Publication
Title
Elevated yolk androgen levels and the expression of multiple sexually selected male characters
Author
Abstract
Maternal hormones in bird eggs modulate not only offspring development, but recently it has also been shown that these effects can persist into adult life. A number of long-lasting effects concern traits of which the expression or development is modulated by androgens. This suggests that the nature of yolk hormone-mediated maternal effects may be organizational. Maternal androgens may therefore play an important role in sexual selection, since the expression of sexually selected male characters is often androgen-dependent. We experimentally manipulated the yolk androgen concentrations of European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) eggs. Subsequently we followed 49 unrelated males from hatching until year of first reproduction. We investigated the expression of multiple sexually selected male characters (song, beak color and throat feather characteristics), taking into account whether a trait is androgen-dependent. Elevated levels of yolk androgens affected the length of the embryonic period, but did not modify the expression of either androgen-dependent or androgen-independent sexually selected male characters including song phenotype at adulthood. Thus the most important function of yolk androgens in starlings and possibly other bird species may relate to the early developmental period. The outcome of our study together with the results of our meta-analysis indicates that the effects of yolk androgens on sexually selected male characters may be comparatively small. Our results suggest that this may relate to the numerous other environmental and/or genetic factors influencing the expression of sexually selected male characters.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Hormones and behavior. - New York
Publication
New York : 2009
ISSN
0018-506X
DOI
10.1016/J.YHBEH.2008.09.012
Volume/pages
55 :1 (2009) , p. 175-181
ISI
000262775500023
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Song in songbirds as a model system for studying complex behaviours: an integration of ecological, physiological and neurobiological data in an evolutionary framework.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 12.01.2009
Last edited 25.05.2022
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