Effects of carotenoid availability during laying on reproduction in the blue tit |
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Authors: | Email author" target="_blank">Clotilde?BiardEmail author Peter?F?Surai Anders?P?M?ller |
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Institution: | (1) Laboratoire de Parasitologie Evolutive - CNRS UMR 7103, Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6, case 237, 7 quai Saint Bernard, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France;(2) Lipid and Antioxidant Group - Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Avian Science Research Centre, Scottish Agricultural College, Auchincruive Ayr, , KA6 5HW, UK;(3) Present address: Biogéosciences CNRS UMR 5561, Université de Bourgogne, 6, bd Gabriel, 21000 Dijon, France |
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Abstract: | Carotenoids are antioxidant pigments involved in several physiological processes and signalling in animals that cannot synthesise
them and therefore must acquire them from food. We experimentally investigated the effects of carotenoid availability in the
diet during egg laying on antioxidant deposition in egg yolk and the related effects on nestling condition, female body condition
and parental investment in the blue tit (Parus caeruleus). Carotenoid supplementation of egg-laying females resulted in a significant increase in carotenoid concentration in egg
yolk, but not in vitamin E or A concentration. There was no relationship between yellow plumage colour of adult females and
carotenoid deposition in eggs, and no differential effect of feeding treatment depending on female colour. Nestlings from
eggs laid by carotenoid supplemented females had longer tarsi, had faster development of the immune system as reflected by
leukocyte concentration in blood, and grew brighter yellow feathers than nestlings from control females. However, nestlings
from the two groups did not differ significantly in body mass, plasma antioxidants or plumage colour hue. At the time of chick
rearing, carotenoid-fed females had increased plasma vitamin E levels compared to controls. However, females from the two
treatment groups did not differ significantly in body condition or feeding rate. These results suggest that carotenoid availability
is limiting during egg laying, and that females may have to balance the benefits of investing in egg quality against the potential
costs of impairing their own future antioxidant protection. In addition, there may be considerable variation in carotenoid
availability not only across seasons, but also among different stages of the breeding season. |
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Keywords: | Antioxidants Carotenoid-based plumage colour Fledgling condition Parental investment Yolk composition |
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