Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

The cost of reproduction: a new link between current reproductive effort and future reproductive succcess

Nilsson, Jan-Åke LU and Svensson, Erik LU orcid (1996) In Royal Society of London. Proceedings B. Biological Sciences 263(1371). p.711-714
Abstract
Although a negative trade-off between current reproductive effort and future reproductive output has for long been hypothesized and in some cases empirically shown, no mechanism with the potential to mediate such a reproductive cost from one season to another has been demonstrated. Here we suggest such a mechanism: the time and/or energy constraints during moult. We manipulated current reproduction of blue tits (Parus caeruleus) by delaying their breeding attempts. This resulted in reproductive costs both in terms of decreased survival and lower subsequent reproductive success in the form of delayed start of breeding (females) or a smaller clutch (males). We found that delayed birds expended about 15% more energy in thermoregulation during... (More)
Although a negative trade-off between current reproductive effort and future reproductive output has for long been hypothesized and in some cases empirically shown, no mechanism with the potential to mediate such a reproductive cost from one season to another has been demonstrated. Here we suggest such a mechanism: the time and/or energy constraints during moult. We manipulated current reproduction of blue tits (Parus caeruleus) by delaying their breeding attempts. This resulted in reproductive costs both in terms of decreased survival and lower subsequent reproductive success in the form of delayed start of breeding (females) or a smaller clutch (males). We found that delayed birds expended about 15% more energy in thermoregulation during the subsequent winter than did control birds. Thus, more time and/or energy directed to reproduction, may constrain moult which results in the production of feathers with low insulating capacity. These feathers are retained during the following winter and breeding season. Thus, this mechanism has the potential to link reproductive activities in one season to future reproductive success. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Royal Society of London. Proceedings B. Biological Sciences
volume
263
issue
1371
pages
711 - 714
publisher
Royal Society Publishing
ISSN
1471-2954
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
4916cf3a-1d4d-4285-ac63-d43a9de6598d (old id 33327)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:22:47
date last changed
2021-11-09 02:33:20
@article{4916cf3a-1d4d-4285-ac63-d43a9de6598d,
  abstract     = {{Although a negative trade-off between current reproductive effort and future reproductive output has for long been hypothesized and in some cases empirically shown, no mechanism with the potential to mediate such a reproductive cost from one season to another has been demonstrated. Here we suggest such a mechanism: the time and/or energy constraints during moult. We manipulated current reproduction of blue tits (Parus caeruleus) by delaying their breeding attempts. This resulted in reproductive costs both in terms of decreased survival and lower subsequent reproductive success in the form of delayed start of breeding (females) or a smaller clutch (males). We found that delayed birds expended about 15% more energy in thermoregulation during the subsequent winter than did control birds. Thus, more time and/or energy directed to reproduction, may constrain moult which results in the production of feathers with low insulating capacity. These feathers are retained during the following winter and breeding season. Thus, this mechanism has the potential to link reproductive activities in one season to future reproductive success.}},
  author       = {{Nilsson, Jan-Åke and Svensson, Erik}},
  issn         = {{1471-2954}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1371}},
  pages        = {{711--714}},
  publisher    = {{Royal Society Publishing}},
  series       = {{Royal Society of London. Proceedings B. Biological Sciences}},
  title        = {{The cost of reproduction: a new link between current reproductive effort and future reproductive succcess}},
  volume       = {{263}},
  year         = {{1996}},
}