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Egg components vary independently of each other in the facultative siblicidal Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla

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Abstract

Egg composition varies both within and between clutches, and mothers are expected to alter their deposition of resources to the egg depending on environmental conditions and breeding strategies. Within-clutch variation in egg composition has been proposed to reflect an adaptive maternal strategy influencing sibling competition. In species with brood reduction, mothers should reinforce brood hierarchies due to hatching asynchrony and favour senior chicks by making first-laid eggs larger, richer in nutrients, with higher testosterone and carotenoid levels and lower corticosterone concentrations than last-laid eggs [parental favouritism hypothesis (PFH)]. Moreover, mothers that are of better quality and/or experience better feeding conditions during laying are expected to increase their deposition of resources to the egg, resulting in differences between clutches [investment hypothesis (IH)]. Several components may act together to provide an optimal reproductive strategy, but studies of variation in different egg components in the same egg are relatively rare. We analysed egg size, testosterone and corticosterone concentrations and carotenoids measured as yolk colour between and within clutches for the facultative siblicidal Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla. First-laid eggs were larger, contained lower testosterone, higher yolk colour score, and similar corticosterone levels than last-laid eggs. Thus, only differences in egg size and yolk colour supported the PFH. We used within-clutch egg size dimorphism as an indicator of the quality of the mother or the feeding conditions during laying. In support of the IH, we found that mothers of better quality or that experienced better feeding conditions deposited more corticosterone into their eggs. High corticosterone levels may benefit nestlings when there is no brood reduction but high sibling competition is present. We found no support for the hypothesis that egg components are mutually adjusted to each other and we discuss the possible reasons for this.

Zusammenfassung

Die Zusammensetzung von Eiern variiert unabhängig von einander in der fakultative Geschwister-reduzierenden Dreizehenmöwe Rissa tridactyla

Die Zusammensetzung von Eiern variiert sowohl innerhalb als auch zwischen Gelegen. Es wird postuliert, dass Mütter die Zusammensetzung ihrer Eier variieren entsprechend der herrschenden Umweltbedingungen und ihrer Brutstrategie. Es wird angenommen, dass die Variation der Zusammensetzung von Eiern innerhalb von Gelegen eine adaptive elterliche Strategie darstellt, um die Konkurrenz zwischen Geschwistern zu beeinflussen. In Arten mit Brutreduktion könnten die Mütter die Hierarchie innerhalb einer Brut durch Schlüpfasynchronie und Bevorzugung des ältesten Kücken verstärken, indem das erstgelegte Ei mehr Nährstoffe, Testosteron und Karotenoide, aber weniger Corticosteron erhalten als das letzte Ei in einem Gelege (sog. parental favouritism hypothesis (PFH)). Zudem wird erwartet, dass Mütter in besserer Verfassung und/oder bei besseren Nahrungsumständen mehr Ressourcen in ihre Eier deponieren (sog. investment hypothesis (IH)). Mehrere Komponenten des Eies wirken möglicherweise zusammen, um eine optimale Brutstrategie darzustellen. Studien über die Variation von mehreren Eikomponenten im selben Ei sind selten. Wir analysierten die Variation in Eigröße, Testosteron, Corticosterone und Karotenoide (gemessen als Farbe des Eidotters) zwischen und innerhalb von Gelegen der fakultative Geschwister-reduzierenden Dreizehenmöwe Rissa tridactyla. Erstgelegte Eier waren größer, hatten mehr Testosteron, gelbere Dotter und ähnliche Mengen von Corticosteron verglichen mit letztgelegten Eiern. Damit unterstützen nur Unterschiede in Eigröße und Farbe des Eidotters die PFH. Wir benutzten den Größenunterschied zwischen Eiern des gleichen Geleges als Indikator der Nahrungssuchbedingungen der Mutter während der Eiablage. Wir fanden, dass Mütter in besserer Verfassung oder mit besseren Nahrungssuchbedingungen mehr Corticosteron in ihre Eier deponierten, was die IH unterstützt. Große Mengen von Corticosteron könnten für Kücken von Vorteil sein, wenn es trotz Geschwisterkonkurrenz keine Brutreduktion hat. Wir fanden keine Hinweise darauf, dass die Mengen verschiedener Eikomponenten aufeinander abgestimmt waren, und wir diskutieren mögliche Erklärungen.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the Mexican Council for Science and Technology (CONACyT) for funding the PhD of AV. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) provided the facilities and permits to carry out the field work on the Isle of May. We thank Liz Mackley and Stuart Murray for help with field work and Christine Whitelaw and Tony Robertson for help with the yolk hormone analyses. Comments from César González, Ton Groothuis and two anonymous referees improved the presentation of the manuscript. The work was carried out complying with the current laws of the UK under SNH permits and licences.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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  1. Adriana Vallarino

    Present address: Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Estación El Carmen, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Km. 9.5 Carretera Carmen-Puerto Real, Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland, UK

    Adriana Vallarino & Ruedi Nager

  2. Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Bearsden Rd, Glasgow, G61 1QH, Mexico

    Neil Evans

  3. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0QB, Scotland, UK

    Francis Daunt & Sarah Wanless

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  1. Adriana Vallarino
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Correspondence to Adriana Vallarino.

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Communicated by P. H. Becker.

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Vallarino, A., Evans, N., Daunt, F. et al. Egg components vary independently of each other in the facultative siblicidal Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla . J Ornithol 153, 513–523 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-011-0772-4

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