Poisbleau, M., Carslake, David, Demongin, L., Eens, M., Chastel, O. and Quillfeldt, P.. (2011) Yolk androgen deposition without an energetic cost for female rockhopper penguins : a compensatory strategy to accelerate brood reduction? Biology Letters, Vol.7 (No.4). pp. 605-607. ISSN 1744-9561

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Abstract

Whether androgen deposition in eggs is physiologically costly for female birds has remained a crucial but unsolved question, despite a broad use of this assumption in functional studies. We tested whether females depositing high androgen concentrations experienced higher mass losses than females depositing low androgen concentrations. Analysing female body mass change during egg formation in rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome), we observed no energetic cost to androgen deposition. Nevertheless, lighter females laid eggs with higher yolk androgen concentrations. This relationship existed only for the second-laid egg (B-egg), but not for the first-laid egg (A-egg). Since the B-egg is usually the first to hatch and the only one to produce a fledging chick, we hypothesize that differential yolk androgen deposition may be an adaptive strategy for females to affect brood reduction.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QL Zoology Q Science > QP Physiology
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Life Sciences (2010- )
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Egg yolk, Androgens, Penguins, Animal clutches
Journal or Publication Title:	Biology Letters
Publisher:	Royal Society
ISSN:	1744-9561
Date:	23 August 2011
Volume:	Vol.7
Number:	No.4
Page Range:	pp. 605-607
Identification Number:	10.1098/rsbl.2010.1134
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Funder:	Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
Grant number:	Qu 148/1-ff (DFG)
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/38762

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