Costly steroids: egg testosterone modulates nestling metabolic rate in the zebra finch
(2007) In Biology letters 3(4). p.408-410- Abstract
- The transfer of non-genetic resources from mother to the offspring often has considerable consequences for offspring performance. In birds, maternally derived hormones are known to influence a variety of morphological, physiological and behavioural traits in the chick. So far, the range of these hormonal effects involves benefits in terms of enhanced growth and competitive ability as well as costs in terms of immunosuppression. However, since yolk hormones can enhance growth and begging activity, high levels of these hormones may also involve energetic costs. Here, we show experimentally that elevated levels of prenatal testosterone increase resting metabolic rate in nestling zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Surprisingly, however,... (More)
- The transfer of non-genetic resources from mother to the offspring often has considerable consequences for offspring performance. In birds, maternally derived hormones are known to influence a variety of morphological, physiological and behavioural traits in the chick. So far, the range of these hormonal effects involves benefits in terms of enhanced growth and competitive ability as well as costs in terms of immunosuppression. However, since yolk hormones can enhance growth and begging activity, high levels of these hormones may also involve energetic costs. Here, we show experimentally that elevated levels of prenatal testosterone increase resting metabolic rate in nestling zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Surprisingly, however, elevation of prenatal testosterone did not result in higher growth rates and, thus, differences in resting metabolism do not seem to be linked to nestling growth. We conclude that apart from immunosuppressive effects, high levels of egg steroids may also entail costs in terms of increased energy expenditure. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/692902
- author
- Tobler, Michael LU ; Nilsson, Jan-Åke LU and Nilsson, Johan LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2007
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- maternal hormones, testosterone, Taeniopygia guttata, metabolism, maternal effects
- in
- Biology letters
- volume
- 3
- issue
- 4
- pages
- 408 - 410
- publisher
- Royal Society Publishing
- external identifiers
-
- wos:000247907000016
- scopus:34848919022
- ISSN
- 1744-9561
- DOI
- 10.1098/rsbl.2007.0127
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 588152c4-b119-492b-836c-da8c29030dc0 (old id 692902)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 11:42:51
- date last changed
- 2024-04-08 10:38:26
@article{588152c4-b119-492b-836c-da8c29030dc0,
abstract = {{The transfer of non-genetic resources from mother to the offspring often has considerable consequences for offspring performance. In birds, maternally derived hormones are known to influence a variety of morphological, physiological and behavioural traits in the chick. So far, the range of these hormonal effects involves benefits in terms of enhanced growth and competitive ability as well as costs in terms of immunosuppression. However, since yolk hormones can enhance growth and begging activity, high levels of these hormones may also involve energetic costs. Here, we show experimentally that elevated levels of prenatal testosterone increase resting metabolic rate in nestling zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Surprisingly, however, elevation of prenatal testosterone did not result in higher growth rates and, thus, differences in resting metabolism do not seem to be linked to nestling growth. We conclude that apart from immunosuppressive effects, high levels of egg steroids may also entail costs in terms of increased energy expenditure.}},
author = {{Tobler, Michael and Nilsson, Jan-Åke and Nilsson, Johan}},
issn = {{1744-9561}},
keywords = {{maternal hormones; testosterone; Taeniopygia guttata; metabolism; maternal effects}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{4}},
pages = {{408--410}},
publisher = {{Royal Society Publishing}},
series = {{Biology letters}},
title = {{Costly steroids: egg testosterone modulates nestling metabolic rate in the zebra finch}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2007.0127}},
doi = {{10.1098/rsbl.2007.0127}},
volume = {{3}},
year = {{2007}},
}