relatively immature; therefore pathogens can be particularly virulent. Females transfer passive immunity in terms of immunoglobulins to the eggs to protect their young against infections in the crucial early life stages. 2. As transmission of antibodies is likely to be nutritionally costly, mothers are expected to allocate these components differentially to eggs according to their own condition, the quality of their mate or the laying order of eggs. 3. We found that in Collared Flycatchers ( Ficedula albicollis ), yolk antibody levels positively correlated with female body condition, but showed no relationship with maternal age or body size. Furthermore, females with higher plasma heterophil : lymphocyte ratio and heterophil count, which may indicate higher level of stress, deposited lower amount of immunoglobulins to their eggs. These results suggest that females of better physiological condition were able to invest more immunoglobulins to their eggs. 4. Neither the plumage characteristics, nor the age of the male parent was related to yolk antibody concentration, and thus no evidence for differential allocation of antibodies in relation to male quality or attractiveness could be detected. 5. Last-laid eggs contained higher yolk immunoglobulin concentration than earlier-laid eggs within a clutch. This pattern could be interpreted as a way to improve the survival probability of the disadvantaged last-hatching nestling.

Ecological and life-history factors influencing the evolution of maternal antibody allocation: a phylogenetic comparison

“…AICc ranking, delta values, likelihoods and weights and model r 2 for models of life-history effects on yolk IgY deposition. Analysis was done assuming a star phylogeny (OLS) and assuming stabilizing selection with drift (OU) using a tree compiled from the literature and presented in Cohen et al (2008 Grindstaff et al 2005) and comparable to estimates reported in Ficedula albicollis (0.63 mg ml 21 relative to chicken standard, Hargitai et al 2006). Several factors could contribute to the low levels measured in wild altricial birds.…”

The influence of year, laying date, egg fertility and incubation, individual hen, hen age and mass and clutch size on maternal immunoglobulin Y concentration in captive Steller's and spectacled eider egg yolk

“…Breeding can result in stressful social dynamics that impact females differently. Stress can elevate or depress immunoglobulin production depending on its severity (Hargitai et al, 2006;Morales et al, 2004). Pied flycatchers with increased stress levels, as measured by heat-shock protein levels, laid eggs with higher concentrations of IgY (Morales et al, 2004).…”

“…Black-headed gulls provide the first laid egg with the most IgY (Groothuis et al, 2006), while collared flycatchers allocate the most IgY to the last egg in the clutch (Hargitai et al, 2006). Both species are asynchronously hatching species and earlier laid eggs usually have a higher chance of survival (Groothuis et al, 2006;Hargitai et al, 2006). Providing the first laid eggs with higher concentrations of IgY furthers their advantage, while distributing more IgY to later laid eggs may be an attempt to help them survive (Groothuis et al, 2006;Hargitai et al, 2006).…”

“…Both species are asynchronously hatching species and earlier laid eggs usually have a higher chance of survival (Groothuis et al, 2006;Hargitai et al, 2006). Providing the first laid eggs with higher concentrations of IgY furthers their advantage, while distributing more IgY to later laid eggs may be an attempt to help them survive (Groothuis et al, 2006;Hargitai et al, 2006).…”

“…Black-headed gulls provide the first laid egg with the most IgY (Groothuis et al, 2006), while collared flycatchers allocate the most IgY to the last egg in the clutch (Hargitai et al, 2006). Both species are asynchronously hatching species and earlier laid eggs usually have a higher chance of survival (Groothuis et al, 2006;Hargitai et al, 2006).…”