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Natural selection acts in opposite ways on correlated hormonal mediators of prenatal maternal effects in a wild bird population
Author(s) -
Tschirren Barbara,
Postma Erik,
Gustafsson Lars,
Groothuis Ton G. G.,
Doligez Blandine
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1111/ele.12339
Subject(s) - natural selection , ecology , population , selection (genetic algorithm) , biology , sexual selection , hormone , evolutionary biology , medicine , endocrinology , environmental health , artificial intelligence , computer science
Maternal hormones are important mediators of prenatal maternal effects. Although many experimental studies have demonstrated their potency in shaping offspring phenotypes, we know remarkably little about their adaptive value. Using long‐term data on a wild collared flycatcher ( Ficedula albicollis ) population, we show that natural selection acts in opposite ways on two maternally derived androgens, yolk androstenedione (A4) and yolk testosterone (T). High yolk A4 concentrations are associated with higher fitness, whereas high yolk T concentrations are associated with lower fitness. Natural selection thus favours females that produce eggs with high A4 and low T concentrations. Importantly, however, there exists a positive (non‐genetic) correlation between A4 and T, which suggests that females are limited in their ability to reach this adaptive optimum. Thereby, these results provide strong evidence for an adaptive value of differential maternal androgen deposition, and a mechanistic explanation for the maintenance of variation in maternal investment in the wild.