Biliverdin- and protoporphyrin-based eggshell pigmentation in relation to antioxidant supplementation, female characteristics and egg traits in the canary (Serinus canaria)

Hargitai, Rita; Boross, Nóra; Nyíri, Zoltán; Eke, Zsuzsanna

doi:10.1007/s00265-016-2214-z

Cited by 21 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 119 publications

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“…We calculated blue-green chroma as (R 480nm − R 370nm )/R 480 , because the eggshell spectra showed peak reflectance at 480 nm and lowest reflectance at 370 nm (Hargitai et al 2016a), which corresponds to the absorption spectra of biliverdin (Singleton and Laster 1965). Brown chroma was calculated as R 600-700nm /R 320-700nm , as protoporphyrin reflects the light at this spectrum region (König and Meyer 1992), while biliverdin has a reflectance minimum around 660 nm (Singleton and Laster 1965).…”

Section: Eggshell Spectrophotometric Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We calculated standardized effect sizes (R) of mixed models and the 95% confidence intervals (CI) for R-values similarly as in Hargitai et al (2016a) based on the equations in Alvir (1993) and McNeil et al (1996).…”

Section: Statistical Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Eggshells were scored from photographs by one observer (RH). Eggshell pigmentation was scored for spot intensity (from 1 for the palest to 5 for the darkest) that correlates with eggshell protoporphyrin level based on previous studies (Hargitai et al 2016a), and for spot distribution (from 1 for the aggregated spot distribution to 5 for even spot distribution). A previous study has shown that these variables have significant intra-observer repeatabilities in the canary (Hargitai et al 2016a).…”

Section: Eggshell Pigmentation Scoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Eggshell biliverdin and protoporphyrin concentrations (μg g -1 eggshell) were measured by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using an HP 1050 system (Hewlett Packard, Palo Alto, CA, USA), as previously described (Hargitai et al 2016a). …”

Section: Eggshell Pigment Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Brown chroma was calculated as R 600-700nm /R 320-700nm , as protoporphyrin reflects the light at this spectrum region (König and Meyer 1992), while biliverdin has a reflectance minimum around 660 nm (Singleton and Laster 1965). Mean values were calculated by averaging the measurements of three background and three spot areas (Hargitai et al 2016a).…”

Section: Eggshell Spectrophotometric Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of food limitation on the intensity of blue‐green and brown eggshell coloration: an experimental study with the canary

Hargitai

Boross

Nyíri

et al. 2017

Journal of Avian Biology

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Variation in blue-green and brown coloration of avian eggshells could be affected by several factors, including environmental nutritional constraints. Better availability of nutrients could influence the synthesis and deposition of pigments into the eggshell, so we may expect a link between the food availability during egg formation, the body condition of the female and intensity of eggshell coloration. This hypothesis has received mixed support so far: in some bird species a positive correlation between female body condition and eggshell blue-green coloration could be demonstrated, but other studies failed to find a significant link. In this study, we experimentally limited the food availability for domestic canaries Serinus canaria prior to and during egg laying, and examined its effects on the biliverdin-and protoporphyrin-based eggshell coloration. Treatment had no significant effect on eggshell blue-green chroma and biliverdin concentration. However, we found a significant positive relationship between female body condition and eggshell background blue-green chroma in the control group, but not in the food restricted group. Females possibly experiencing a decline in antioxidant capacity due to food limitation may not be able to produce a blue-green eggshell colour intensity reliably indicating their body condition. Furthermore, foodrestricted canary females laid eggs with significantly higher eggshell brown chroma, spot intensity, and protoporphyrin concentration. Therefore, our results suggest that limitation in actual nutrient availability increases deposition of protoporphyrin into the eggshell, and it may also modify the association between female body condition and intensity of blue-green eggshell coloration.

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Section: Eggshell Spectrophotometric Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Statistical Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Eggshell Pigmentation Scoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Eggshell Pigment Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Eggshell Spectrophotometric Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of food limitation on the intensity of blue‐green and brown eggshell coloration: an experimental study with the canary

Hargitai

Boross

Nyíri

et al. 2017

Journal of Avian Biology

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Eggshell Biliverdin as an Antioxidant Maternal Effect

Morales

2020

BioEssays

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Dietary carotenoid supplementation facilitates egg laying in a wild passerine

García‐Campa

Müller

González‐Braojos

et al. 2020

Ecology and Evolution

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During egg laying, females face a trade‐off between self‐maintenance and investment into current reproduction, since providing eggs with resources is energetically demanding, in particular if females lay one egg per day. However, the costs of egg laying not only relate to energetic requirements, but also depend on the availability of specific resources that are vital for egg production and embryonic development. One of these compounds are carotenoids, pigments with immuno‐stimulatory properties, which are crucial during embryonic development. In this study, we explore how carotenoid availability alleviates this trade‐off and facilitates egg laying in a small bird species, the blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus). Blue tits have among the largest clutch size of all European passerines and they usually lay one egg per day, although laying interruptions are frequent. We performed a lutein supplementation experiment and measured potential consequences for egg laying capacity and egg quality. We found that lutein‐supplemented females had less laying interruptions and thus completed their clutch faster than control females. No effects of treatment were found on the onset of egg laying or clutch size. Experimentally enhanced carotenoid availability did not elevate yolk carotenoid levels or egg mass, but negatively affected eggshell thickness. Our results provide hence evidence on the limiting role of carotenoids during egg laying. However, the benefits of laying faster following lutein supplementation were counterbalanced by a lower accumulation of calcium in the eggshell. Thus, even though single components may constrain egg laying, it is the combined availability of a range of different resources which ultimately determines egg quality and thus embryonic development.

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Biliverdin- and protoporphyrin-based eggshell pigmentation in relation to antioxidant supplementation, female characteristics and egg traits in the canary (Serinus canaria)

Cited by 21 publications

References 119 publications

Effects of food limitation on the intensity of blue‐green and brown eggshell coloration: an experimental study with the canary

Effects of food limitation on the intensity of blue‐green and brown eggshell coloration: an experimental study with the canary

Eggshell Biliverdin as an Antioxidant Maternal Effect

Dietary carotenoid supplementation facilitates egg laying in a wild passerine

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