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Intra-specific interactions influence egg composition in the lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus)

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Abstract

Egg composition, which is under maternal control, can have a profound effect on offspring fitness. The presence of maternal testosterone and carotenoids in avian egg yolk, for example, is thought to enhance the development and competitive ability of the offspring and protect the hatching and growing chick against oxidative stress. Egg quality often differs between females and such variation can be due to differences in maternal social environment, e.g. breeding density. However, this is confounded by the possibility that the quality of individuals breeding in high- or low-density areas may vary. We tested if maternal social environment influences egg composition in a colonial seabird, the lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus). To control for confounding effects of female quality, we experimentally manipulated maternal social environment during egg formation. We increased the frequency of intra-specific interactions (i.e. aggressive encounters with conspecifics other than nest mates) in which the females were involved, by placing an elevated platform in their territory. Females that took part in more intra-specific interactions produced a heavier last egg, but the yolk testosterone concentration in eggs laid by control and experimental females did not differ. Differences in yolk testosterone concentration in relation to embryo sex were found neither in the control nor in the experimental group. In contrast, within the control group, eggs with a male embryo contained more carotenoids than eggs with a female embryo. Moreover, experimental females that had been involved in more intra-specific interactions produced female eggs with higher carotenoid levels compared to female eggs of control birds. An experimental increase in carotenoid levels was not observed in eggs containing a male embryo. Our results suggest that intra-specific interactions experienced by female birds during egg formation can influence conditions for embryonic development.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Christine Whitelaw for help with the hormone assays, Kate Orr and Aileen Adam for sexing the embryos and Maria Bogdanova, Sin-Yeon Kim and the Cumbria Wildlife Trust for support on Walney. The experiment was approved by English Nature (license no. 20020764).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK

    Nanette Verboven, Liliana D’Alba, Ruedi G. Nager, Jonathan D. Blount & Pat Monaghan

  2. Institute of Comparative Medicine, Veterinary School, University of Glasgow, Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK

    Neil P. Evans

  3. Avian Science Research Centre, Scottish Agricultural College, Auchincruive, Ayr, KA6 5HW, UK

    Peter F. Surai

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  1. Nanette Verboven
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  2. Neil P. Evans
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  3. Liliana D’Alba
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  4. Ruedi G. Nager
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  5. Jonathan D. Blount
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  6. Peter F. Surai
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Correspondence to Nanette Verboven.

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Communicated by J. Graves

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Verboven, N., Evans, N.P., D’Alba, L. et al. Intra-specific interactions influence egg composition in the lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 57, 357–365 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-004-0862-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-004-0862-x

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