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Maternal antibodies but not carotenoids in barn swallow eggs covary with embryo sex
Author(s) -
Saino N.,
Romano M.,
Ferrari R. P.,
Martinelli R.,
MØller A. P.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.289
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1420-9101
pISSN - 1010-061X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1420-9101.2003.00534.x
Subject(s) - biology , offspring , hirundo , maternal effect , sex ratio , daughter , sex allocation , sexual selection , reproductive value , attractiveness , parental investment , zoology , polygyny , pregnancy , reproductive success , genetics , demography , population , evolutionary biology , psychology , sociology , psychoanalysis
Mothers influence their offspring phenotype by varying egg quality. Such maternal effects may be mediated by transmission of antibodies and antioxidants. Mothers should adjust allocation of maternal substances depending on embryonic sex because of differences in reproductive value, potentially dependent on paternal genetic effects as reflected by secondary sexual characters. We manipulated sexual attractiveness of male barn swallows ( Hirundo rustica ) and investigated maternal investment in eggs in relation to offspring sex. Mothers allocated more antibodies against a pathogen to eggs with a daughter than a son. However, concentration of antioxidants was independent of embryonic sex. Sex‐dependent allocation was independent of paternal attractiveness. Thus, mothers adjusted allocation of substances to offspring in a complex manner, that may be part of a strategy of favouritism of daughters, which have larger mortality than sons. Such effects may have important consequences for secondary and tertiary sex ratios, but also for ontogeny of adult phenotype.