Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Site Tools

  • AAAS
  • Subscribe
  • Feedback

Site Search

Search Advanced

Science 1 October 1999:
Vol. 286. no. 5437, pp. 126 - 128
DOI: 10.1126/science.286.5437.126
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Reports

Male Attractiveness and Differential Testosterone Investment in Zebra Finch Eggs

Diego Gil, *dagger Jeff Graves, Neil Hazon, Alan Wells

Good-genes hypotheses of sexual selection predict that offspring fathered by preferred males should have increased viability resulting from superior genetic quality. Several studies of birds have reported findings consistent with this prediction, but maternal effects are an important confounding variable. Those studies that have attempted to control for maternal effects have only considered differential maternal investment after egg laying. However, female birds differentially deposit testosterone in the eggs, and this influences the development of the chick. This study shows that female birds deposit higher amounts of testosterone and 5alpha -dihydrotestosterone in their eggs when mated to more attractive males.

School of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Fife KY16 9TS, UK.
*   Present address: Laboratoire de Psychophysiologie et d'Ethologie, UPRESA-CNRS 7025 Université de Paris X, 92001 Nanterre, France.

dagger    To whom correspondence should be addressed: E-mail: Diego.Gil{at}u-paris10.fr.

Read the Full Text


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Parental effects in ecology and evolution: mechanisms, processes and implications.
A. V Badyaev and T. Uller (2009)
Phil Trans R Soc B 364, 1169-1177
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Genetic Incompatibility Drives Sex Allocation and Maternal Investment in a Polymorphic Finch.
S. R. Pryke and S. C. Griffith (2009)
Science 323, 1605-1607
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Support for a pluralistic view of behavioural evolution.
N. K Priest, D. A Roach, and L. F Galloway (2009)
Biol Lett 5, 28-29
   Full Text »    PDF »
Compensatory investment in zebra finches: females lay larger eggs when paired to sexually unattractive males.
E. Bolund, H. Schielzeth, and W. Forstmeier (2009)
Proc R Soc B 276, 707-715
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Maternal transfer of antibodies in vertebrates: trans-generational effects on offspring immunity.
D. Hasselquist and J.-A. Nilsson (2009)
Phil Trans R Soc B 364, 51-60
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Sex-specific effects of prenatal testosterone on nestling plasma antioxidant capacity in the zebra finch.
M. Tobler and M. I. Sandell (2009)
J. Exp. Biol. 212, 89-94
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Manipulation of male attractiveness induces rapid changes in avian maternal yolk androgen deposition.
S. A. Kingma, J. Komdeur, O. Vedder, N. von Engelhardt, P. Korsten, and T. G.G. Groothuis (2009)
Behav. Ecol. 20, 172-179
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Females of carotenoid-supplemented males are more faithful and produce higher quality offspring.
F. Helfenstein, S. Losdat, V. Saladin, and H. Richner (2008)
Behav. Ecol. 19, 1165-1172
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Selection on personality in a songbird affects maternal hormone levels tuned to its effect on timing of reproduction.
T. G.G Groothuis, C. Carere, J. Lipar, P. J Drent, and H. Schwabl (2008)
Biol Lett 4, 465-467
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Toward a dynamic model of deposition and utilization of yolk steroids.
M. C. Moore and G. I. H. Johnston (2008)
Integr. Comp. Biol. 48, 411-418
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A Linkage Map of the Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata Provides New Insights Into Avian Genome Evolution.
J. Stapley, T. R. Birkhead, T. Burke, and J. Slate (2008)
Genetics 179, 651-667
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Cross-generational fitness benefits of mating and male seminal fluid.
N. K Priest, D. A Roach, and L. F Galloway (2008)
Biol Lett 4, 6-8
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Reed bunting females increase fitness through extra-pair mating with genetically dissimilar males.
S. M Suter, M. Keiser, R. Feignoux, and D. R Meyer (2007)
Proc R Soc B 274, 2865-2871
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Dietary carotenoid availability influences a male's ability to provide parental care.
T. W. Pike, J. D. Blount, J. Lindstrom, and N. B. Metcalfe (2007)
Behav. Ecol. 18, 1100-1105
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Nestling immune response to phytohaemagglutinin is not heritable in collared flycatchers.
N. Pitala, L. Gustafsson, J. Sendecka, and J. E Brommer (2007)
Biol Lett 3, 418-421
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Maternal immune factors and the evolution of secondary sexual characters.
N. Saino, R. Martinelli, C. Biard, D. Gil, C. N. Spottiswoode, D. Rubolini, P. F. Surai, and A. P. Moller (2007)
Behav. Ecol. 18, 513-520
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Male phenotypic quality influences offspring sex ratio in a polygynous ungulate.
K. H Roed, O. Holand, A. Mysterud, A. Tverdal, J. Kumpula, and M. Nieminen (2007)
Proc R Soc B 274, 727-733
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Yolk androgen deposition as a female tactic to manipulate paternal contribution.
G. Moreno-Rueda (2007)
Behav. Ecol. 18, 496-498
   Full Text »    PDF »
Consequences of prenatal androgen exposure for the reproductive performance of female pheasants (Phasianus colchicus).
D. Rubolini, R. Martinelli, N. von Engelhardt, M. Romano, T. G.G Groothuis, M. Fasola, and N. Saino (2007)
Proc R Soc B 274, 137-142
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Surplus nest boxes and the potential for polygyny affect clutch size and offspring sex ratio in house wrens.
N. S Dubois, E Dale Kennedy, and T. Getty (2006)
Proc R Soc B 273, 1751-1757
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Female freshwater crayfish adjust egg and clutch size in relation to multiple male traits.
P. Galeotti, D. Rubolini, G. Fea, D. Ghia, P. A Nardi, F. Gherardi, and M. Fasola (2006)
Proc R Soc B 273, 1105-1110
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Maternal allocation of androgens and antagonistic effects of yolk androgens on sons and daughters.
N. Saino, R. P. Ferrari, M. Romano, R. Martinelli, A. Lacroix, D. Gil, and A. P. Moller (2006)
Behav. Ecol. 17, 172-181
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Sex-specific effects of yolk testosterone on survival, begging and growth of zebra finches.
N. von Engelhardt, C. Carere, C. Dijkstra, and T. G. G. Groothuis (2006)
Proc R Soc B 273, 65-70
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Correlated evolution of maternally derived yolk testosterone and early developmental traits in passerine birds.
K.B Gorman and T.D Williams (2005)
Biol Lett 1, 461-464
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Quantitative genetics and behavioural correlates of digit ratio in the zebra finch.
W. Forstmeier (2005)
Proc R Soc B 272, 2641-2649
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Male song quality affects circulating but not yolk steroid concentrations in female canaries (Serinus canaria).
R. C. Marshall, B. Leisler, C. K. Catchpole, and H. Schwabl (2005)
J. Exp. Biol. 208, 4593-4598
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
What makes a nest-building male successful? Male behavior and female care in penduline tits.
I. Szentirmai, J. Komdeur, and T. Szekely (2005)
Behav. Ecol. 16, 994-1000
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Prenatal androgen exposure modulates cellular and humoral immune function of black-headed gull chicks.
W. Muller, T. G.G Groothuis, A. Kasprzik, C. Dijkstra, R. V Alatalo, and H. Siitari (2005)
Proc R Soc B 272, 1971-1977
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Experience counts: lessons from studies of differential allocation.
A. N. Rutstein, L. Gilbert, and J. L. Tomkins (2005)
Behav. Ecol. 16, 957-960
   Full Text »    PDF »
Sex allocation in response to paternal attractiveness in the zebra finch.
A.N. Rutstein, H.E. Gorman, K.E. Arnold, L. Gilbert, K.J. Orr, A. Adam, R. Nager, and J.A. Graves (2005)
Behav. Ecol. 16, 763-769
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Brood parasitic European starlings do not lay high-quality eggs.
K. M. Pilz, H. G. Smith, and M. Andersson (2005)
Behav. Ecol. 16, 507-513
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Balancing between costs and benefits of maternal hormone deposition in avian eggs.
T. G. G Groothuis, C. M Eising, C. Dijkstra, and W. Muller (2005)
Biol Lett 1, 78-81
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Female collared flycatchers adjust yolk testosterone to male age, but not to attractiveness.
G. Michl, J. Torok, P. Peczely, L. Z. Garamszegi, and H. Schwabl (2005)
Behav. Ecol. 16, 383-388
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Sex-specific patterns of yolk androgen allocation depend on maternal diet in the zebra finch.
A. N. Rutstein, L. Gilbert, P. J. B. Slater, and J. A. Graves (2005)
Behav. Ecol. 16, 62-69
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Within-clutch patterns of yolk testosterone vary with the onset of incubation in black-headed gulls.
W. Muller, C. M. Eising, C. Dijkstra, and T. G. G. Groothuis (2004)
Behav. Ecol. 15, 893-397
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Nest size predicts the effect of food supplementation to magpie nestlings on their immunocompetence: an experimental test of nest size indicating parental ability.
L. De Neve, J. J. Soler, M. Soler, and T. Perez-Contreras (2004)
Behav. Ecol. 15, 1031-1036
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Negative effects of early developmental stress on yolk testosterone levels in a passerine bird.
D. Gil, C. Heim, E. Bulmer, M. Rocha, M. Puerta, and M. Naguib (2004)
J. Exp. Biol. 207, 2215-2220
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Early learning affects social dominance: interspecifically cross-fostered tits become subdominant.
B. T. Hansen and T. Slagsvold (2004)
Behav. Ecol. 15, 262-268
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Sex-specific growth rates in zebra finch nestlings: a possible mechanism for sex ratio adjustment.
T. L. F. Martins (2004)
Behav. Ecol. 15, 174-180
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Steroids for free? No metabolic costs of elevated maternal androgen levels in the black-headed gull.
C. M. Eising, G. H. Visser, W. Muller, and T. G. G. Groothuis (2003)
J. Exp. Biol. 206, 3211-3218
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Female mate preferences and subsequent resistance to copulation in the mallard.
E. J. A. Cunningham (2003)
Behav. Ecol. 14, 326-333
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
No evidence for differential maternal allocation to offspring in the house sparrow (Passer domesticus).
J. Mazuc, O. Chastel, and G. Sorci (2003)
Behav. Ecol. 14, 340-346
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Depigmented wing patch size is a condition-dependent indicator of viability in male collared flycatchers.
J. Torok, G. Hegyi, and L. Z. Garamszegi (2003)
Behav. Ecol. 14, 382-388
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Uncoupling direct and indirect components of female choice in the wild.
R. Calsbeek and B. Sinervo (2002)
PNAS 99, 14897-14902
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Maternal Effects and the Evolution of Behavioral and Morphological Characters: A Literature Review Indicates the Importance of Extended Maternal Care.
K. Reinhold (2002)
J. Hered. 93, 400-405
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
No effect of parental quality or extrapair paternity on brood sex ratio in the blue tit (Parus caeruleus).
D. I. Leech, I. R. Hartley, I. R. K. Stewart, S. C. Griffith, and T. Burke (2001)
Behav. Ecol. 12, 674-680
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Maternally derived androgens and antioxidants in bird eggs: complementary but opposing effects?.
N. J. Royle, P. F. Surai, and I. R. Hartley (2001)
Behav. Ecol. 12, 381-385
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Promiscuity in Sand Lizards (Lacerta agilis) and Adder Snakes (Vipera berus): Causes and Consequences.
M. Olsson and T. Madsen (2001)
J. Hered. 92, 190-197
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Turtle Mating Systems: Behavior, Sperm Storage, and Genetic Paternity.
D. E. Pearse and J. C. Avise (2001)
J. Hered. 92, 206-211
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Multiple benefits of multiple mating in guppies.
J. P. Evans and A. E. Magurran (2000)
PNAS
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Multiple benefits of multiple mating in guppies.
J. P. Evans and A. E. Magurran (2000)
PNAS 97, 10074-10076
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)