Extreme intra-clutch egg size dimorphism is not coupled with corresponding differences in antioxidant capacity and stable isotopes between eggs
Poisbleau, M.; Beaulieu, M.; Dehnhard, N.; Demongin, L.; Lepoint, G.; Sturaro, N.; Eens, M. (2017). Extreme intra-clutch egg size dimorphism is not coupled with corresponding differences in antioxidant capacity and stable isotopes between eggs. Comp. Biochem. Physiol., Part A Mol. Integr. Physiol. 205: 77-85. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2016.12.028
In: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A. Molecular and Integrative Physiology. Elsevier: New York. ISSN 1095-6433; e-ISSN 1531-4332, more
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| Keywords |
Eudyptes Vieillot, 1816 [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal |
| Author keywords |
Antioxidant capacity; Crested penguins; Female condition; Maternaltransfer; Oxidative status; Stable isotope |
| Authors | | Top |
- Poisbleau, M., more
- Beaulieu, M.
- Dehnhard, N., more
- Demongin, L., more
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| Abstract |
Oviparous females need to allocate resources optimally to their eggs in order to maximize their fitness. Among these resources, dietary antioxidants, acquired by females and transferred to the eggs during egg formation, can greatly affect the development and survival of the embryo and chick. In crested penguins, incubation starts after the second and last egg is laid and, as opposed to many other bird species, this egg hatches first, thereby enhancing the survival of the chick. Here, we assessed whether antioxidant and isotopic composition could underlie these differences between eggs within clutches of southern rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome). The second-laid egg had higher total antioxidant capacity than the first-laid egg, although this was not due to higher antioxidant concentration but to its higher mass. This suggests that resources are allocated by females at a constant rate in both eggs within clutches. Accordingly, we found a strong correlation for isotopic compositions between eggs suggesting that resources were allocated similarly to each egg within the clutch. Overall, we found little evidence for a significant role of antioxidant and isotopic compositions to explain differences in terms of embryo/chick development between eggs in crested penguins. However, since our results suggest a constant rate of antioxidant transfer from females to eggs, limiting the mass of the first-laid egg might represent a strategy for females to spare antioxidant defences and preserve self-maintenance. |
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