Maternal effects and urbanization: Variation of yolk androgens and immunoglobulin in city and forest blackbirds

Ecology and Evolution

卷:10

Jesko Partecke¹  Patrick S. Fitze²  Gergely Hegyi³  Hubert Schwabl³  Julien Gasparini⁴ 

[1] Department of Migration Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Radolfzell Germany;

[2] Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN‐CSIC) Madrid Spain;

[3] School of Biological Sciences and Center for Reproductive Biology Washington State University Pullman Pullman WA USA;

[4] Sorbonne Université UPEC CNRS INRA IRD Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris Paris France;

关键词: anthropogenic environment;    epigenetic developmental modification;    local adaptation;    maternal antibodies;    maternal hormones;    micro‐evolution;   

DOI  :  10.1002/ece3.6058

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Wildlife inhabiting urban environments exhibit drastic changes in morphology, physiology, and behavior. It has often been argued that these phenotypic responses could be the result of micro‐evolutionary changes following the urbanization process. However, other mechanisms such as phenotypic plasticity, maternal effects, and developmental plasticity could be involved as well. To address maternal effects as potential mechanisms, we compared maternal hormone and antibody concentrations in eggs between city and forest populations of European blackbirds (Turdus merula), a widely distributed species for which previous research demonstrated differences in behavioral and physiological traits. We measured egg and yolk mass, yolk concentrations of androgens (androstenedione [A4], testosterone [T], 5α‐dihydrotestosterone [5α‐DHT], and immunoglobulins [IgY]) and related them to population, clutch size, laying order, embryo sex, and progress of breeding season. We show (a) earlier onset of laying in the city than forest population, but similar egg and clutch size; (b) higher overall yolk androgen concentrations in the forest than the city population (sex‐dependent for T); (c) greater among‐female variation of yolk T and 5α‐DHT concentrations in the forest than city population, but similar within‐clutch variation; (d) similar IgY concentrations with a seasonal decline in both populations; and (e) population‐specific positive (city) or negative (forest) association of yolk A4 and T with IgY concentrations. Our results are consistent with the hypotheses that hormone‐mediated maternal effects contribute to differences in behavioral and physiological traits between city and forest individuals and that yolk androgen and immunoglobulin levels can exhibit population‐specific relationships rather than trade‐off against each other.

【 授权许可】

Unknown