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Mind the gap: the ratio of yolk androgens and antioxidants varies between sons and daughters dependent on paternal attractiveness

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Abstract

Females are expected to partition resources between offspring in a context-dependent way to maximise total fitness returns from a reproductive attempt. Female zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) vary the allocation of yolk androgens and antioxidants among offspring. Importantly, the balance between androgens and antioxidants in yolks may be more important than their independent absolute amounts in terms of fitness consequences for developing young. Therefore, we tested whether the relative allocation of these two resources in yolks varies according to either the Trivers–Willard, positive or compensatory maternal investment hypothesis. We manipulated male attractiveness using coloured leg bands (red-banded males appear attractive; green-banded males, unattractive) and measured yolk androgens and antioxidants in each egg, egg sex, clutch sex ratio and female condition. While female zebra finches manipulated the balance of androgens and antioxidants within and between clutches in response to mate attractiveness, offspring sex and their own condition, they did not do so in a way that consistently followed any of the hypotheses. Mothers paired with unattractive males allocated a larger antioxidant/androgen ratio to daughters than sons. This pattern was reversed when paired to an attractive male; sons received a larger antioxidant/androgen ratio than daughters. We also found offspring sex ratio decreased with increasing female condition for unattractive males, but not for attractive males. However, without knowing the fitness consequences of the balance of different egg constituents, it is difficult to interpret the patterns consistently in terms of the Trivers–Willard, compensatory and positive investment hypotheses.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank Tanya Sneddon, Alan Wells, Bill Mullen, Rita Hargitai and Steve Larcombe for help in the lab and Isobel Maynard for care of the birds. ECP was funded by a Natural Environment Research Council studentship.

Ethical standards

This research was conducted under Home Office license to JG and complies with the UK Home Office regulations for animal experimentation.

Conflicts of interest

The authors have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biology, Harold Mitchell Building, University of St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 9TH, UK

    E. C. Pariser, N. Hazon & J. A. Graves

  2. Macaulay Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH, UK

    L. Gilbert

  3. Division of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK

    K. E. Arnold

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  1. E. C. Pariser
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  2. L. Gilbert
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  3. N. Hazon
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  4. K. E. Arnold
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  5. J. A. Graves
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Correspondence to J. A. Graves.

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Communicated by T. Bakker

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Pariser, E.C., Gilbert, L., Hazon, N. et al. Mind the gap: the ratio of yolk androgens and antioxidants varies between sons and daughters dependent on paternal attractiveness. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 66, 519–527 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-011-1300-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-011-1300-5

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