Avian eggshell formation in calcium-rich and calcium-poor habitats: importance of snail shells and anthropogenic calcium sources

1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (6) ◽  
pp. 1035-1044 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Graveland
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Parus Major ◽  
Calcium Deficiency ◽  
Avian Reproduction ◽  
Eggshell Formation ◽  
Eggshell Quality ◽  
Calcium Source ◽  
Calcium Sources ◽  
Rich Material ◽  
Normal Food

Most passerines depend on the intake of calcium-rich material in addition to their normal food for proper eggshell formation and skeletal growth. A large proportion of Great Tits (Parus major) in forests on nutrient-poor soils in the Netherlands produce eggs with defective shells as a result of calcium deficiency. Eggshell defects are much scarcer near human settlements and do not occur on nutrient-rich soils. I investigated this variation in eggshell quality by examining the use of calcium-rich material by the birds. The results show that calcium-rich items in nest material and droppings can be used as a measure of calcium consumption. Snail shells were the main calcium source in forests where eggshell defects did not occur. In forests where the tits exhibited calcium deficiency, snail shells were rarely taken and birds used anthropogenic calcium sources such as chicken grit and chicken eggshells. It was demonstrated that the dependence on snail shells and the use of alternatives such as anthropogenic calcium sources in areas where snails are scarce are general features of calcium intake among birds. Thus, calcium limitation may be a common phenomenon in avian reproduction on poor soils in countries less populous than the Netherlands.

scholarly journals Epigenetic mediation of the onset of reproduction in a songbird

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie Lindner ◽  
Veronika N. Laine ◽  
Irene Verhagen ◽  
Heidi M. Viitaniemi ◽  
Marcel E. Visser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Regulatory Region ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Parus Major ◽  
Great Tit ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Avian Reproduction ◽  
Directional Variation

ABSTRACTClimate change significantly impacts natural populations, particularly phenology traits, like the seasonal onset of reproduction in birds. This impact is mainly via plastic responses in phenology traits to changes in the environment, but the molecular mechanism mediating this plasticity remains elusive. Epigenetic modifications can mediate plasticity and consequently constitute promising candidates for mediating phenology traits. Here, we used genome-wide DNA methylation profiles of individual great tit (Parus major) females that we blood sampled repeatedly throughout the breeding season. We demonstrate rapid and directional variation in DNA methylation within the regulatory region of genes known to play key roles in avian reproduction that are in line with observed changes in gene expression in chickens. Our findings provide an important step towards unraveling the molecular mechanism mediating a key life history trait, an essential knowledge-gap for understanding how natural populations may cope with future climate change.IMPACT SUMMARYNatural populations are increasingly challenged by changing environmental conditions like global increases in temperature. A key way for species to adapt to global warming is via phenotypic plasticity, i.e. the ability to adjust the expression of traits to the environment. We, however, know little about how the environment can interact with an organism’s genetic make-up to shape its trait value. Epigenetic marks are known to vary with the environment and can modulate the expression of traits without any change in the genetic make-up and therefore have the potential to mediate phenotypic plasticity.To study the role of epigenetics for phenotypic plasticity, we here focus on the great tit (Parus major), a species that is strongly affected by global warming and plastic for temperature in an essential phenology trait, the seasonal onset of egg laying. As a first step, we investigated whether great tit females show within-individual and short-term variation in DNA methylation that corresponds to changes in the reproductive state of females. We therefore housed breeding pairs in climate-controlled aviaries to blood sample each female repeatedly throughout the breeding season and used these repeated samples for methylation profiling.We found rapid and directional variation in DNA methylation at the time females prepared to initiate egg laying that is located within the regulatory region of genes that have previously described functions for avian reproduction. Although future work is needed to establish a causal link between the observed temporal variation in DNA methylation and the onset of reproduction in female great tits, our work highlights the potential role for epigenetic modifications in mediating an essential phenology trait that is sensitive to temperatures.

scholarly journals Food availability limits avian reproduction in the city: An experimental study on great tits Parus major

2020 ◽  
Vol 89 (7) ◽  
pp. 1570-1580 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gábor Seress ◽  
Krisztina Sándor ◽  
Karl L. Evans ◽  
András Liker
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Food Availability ◽  
Parus Major ◽  
Avian Reproduction ◽  
The City

scholarly journals Uterine transcriptome analysis reveals mRNA expression changes associated with the ultrastructure differences of eggshell in young and aged laying hens

BMC Genomics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia Feng ◽  
Hai-jun Zhang ◽  
Shu-geng Wu ◽  
Guang-hai Qi ◽  
Jing Wang
Keyword(s):  
Antigen Processing ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Late Phase ◽  
Economic Loss ◽  
Matrix Proteins ◽  
Differentially Expressed ◽  
Eggshell Formation ◽  
Eggshell Quality ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Altered Gene

Abstract Background Lower eggshell quality in the late laying period leads to economic loss. It is a major threat to the quality and safety of egg products. Age-related variations in ultrastructure were thought to induce this deterioration. Eggshell formation is a highly complex process under precise regulation of genes and biological pathways in uterus of laying hens. Herein, we evaluated the physical, mechanical and ultrastructure properties of eggshell and conducted RNA sequencing to learn the transcriptomic differences in uterus between laying hens in the peak (young hens) and late phase (aged hens) of production. Results The declined breaking strength and fracture toughness of eggshell were observed in aged hen group compared to those in young hen group, accompanied with ultrastructure variations including the increased thickness of mammillary layer and the decreased incidence of early fusion. During the initial stage of eggshell formation, a total of 183 differentially expressed genes (DEGs; 125 upregulated and 58 downregulated) were identified in uterus of laying hens in the late phase in relative to those at peak production. The DEGs annotated to Gene Ontology terms related to antigen processing and presentation were downregulated in aged hens compared to young hens. The contents of proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β in uterus were higher in aged hens relative to those in young hens. Besides, the genes of some matrix proteins potentially involved in eggshell mineralization, such as ovalbumin, versican and glypican 3, were also differentially expressed between two groups. Conclusions Altered gene expression of matrix proteins along with the compromised immune function in uterus of laying hens in the late phase of production may conduce to age-related impairments of eggshell ultrastructure and mechanical properties. The current study enhances our understanding of the age-related deteriorations in eggshell ultrastructure and provides potential targets for improvement of eggshell quality in the late laying period.

scholarly journals Produksi Enzim Selulase Dari Bakteri Serratia marcescens KE-B6 Dengan Penambahan Sumber Karbon, Nitrogen dan Kalsium Pada Medium Produksi

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arom Septiani ◽  
W Wijanarka ◽  
MG Isworo Rukmi
Keyword(s):  
Serratia Marcescens ◽  
Growth Medium ◽  
Incubation Time ◽  
Enzyme Production ◽  
Production Medium ◽  
Cellulolytic Bacteria ◽  
Cellulase Enzyme ◽  
Randomized Design ◽  
Calcium Source ◽  
Calcium Sources

The waste of cellulose in the agro-industry can be reduced by decomposing the cellulose polymer into glucose. This process was carried out by cellulase enzyme (EC 3.2.1.4) produced by cellulolytic bacteria. Bacteria required food as nutrition to survived their life, can be obtained through growth medium or enzyme production medium. Carbon, nitrogen and calcium belong to the essential nutrients contained in growth medium and enzyme production medium. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of the addition of carbon, nitrogen and calcium source and the time of incubation on the production of cellulase enzyme from Seratia marcescens KE-B6 bacteria. This research used Completely Randomized Design (RAL) of Factorial Pattern with two factors. The first factor is the type of medium, the first medium is the standard medium (M1) and the second medium is enriched with carbon, nitrogen and calcium sources (M2), the second factor is the incubation time with 5 repetitions. The enzyme production is measured by the reducing sugar method. The data obtained were analyzed using Anova. The results showed that the addition of carbon, nitrogen, and calcium sources and incubation time did not affect the production of cellulase enzyme by Serratia marcescens KE-B6. Keywords: Cellulose, Cellulase enzyme, Serratia marcescens

Effects of supplemental calcium on the reproductive output of a small passerine bird, the House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)

1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 278-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Scott Johnson ◽  
Robert M. R. Barclay
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Output ◽  
Passerine Bird ◽  
Troglodytes Aedon ◽  
House Wren ◽  
House Wrens ◽  
Supplemental Calcium ◽  
Chicken Eggshell ◽  
Calcium Availability ◽  
Rich Material ◽  
Normal Food

The normal food of most small birds (insects, seeds, and fruit) contains relatively little calcium. Birds must therefore supplement their diets, and those of their dependent young, with bits of calcium-rich material such as bone, limestone, eggshells, and mollusk shells. In this study, the question of whether the availability of calcium constrains reproductive output in a Wyoming population of the House Wren (Troglodytes aedon), a small insectivorous passerine, was asked. A randomly selected group of breeding pairs was provided with a mix of crushed oystershell and chicken eggshell at their nests for the duration of their breeding cycles. Calcium-supplemented birds tended to lay more eggs per clutch and tended to raise fledglings with slightly longer feathers than unsupplemented control birds. Calcium-supplemented birds did not, however, lay larger eggs, produce more fledglings, or produce fledglings of greater mass than control birds. Unlike the situation in many anthropogenically acidified environments, calcium availability apparently does not constrain the reproductive output of House Wrens breeding in this one environment that appears to be relatively unaffected by acidic precipitation.

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