Corticosterone and stable isotopes in feathers predict egg size in Atlantic Puffins Fratercula arctica |
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| Authors: | Amy‐Lee Kouwenberg J Mark Hipfner Donald W McKay Anne E Storey |
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| Institution: | 1. Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Graduate Programme, Memorial University of Newfoundland, , St. John's, Newfoundland, A1B 3X9 Canada;2. Environment Canada, , Delta, British Columbia, V4K 3N2 Canada;3. Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, , St. John's, Newfoundland, A1B 3V6 Canada;4. Departments of Psychology and Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, , St. John's, Newfoundland, A1B 3X9 Canada |
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| Abstract: | Examining factors that operate outside the breeding season may provide new insights into life‐history traits such as egg size, in which individual variation has not been fully explained. We measured corticosterone (CORT) levels and δ15N values (trophic level) in feathers grown several months before egg‐laying to test the prediction that a female's physiological state and feeding behaviour prior to the breeding season can influence egg mass in Atlantic Puffins Fratercula arctica. As predicted, egg mass increased with both CORT and δ15N values in feathers, suggesting that the ability of female Puffins to meet the nutritional costs of egg production is related to CORT promoting increased foraging effort during moult and to consumption of a higher trophic‐level diet. |
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| Keywords: | carry‐over effects feather corticosterone nitrogen stable isotopes |
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