Maternal effects in relation to helper presence in the cooperatively breeding sociable weaver

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorPaquet, Matthieuen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorCovas, Ritaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorChastel, Olivieren_ZA
dc.contributor.authorParenteau, Charlineen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorDoutrelant, Claireen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-11-16T04:11:00Z
dc.date.available2015-11-16T04:11:00Z
dc.date.issued2013en_ZA
dc.description.abstractIn egg laying species, breeding females may adjust the allocation of nutrients or other substances into eggs in order to maximise offspring or maternal fitness. Cooperatively breeding species offer a particularly interesting context in which to study maternal allocation because helpers create predictably improved conditions during offspring development. Some recent studies on cooperative species showed that females assisted by helpers produced smaller eggs, as the additional food brought by the helpers appeared to compensate for this reduction in egg size. However, it remains unclear how common this effect might be. Also currently unknown is whether females change egg composition when assisted by helpers. This effect is predicted by current maternal allocation theory, but has not been previously investigated. We studied egg mass and contents in sociable weavers ( Philetairus socius ). We found that egg mass decreased with group size, while fledgling mass did not vary, suggesting that helpers may compensate for the reduced investment in eggs. We found no differences in eggs’ carotenoid contents, but females assisted by helpers produced eggs with lower hormonal content, specifically testosterone, androstenedione (A4) and corticosterone levels. Taken together, these results suggest that the environment created by helpers can influence maternal allocation and potentially offspring phenotypes.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationPaquet, M., Covas, R., Chastel, O., Parenteau, C., & Doutrelant, C. (2013). Maternal effects in relation to helper presence in the cooperatively breeding sociable weaver. <i>PLoS One</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15019en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationPaquet, Matthieu, Rita Covas, Olivier Chastel, Charline Parenteau, and Claire Doutrelant "Maternal effects in relation to helper presence in the cooperatively breeding sociable weaver." <i>PLoS One</i> (2013) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15019en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationPaquet, M., Covas, R., Chastel, O., Parenteau, C., & Doutrelant, C. (2013). Maternal effects in relation to helper presence in the cooperatively breeding sociable weaver. PloS one, 8(3), e59336. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059336en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Paquet, Matthieu AU - Covas, Rita AU - Chastel, Olivier AU - Parenteau, Charline AU - Doutrelant, Claire AB - In egg laying species, breeding females may adjust the allocation of nutrients or other substances into eggs in order to maximise offspring or maternal fitness. Cooperatively breeding species offer a particularly interesting context in which to study maternal allocation because helpers create predictably improved conditions during offspring development. Some recent studies on cooperative species showed that females assisted by helpers produced smaller eggs, as the additional food brought by the helpers appeared to compensate for this reduction in egg size. However, it remains unclear how common this effect might be. Also currently unknown is whether females change egg composition when assisted by helpers. This effect is predicted by current maternal allocation theory, but has not been previously investigated. We studied egg mass and contents in sociable weavers ( Philetairus socius ). We found that egg mass decreased with group size, while fledgling mass did not vary, suggesting that helpers may compensate for the reduced investment in eggs. We found no differences in eggs’ carotenoid contents, but females assisted by helpers produced eggs with lower hormonal content, specifically testosterone, androstenedione (A4) and corticosterone levels. Taken together, these results suggest that the environment created by helpers can influence maternal allocation and potentially offspring phenotypes. DA - 2013 DB - OpenUCT DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0059336 DP - University of Cape Town J1 - PLoS One LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2013 T1 - Maternal effects in relation to helper presence in the cooperatively breeding sociable weaver TI - Maternal effects in relation to helper presence in the cooperatively breeding sociable weaver UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15019 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/15019
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0059336
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationPaquet M, Covas R, Chastel O, Parenteau C, Doutrelant C. Maternal effects in relation to helper presence in the cooperatively breeding sociable weaver. PLoS One. 2013; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15019.en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisherPublic Library of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentPercy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithologyen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.rightsThis is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.en_ZA
dc.rights.holder© 2013 Paquet et alen_ZA
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0en_ZA
dc.sourcePLoS Oneen_ZA
dc.source.urihttp://journals.plos.org/plosoneen_ZA
dc.subject.otherClutchesen_ZA
dc.subject.otherAnimal sexual behavioren_ZA
dc.subject.otherTestosteroneen_ZA
dc.subject.otherCarotenoidsen_ZA
dc.subject.otherAndrogensen_ZA
dc.subject.otherBirdsen_ZA
dc.subject.otherBioenergeticsen_ZA
dc.subject.otherPredationen_ZA
dc.titleMaternal effects in relation to helper presence in the cooperatively breeding sociable weaveren_ZA
dc.typeJournal Articleen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceArticleen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Paquet_Maternal_effects_2013.pdf
Size:
353.49 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Collections
Journal Articles