Maternal influence on eggshell maculation: implications for cryptic camouflaged eggs.

Camille Duval*, Phillip Cassey, P. George Lovell, Ivan Mikšík, S. James Reynolds, Karen A. Spencer

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Egg camouflage may explain the adaptive significance of avian eggshell pigmentation in ground-nesting species. Eggshell maculation (spots) is predominantly due to protoporphyrin, but both biliverdin (antioxidant) and protoporphyrin (pro-oxidant) may be present in spotted eggshells. Because of their role in oxidative stress, the deposition of eggshell pigments might be condition-dependent. However, because of the fitness benefits of eggshell coloration, cryptic eggshell appearance should be strongly conserved in ground-nesting species regardless of female condition and eggshell pigment concentrations. We investigated whether Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) maintained eggshell maculation under food restriction. We quantified eggshell maculation (i.e., percentage of spot coverage) using digital photography, and both protoporphyrin and biliverdin concentrations of eggs laid by females either on a food-restricted or an ad libitum diet. Females on a high quality diet, which are known to decrease the deposition of eggshell protoporphyrin, decreased eggshell maculation compared with food-restricted females that maintained it. For the first time, we propose an experimental study which suggests that eggshell maculation depends on female body condition and that manipulating eggshell maculation may be the strategy used by females to potentially optimize egg camouflage.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)303-310
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Ornithology
Volume157
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Aug 2015

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Acknowledgments We thank Carole Chestnut and Malcolm McColl from Cochno Farm (Glasgow) for their help with animal husbandry. Funding was provided by the Human Frontier Science Program (RGY0069 to PC), a Birmingham University Teaching Assistantship (to CD) and a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) David Phillips Fellowship (BBE024459, to KAS). PC is an Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellow (FT0991420).

Funding Information:
We thank Carole Chestnut and Malcolm McColl from Cochno Farm (Glasgow) for their help with animal husbandry. Funding was provided by the Human Frontier Science Program (RGY0069 to PC), a Birmingham University Teaching Assistantship (to CD) and a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) David Phillips Fellowship (BBE024459, to KAS). PC is an Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellow (FT0991420).

Publisher Copyright:
© Dt. Ornithologen-Gesellschaft e.V. 2015.

Copyright:
Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Body condition
  • Camouflage
  • Coturnix coturnix japonica
  • Eggshell maculation
  • Protoporphyrin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Animal Science and Zoology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Maternal influence on eggshell maculation: implications for cryptic camouflaged eggs.'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this