The influence of temperature on egg composition in the grey partridge<i>Perdix perdix</i>

Cucco, Marco; Guasco, B.; Ottonelli, Roberta; Balbo, V.; Malacarne, Giorgio

doi:10.1080/08927014.2009.9522511

Cited by 10 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 55 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…We did not find any significant difference in egg mass or size. The result is similar to that reported in the grey partridge (GARCIA-FERNANDEZ et al 2010b) and confirms the high repeatability of egg mass as a reproductive trait (CHRISTIANS 2002;CUCCO et al 2006CUCCO et al , 2009. Our result agrees with a number of studies on Passeriformes (MAZUC et al 2003;TANVEZ et al 2004;MICHL et al 2005) but contrasts with data obtained on the mallard Anas platyrhynchos, the Chinese quail Coturnix chinensis, the peafowl Pavo cristatus and the zebra finch, which laid larger eggs when mated with more attractive males (CUNNINGHAM & RUSSEL 2000;ULLER et al 2005;GILBERT et al 2006;LOYAU et al 2007).…”

Section: Preference Effectsupporting

confidence: 92%

Egg-sequence rather than mating preference influences female egg investment in the red-legged partridge

Cucco

Grenna

Pellegrino

et al. 2011

Ethology Ecology & Evolution

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In precocial bird species, the eggs represent a strong maternal allocation of resources and constitute most of the maternal investment since parents do not feed the young after they hatch. Females can differentially allocate resources in their eggs as a response to the environment experienced during the laying period, including the quality of their mate. To assess the importance of female selection on egg composition in the red-legged partridge, we tested breeding females in a choice trial in which they were allowed to choose between males. After the choice trials, the females were mated with their preferred male (P group), with a non-preferred one (NP group) or with a randomly selected male (RND group). Eggs laid by females of the three groups did not differ significantly in mass, shape, yolk, albumen or shell weight. Moreover, there was no significant difference in egg lysozyme concentration (an important albumen antimicrobial component). There was a significant difference in egg characteristics in relation to position in the laying order, with last-laid eggs being heavier and more spherical. Last-laid eggs contained more albumen but their shell was lighter and the albumen contained less lysozyme. This study shows that partner attractiveness may not influence the characteristics of egg quality, and that in this partridge species the females are able to invest in large clutches without a decrease of egg size but with a progressive decrease of egg quality.

show abstract

Section: Preference Effectsupporting

confidence: 92%

Egg-sequence rather than mating preference influences female egg investment in the red-legged partridge

Cucco

Grenna

Pellegrino

et al. 2011

Ethology Ecology & Evolution

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Similar to our findings, egg yolk antioxidant concentration was not related to ambient temperature before laying in a Czech population of Great Tits (Remeš et al 2011) and in Grey Partridges (Perdix perdix; Cucco et al 2009). However, in the Barn Swallow, temperature during the days preceding laying covaried with egg yolk lutein concentration (Saino et al 2004).…”

Section: Breeding Density (Pair/100 M Radius Circle)supporting

confidence: 91%

Effects of environmental conditions on the egg mass, yolk antioxidant level, eggshell thickness and eggshell spotting patterns of Great Tits (Parus major)

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Avian mothers can influence the fitness of their offspring by resource investment into the egg. Allocation of macro-and micronutrients into the eggs may be costly for the female, therefore, we expect that resource investment may be affected by the environmental and social conditions the mother experiences during egg formation. Here, we investigated whether environmental circumstances experienced by the reproducing female exert an influence on egg mass, yolk antioxidant (lutein and tocopherol) concentration, eggshell thickness, and the eggshell spotting patterns of Great Tits (Parus major). Our study showed that when caterpillars were less abundant, in colder weather and when breeding in an area of higher local breeding density, female Great Tits laid eggs of lower mass, suggesting that adverse environmental circumstances constrain the macronutrient investment into the eggs. However, we found no evidence that yolk antioxidant concentration and eggshell thickness were affected by environmental factors. Female Great Tits may use their endogenous stores or spend more time and energy in finding sufficient amounts of dietary antioxidants and calcium under unfavourable environmental conditions, which may have a cost effect on their own conditions. We found that birds that bred in the beginning of the season laid eggs with darker eggshell spots. Moreover, females laid more spotted eggs in colder weather and when breeding in higher density areas. Our results suggest that Great Tits deposit more of the potentially harmful pro-oxidant protoporphyrin pigment into the eggshell under unfavourable environmental conditions. ZusammenfassungAuswirkungen von Umweltbedingungen auf Eimasse, Antioxidantiengehalt des Dotters, Schalendicke und Fleckung der Eischale bei Kohlmeisen (Parus major) Vogelmütter können die Fitness ihrer Nachkommenschaft durch die Ressourcen beeinflussen, die sie in ein Ei investieren. Die Abgabe von Makro-und Mikronährstoffen an die Eier kann für das Weibchen kostspielig sein, daher ist zu erwarten, dass die Investition von Ressourcen durch Umweltbedingungen und soziale Faktoren beeinflusst wird, denen die Mutter während der Eibildung ausgesetzt ist. Hier untersuchten wir, inwieweit die Umweltbedingungen, denen das Weibchen während der Fortpflanzung ausgesetzt war, einen Einfluss auf die Eimasse, die Konzentration von Antioxidantien (Lutein und Tocopherol) im Dotter, die Schalendicke und die Fleckung der Eischalen von Kohlmeisen (Parus major) ausübten. Unsere Studie zeigte, dass Kohlmeisen-Weibchen in Zeiten geringeren Raupenangebots, bei kälterem Wetter und in Brutgebieten mit höherer lokaler Brutdichte Eier von geringerer Masse legten, was

show abstract

“…As found in the majority of bird species (Christians, 2002), the grey partridge egg mass is rather constant (Cucco et al, 2006a), even if external factors such as temperature can slightly influence it (Cucco et al, 2009). In our study, immune‐challenged grey partridges laid smaller eggs than controls.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immune challenge affects female condition and egg size in the grey partridge

2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

As maintenance of the immune system is energetically costly and resource-limited, trade-offs among immune function, body condition, and reproductive allocation are expected. In this study, we experimentally test the possible trade-off between immune response, self maintenance, and reproductive output in breeding grey partridges Perdix perdix. Before laying, half the females were immune challenged with a novel antigen vaccine (Newcastle disease virus, NDV). The challenged females showed a higher erythrosedimentation rate, a serum parameter related to worsened health conditions, but their cell-mediated immune reaction (PHA test) did not differ from that of controls. The NDV-treated females laid smaller eggs (mass, length, and breadth), while the concentrations of antibacterial substances (lysozyme and avidin, two enzymes that confer innate antibacterial immunity) were unrelated to the hen's immune challenge. Our study suggests that an immune challenge can have physiological consequences in terms of self-maintenance and reproductive allocation to the egg.

show abstract

The influence of temperature on egg composition in the grey partridgePerdix perdix

Cited by 10 publications

References 55 publications

Egg-sequence rather than mating preference influences female egg investment in the red-legged partridge

Egg-sequence rather than mating preference influences female egg investment in the red-legged partridge

Effects of environmental conditions on the egg mass, yolk antioxidant level, eggshell thickness and eggshell spotting patterns of Great Tits (Parus major)

Immune challenge affects female condition and egg size in the grey partridge

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About