Egg–laying capacity is limited by carotenoid pigment availability in wild gulls Larus fuscus

In birds, experimentally increased egg production can reduce maternal condition, parenting ability and survival, and the quality of the eggs themselves. Such costs probably reflect resource limitation, but the identity of the resource(s) in question remains unclear. Carotenoids are antioxidants and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the Royal Society. B, Biological sciences Biological sciences, 2004-02, Vol.271 (Suppl 3), p.S79-S81
Main Authors: Blount, Jonathan D., Houston, David C., Surai, Peter F., Møller, Anders Pape
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis of Variance
Animals
Antioxidants
Birds - physiology
Body condition
Carotenoids
Carotenoids - pharmacology
Clutch size
Diet
Egg masses
Egg production
Eggs
Female animals
Larus fuscus
Life-History Trade-Offs
Lipid Peroxidation
Lipids
Litter Size
Oestrogen
Oviposition - drug effects
Oviposition - physiology
Ovum - cytology
Ovum - physiology
United Kingdom
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Summary:In birds, experimentally increased egg production can reduce maternal condition, parenting ability and survival, and the quality of the eggs themselves. Such costs probably reflect resource limitation, but the identity of the resource(s) in question remains unclear. Carotenoids are antioxidants and immunomodulants that birds can only obtain in their diet. Trade-offs in the allocation of limiting carotenoids between somatic maintenance and egg production could therefore be an important factor underlying reproductive costs. We show that in wild lesser black-backed gulls, Larus fuscus, dietary carotenoid availability (i) constrained the capacity to re-lay following clutch removal; and (ii) affected the relationship between yolk mass and egg mass. However, whether carotenoids are limiting for egg production directly, by stimulating the synthesis or antioxidant protection of yolk precursors, or indirectly via effects on maternal health, requires further study.
ISSN:0962-8452
1471-2954
DOI:10.1098/rsbl.2003.0104