Fitness–related consequences of egg mass in nestling house wrens

Styrsky, John D.; Eckerle, Kevin P.; Thompson, Charles F.

doi:10.1098/rspb.1999.0771

Cited by 122 publications

(130 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…The most important effect of periodic cooling on avian embryonic development may be the decrease in efficiency of development, resulting in a reduced hatchling size and reduced yolk reserves, compared to embryos that develop at constant temperatures. The effects of thermal conditions during incubation will have strong implications later in life if larger nestlings have higher fitness than smaller nestlings (Styrsky et al 1999). Adverse conditions during growth may influence lifetime fitness parameters, including immunocompetence, fecundity, and fat deposition (Lindström 1999).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Periodic Cooling of Bird Eggs Reduces Embryonic Growth Efficiency

Olson

Vleck

2006

Physiological and Biochemical Zoology

173

157

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For many bird embryos, periodic cooling occurs when the incubating adult leaves the nest to forage, but the effects of periodic cooling on embryo growth, yolk use, and metabolism are poorly known. To address this question, we conducted incubation experiments on eggs of zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) that were frequently cooled and then rewarmed or were allowed to develop at a constant temperature. After 12 d of incubation, embryo mass and yolk reserves were less in eggs that experienced periodic cooling than in controls incubated constantly at 37.5C. Embryos that regularly cooled to 20C had higher mass-specific metabolic rates than embryos incubated constantly at 37.5C. Periodic cooling delayed development and increased metabolic costs, reducing the efficiency with which egg nutrients were converted into embryo tissue. Avian embryos can tolerate periodic cooling, possibly by adjusting their physiology to variable thermal conditions, but at a cost to growth efficiency as well as rate of development. This reduction in embryo growth efficiency adds a new dimension to the fitness consequences of variation in adult nest attentiveness. Disciplines Ornithology | Other Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology | Zoology CommentsThis article is from Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 79 (2006) ABSTRACTFor many bird embryos, periodic cooling occurs when the incubating adult leaves the nest to forage, but the effects of periodic cooling on embryo growth, yolk use, and metabolism are poorly known. To address this question, we conducted incubation experiments on eggs of zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) that were frequently cooled and then rewarmed or were allowed to develop at a constant temperature. After 12 d of incubation, embryo mass and yolk reserves were less in eggs that experienced periodic cooling than in controls incubated constantly at 37.5ЊC. Embryos that regularly cooled to 20ЊC had higher mass-specific metabolic rates than embryos incubated constantly at 37.5ЊC. Periodic cooling delayed development and increased metabolic costs, reducing the efficiency with which egg nutrients were converted into embryo tissue. Avian embryos can tolerate periodic cooling, possibly by adjusting their physiology to variable thermal conditions, but at a cost to growth efficiency as well as rate of development. This reduction in embryo growth efficiency adds a new dimension to the fitness consequences of variation in adult nest attentiveness.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Periodic Cooling of Bird Eggs Reduces Embryonic Growth Efficiency

Olson

Vleck

2006

Physiological and Biochemical Zoology

173

157

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“…This is also tru e for other sm all passerines (W illiams 1994, W ard 1996, Styrsky et al 1999, Styrsky 2000. (16-21 A ugust 2003 in C hem nitz, G erm any)…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Trends in Ambient Temperature on Egg Volume in the Tree SparrowPasser montanus

2003

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Abstract. The effect of am bient tem perature before and du rin g laying on egg volum e in b irds has been studied by m any authors. The objective of this pap er is to show th at tren d s in daily tem peratures changes can also influence egg volum e. The stu d y w as carried o ut near W arsaw, Poland in 1994 and 1995. We ascertained the laying sequence, size and volum e of 1070 eggs in 211 clutches of the Tree Sparrow. The effect of the trend in tem perature on the m ean egg volum e in a clutch explained 0.4% of its variation (0.03% to 4.2%, d epending on the brood-period), and the effect of actual tem perature explained 0.9% (0.5% to 1.6% dep en d in g on the brood-period). The joint effect of tem perature and its trend explained 3.1% (1.7% to 8.9% dep en d in g on the brood-period) of variation in the m ean egg volum e in a clutch. The au th o rs discuss possible m echanism s of the effect of tem perature and tem perature trend on egg volum e.

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“…Nevertheless, there is evidence that under poor feeding conditions, chick growth is correlated with egg size, although in multi-egg clutches this is confounded by a trade-off between clutch size and heavier eggs (Styrsky et al 1999). A cross-fostering study by Hipfner et al (2001) of Brünnich's guillemots that lay single-egg clutches found that chicks from large eggs initiated linear wing growth sooner after hatching and also tended to remain larger than chicks from small eggs.…”

Section: Possible Population-level Effects Of Chick Fitnessmentioning

confidence: 99%