Female Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata) Are Chronically but Not Cumulatively “Anemic” during Repeated Egg Laying in Response to Experimental Nest Predation

2010 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Willie ◽  
M. Travers ◽  
T. D. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Nest Predation ◽  
Taeniopygia Guttata ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Zebra Finches

scholarly journals Sex-specific effects of maternal immunization on yolk antibody transfer and offspring performance in zebra finches

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafał Martyka ◽  
Joanna Rutkowska ◽  
Mariusz Cichoń
Keyword(s):  
Blood Cells ◽  
Taeniopygia Guttata ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
The Body ◽  
Adaptive Mechanism ◽  
Zebra Finches ◽  
Offspring Performance ◽  
Maternal Immunization ◽  
Specific Effects ◽  
Embryo Sex

Trans-generational antibody transfer constitutes an important mechanism by which mothers may enhance offspring resistance to pathogens. Thus, differential antibody deposition may potentially allow a female to differentiate offspring performance. Here, we examined whether maternal immunization with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) prior to egg laying affects sex-specific yolk antibody transfer and sex-specific offspring performance in zebra finches ( Taeniopygia guttata ). We showed that immunized mothers deposit anti-SRBC antibodies into the eggs depending on embryo sex and laying order, and that maternal exposure to SRBC positively affects the body size of female, but not male offspring. This is the first study reporting sex-specific consequences of maternal immunization on offspring performance, and suggests that antibody transfer may constitute an adaptive mechanism of maternal favouritism.

Elevated nest predation risk promotes offspring size variation in birds with prolonged parental care.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gretchen F. Wagner ◽  
Emeline Mourocq ◽  
Michael Griesser
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Reproductive Cycle ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Nest Predation ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Offspring Size ◽  
Natural Predation ◽  
Risk Spreading

Predation of offspring is the main cause of reproductive failure in many species, and the mere fear of offspring predation shapes reproductive strategies. Yet, natural predation risk is ubiquitously variable and can be unpredictable. Consequently, the perceived prospect of predation early in a reproductive cycle may not reflect the actual risk to ensuing offspring. An increased variance in investment across offspring has been linked to breeding in unpredictable environments in several taxa, but has so far been overlooked as a maternal response to temporal variation in predation risk. Here, we experimentally increased the perceived risk of nest predation prior to egg-laying in seven bird species. Species with prolonged parent-offspring associations increased their intra-brood variation in egg, and subsequently offspring, size. High risk to offspring early in a reproductive cycle can favour a risk-spreading strategy particularly in species with the greatest opportunity to even out offspring quality after fledging.

Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata )

2018 ◽  
pp. 318-337
Author(s):  
Graham Law ◽  
Rudolf Nager ◽  
Michael Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Taeniopygia Guttata ◽  
Zebra Finches

Mate call as reward: Acoustic communication signals can acquire positive reinforcing values during adulthood in female zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata).

2016 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra M. Hernandez ◽  
Emilie C. Perez ◽  
Hervé Mulard ◽  
Nicolas Mathevon ◽  
Clémentine Vignal
Keyword(s):  
Acoustic Communication ◽  
Taeniopygia Guttata ◽  
Zebra Finches ◽  
Communication Signals
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