Intra-clutch variation in avian eggshell pigmentation covaries with female quality

2013 ◽  
Vol 154 (4) ◽  
pp. 1057-1065 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greet De Coster ◽  
Liesbeth De Neve ◽  
Luc Lens
Keyword(s):  
Female Quality ◽  
Eggshell Pigmentation

scholarly journals Avian eggshell coloration predicts shell-matrix protoporphyrin content

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.F. Thompson ◽  
Kara E Hodges ◽  
Nathan T Mortimer ◽  
Alysia D. Vrailas-Mortimer ◽  
S.K. Sakaluk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
House Wrens ◽  
Oxidative Balance ◽  
Egg Formation ◽  
Female Quality ◽  
Shell Matrix ◽  
Blue Channel ◽  
Strong Positive Relationship ◽  
Eggshell Pigmentation ◽  
Eggshell Matrix

Abstract: Avian eggshell pigmentation may provide information about a female’s physiological condition, in particular her state of oxidative balance. Previously we found that female house wrens (Troglodytes aedon Vieillot, 1809) with lighter, less-maculated, and redder ground-colored shells were older and produced heavier offspring than females laying darker, browner eggs. The strong pro-oxidant protoporphyrin is responsible for this species’ eggshell pigmentation, so differences in pigmentary coloration may be related to eggshell protoporphyrin content and reflect female oxidative balance and condition during egg-formation. Therefore, we tested the assumption that egg-surface coloration is related to the amount of protoporphyrin in the shell matrix. We analyzed digital photographs of eggs to determine maculation coverage as a measure of the overall ground coloration of the egg and its red-, green-, and blue-channel pixel values. Pigments were then extracted from these same eggs and analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. There was a strong, positive relationship between eggshell redness and protoporphyrin content of eggshells, but no relationship between percent maculation and protoporphyrin content. Thus, when older, larger females deposit more protoporphyrin in their eggshells, this may reflect a tolerance for high levels of circulating protoporphyrin or an effective mechanism for off-loading protoporphyrin into the eggshell matrix. Keywords: Eggs, Female quality, HPLC, Eggshell pigmentation, Eggshell speckles

scholarly journals Connecting the dots: avian eggshell pigmentation, female condition and paternal provisioning effort

2020 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
pp. 114-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kara E Hodges ◽  
Nathan T Mortimer ◽  
Alysia D Vrailas-Mortimer ◽  
Scott K Sakaluk ◽  
Charles F Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Population ◽  
Honest Signal ◽  
Female Fitness ◽  
House Wrens ◽  
Nestling Provisioning ◽  
Female Quality ◽  
Eggshell Pigmentation ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Connecting The Dots ◽  
Cross Fostering

Abstract Differences in avian eggshell pigmentation could be an honest signal of female quality that males use to inform their nestling provisioning effort. We investigated whether among-individual variation in protoporphyrin-based eggshell pigmentation in house wrens (Troglodytes aedon) reflects female fitness-associated traits and whether males use that information. Females laying lighter clutches were older and larger than females laying darker clutches. Nestlings hatching from lighter clutches had greater size-corrected mass on post-hatch day 11, a measure that strongly predicts survival and recruitment to the breeding population. To test whether male provisioning effort responds to clutch pigmentation, we used a reciprocal clutch cross-fostering design, swapping dark with light clutches and light with dark; in controls, we swapped light with light clutches and dark with dark. Shortly before hatching, clutches were returned to their original nest to avoid confounding effects of nestling quality on male provisioning. Contrary to the sexual selection hypothesis, clutch pigmentation had no effect on male provisioning. Males were probably able to observe eggshell pigmentation and thus had information about female quality, but they did not use this information to modulate their nestling provisioning. This may be because of constraints on species-specific reproductive opportunities, or because variation in eggshell protoporphyrin serves other functions.

scholarly journals Changes in pigment, spectral transmission and element content of pink chicken eggshells with different pigment intensity during incubation

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e1825 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Yu ◽  
Zhanming Li ◽  
Jinming Pan
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Characteristics ◽  
Element Content ◽  
Spectral Transmission ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Light Passing ◽  
Visible Wavelength Range ◽  
Chicken Eggshell ◽  
Eggshell Pigmentation ◽  
Light Medium ◽  
Pink Pigment

Objective.The objective of this study was to investigate changes in pigment, spectral transmission and element content of chicken eggshells with different intensities of pink pigment during the incubation period. We also investigated the effects of the region (small pole, equator and large pole) and pink pigment intensity of the chicken eggshell on the percent transmission of light passing through the chicken eggshells.Method.Eggs of comparable weight from a meat-type breeder (Meihuang) were used, and divided based on three levels of pink pigment (light, medium and dark) in the eggshells. During the incubation (0–21 d), the values of the eggshell pigment (ΔE,L∗,a∗,b∗) were measured. The percent transmission of light for different regions and intensities of eggshell pigmentation was measured by using the visible wavelength range of 380–780 nm.Result.Three measured indicators of eggshell color, ΔE,L∗anda∗, did not change significantly during incubation. Compared with other regions and pigment intensities, eggshell at the small pole and with light pigmentation intensity showed the highest percent transmission of light. The transmission value varied significantly (P< 0.001) with incubation time. The element analysis of eggshells with different levels of pink pigment showed that the potassium content of the eggshells for all pigment levels decreased significantly during incubation.Conclusion.In summary, pigment intensity and the region of the eggshell influenced the percent transmission of light of eggshell. Differences in the spectral characteristics of different eggshells may influence the effects of photostimulation during the incubation of eggs. All of these results will be applicable for perfecting the design of light intensity for lighted incubation to improve productivity.

Synthesis and Outlook

2021 ◽  
pp. 153-161
Author(s):  
Ingo Schlupp
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Selection ◽  
Mate Choice ◽  
Sex Ratios ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Male Mate Choice ◽  
Female Ornamentation ◽  
Female Quality ◽  
Investment In Reproduction ◽  
Selection Research ◽  
Male Mate

In this final chapter I want to briefly recap what I presented in the previous chapters and provide a few ideas on what might be done in the future to move the field forward. All three factors I discussed as relevant in male mate choice—male investment in reproduction, sex ratios, and variability in partner quality—are still emerging fields in sexual selection research and need more theoretical and empirical work. I suggest that variability in female quality is more important and more complex than currently known. The same is true for sex ratios. On the other hand, I suggest that sheer investment in gametes may be a little less important than currently assumed. Most importantly we need to explore the interactions of these three pathways to male mate choice. Female competition and also female ornamentation are still somewhat enigmatic and both topics are likely to grow in importance for our understanding of sexual selection. I think considering male and female choice together, as well as female and male competition will ultimately provide a more complete picture of Darwinian sexual selection.

Examples of Male Mate Choice

2021 ◽  
pp. 53-80
Author(s):  
Ingo Schlupp
Keyword(s):  
Mate Choice ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Male Mate Choice ◽  
Male Choice ◽  
Female Fecundity ◽  
Female Quality ◽  
Male Mate ◽  
Different Levels

In this chapter, what interests me most is how often male mate choice has already been documented, independent of the underlying mechanism. I am not concerned with the origin of the description: some authors express some degree of surprise that they found male preferences; other studies are motivated by theory. I also want to highlight that there is a continuum from no male contribution to the offspring to male contributions that are larger than the female contribution. Furthermore, there are differences in female quality at different levels, which can contribute to the evolution of male choice. There are many studies that infer differences in female fecundity as underlying male choice, but females can differ in many more aspects—just like males.

scholarly journals Eggshell pigmentation in the blue tit: male quality matters

2017 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. P. Badás ◽  
J. Martínez ◽  
J. Rivero-de Aguilar ◽  
M. Stevens ◽  
M. van der Velde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Male Quality ◽  
Blue Tit ◽  
Quality Matters ◽  
Eggshell Pigmentation
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