Intraclutch eggshell colour variation in birds: are females able to identify their eggs individually?
Background One possibility suggested regarding female post-mating strategies is differential allocation into offspring investment. Female birds produce not only the largest, but also most colourful eggs of all oviparous taxa. Larger eggs provide space for bigger embryos, or more nutrition for their...
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| Format: | Article |
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PeerJ Inc.
2017-08-01
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/3707.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797418459839070208 |
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| author | Miroslav Poláček Michaela Bartíková Herbert Hoi |
| author_facet | Miroslav Poláček Michaela Bartíková Herbert Hoi |
| author_sort | Miroslav Poláček |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background One possibility suggested regarding female post-mating strategies is differential allocation into offspring investment. Female birds produce not only the largest, but also most colourful eggs of all oviparous taxa. Larger eggs provide space for bigger embryos, or more nutrition for their development, but the question why eggs are more colourful and why there is variation in eggshell colouration remains. In this context, the focus of interest has been to explain inter-clutch variation but in many bird species, eggshell colouration also varies within a clutch. Surprisingly, less attention has been paid to this phenomenon. Therefore, we propose the “female egg recognition” hypothesis, suggesting that mothers use colour characteristics to interpret egg attributes and allocate further investment into each egg accordingly. To evaluate the feasibility of the hypothesis, we tested several underlying predictions and examined their suitability using a dataset from our tree sparrow (Passer montanus) study. We predict (i) substantial within-clutch variation in eggshell colouration which, (ii) should be related to laying sequence, (iii) reflect egg quality and, (iv) should stimulate a female response. Methods Eggshell coloration data were obtained via digital photography under standardized conditions, taken after clutch completion. Lightness (L*), representing the achromatic properties of an egg has been chosen as the most important predictor in dark cavities and was related to egg quality and position in the nest. Results In our tree sparrows, first and mainly last eggs were less pigmented, providing information about laying order. Egg volume, which predicts chick quality, positively correlates with eggshell coloration. Finally, we could show that female tree sparrows placed darker, but not bigger, eggs into more central incubation positions. Discussion All basic prerequisites for the “female egg recognition” hypothesis are fulfilled. In this context practicability and feasibility of the hypothesis and alternative explanations are discussed. However future work is necessary to determine a direct effect on offspring condition. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:32:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-59f61b07a861499192fbff9358bd66ff |
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| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:32:56Z |
| publishDate | 2017-08-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-59f61b07a861499192fbff9358bd66ff2023-12-03T11:02:20ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592017-08-015e370710.7717/peerj.3707Intraclutch eggshell colour variation in birds: are females able to identify their eggs individually?Miroslav Poláček0Michaela Bartíková1Herbert Hoi2Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Zoology, Bratislava, SlovakiaSlovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Zoology, Bratislava, SlovakiaKonrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, AustriaBackground One possibility suggested regarding female post-mating strategies is differential allocation into offspring investment. Female birds produce not only the largest, but also most colourful eggs of all oviparous taxa. Larger eggs provide space for bigger embryos, or more nutrition for their development, but the question why eggs are more colourful and why there is variation in eggshell colouration remains. In this context, the focus of interest has been to explain inter-clutch variation but in many bird species, eggshell colouration also varies within a clutch. Surprisingly, less attention has been paid to this phenomenon. Therefore, we propose the “female egg recognition” hypothesis, suggesting that mothers use colour characteristics to interpret egg attributes and allocate further investment into each egg accordingly. To evaluate the feasibility of the hypothesis, we tested several underlying predictions and examined their suitability using a dataset from our tree sparrow (Passer montanus) study. We predict (i) substantial within-clutch variation in eggshell colouration which, (ii) should be related to laying sequence, (iii) reflect egg quality and, (iv) should stimulate a female response. Methods Eggshell coloration data were obtained via digital photography under standardized conditions, taken after clutch completion. Lightness (L*), representing the achromatic properties of an egg has been chosen as the most important predictor in dark cavities and was related to egg quality and position in the nest. Results In our tree sparrows, first and mainly last eggs were less pigmented, providing information about laying order. Egg volume, which predicts chick quality, positively correlates with eggshell coloration. Finally, we could show that female tree sparrows placed darker, but not bigger, eggs into more central incubation positions. Discussion All basic prerequisites for the “female egg recognition” hypothesis are fulfilled. In this context practicability and feasibility of the hypothesis and alternative explanations are discussed. However future work is necessary to determine a direct effect on offspring condition.https://peerj.com/articles/3707.pdfDifferential allocationEggshell colourationIntraclutch variationSexual selection |
| spellingShingle | Miroslav Poláček Michaela Bartíková Herbert Hoi Intraclutch eggshell colour variation in birds: are females able to identify their eggs individually? PeerJ Differential allocation Eggshell colouration Intraclutch variation Sexual selection |
| title | Intraclutch eggshell colour variation in birds: are females able to identify their eggs individually? |
| title_full | Intraclutch eggshell colour variation in birds: are females able to identify their eggs individually? |
| title_fullStr | Intraclutch eggshell colour variation in birds: are females able to identify their eggs individually? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Intraclutch eggshell colour variation in birds: are females able to identify their eggs individually? |
| title_short | Intraclutch eggshell colour variation in birds: are females able to identify their eggs individually? |
| title_sort | intraclutch eggshell colour variation in birds are females able to identify their eggs individually |
| topic | Differential allocation Eggshell colouration Intraclutch variation Sexual selection |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/3707.pdf |
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