Open AccessIndividual quality and food availability determine yolk and egg mass and egg composition in tree swallows Tachycineta bicolor
Author(s) -
Ardia Daniel R.,
Wasson Matthew F.,
Winkler David W.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of avian biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.022
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1600-048X
pISSN - 0908-8857
DOI - 10.1111/j.2006.0908-8857.03624.x
Subject(s) - yolk , biology , zoology , offspring , bird egg , insect , food quality , ecology , food science , pregnancy , genetics
Variation in egg size and composition can have important consequences for the quality of offspring. We investigated the factors influencing the yolk mass and egg mass of tree swallows breeding in Ithaca, NY. Using a nondestructive technique to estimate yolk mass via standardized digital‐candler photographs, we compared yolk size and egg size of tree swallows Tachycineta bicolor in response to variation in food availability and individual quality. Insect availability one to three days prior to laying, but not four to six days, predicted yolk mass, while insect availability two to three days prior to laying predicted total egg mass. This suggests that, while eggs are formed over longer periods, food availability closer to time of laying has the greatest influence on egg size. These results were supported by collected eggs, as yolk rings revealed that tree swallow eggs are formed over 5–6 days. There was an influence of female quality as well, with early laying birds, independent of food availability, laying larger eggs. Eggs laid later in the laying sequence had larger yolks and greater egg mass. Overall, variation in egg quality appears to be due to a combination of environmental conditions, reflected in food resources, individual quality, and allocation tradeoffs during the laying period.