Unscrambling variation in avian eggshell colour and patterning in a continent-wide study

Royal Society Open Science
Kiara L L'HerpiniereSimon C Griffith

Abstract

The evolutionary drivers underlying marked variation in the pigmentation of eggs within many avian species remains unclear. The leading hypotheses proposed to explain such variation advocate the roles of genetic differences, signalling and/or structural integrity. One means of testing among these hypotheses is to capitalize on museum collections of eggs obtained throughout a broad geographical range of a species to ensure sufficient variation in predictors pertaining to each hypothesis. Here, we measured coloration and patterning in eggs from 272 clutches of Australian magpies (Cracticus tibicen) collected across most of their geographical range of ca 7 million km2; encompassing eight subspecies, variation in environmental parameters, and the presence/absence of a brood parasite. We found considerable variation in background colour, as well as in the extent and distribution of patterning across eggs. There was little evidence that this variation was explained by subspecies or the contemporary presence of a brood parasite. However, measures of maximum temperature, leaf area index and soil calcium all contributed to variation in egg appearance, although their explanatory power was relatively low. Our results suggest that multiple...Continue Reading

References

Jul 1, 1989·Mayo Clinic Proceedings·K S HaraG D Roberts
Apr 12, 2001·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·M I Cherry, A T Bennett
Apr 30, 2003·Molecular Biology and Evolution·Anders Odeen, Olle Hastad
Feb 16, 2005·Journal of Comparative Physiology. A, Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology·Nathan S Hart, Misha Vorobyev
Jun 3, 2006·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·R M Kilner
Jul 11, 2006·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·M StarlingN E Langmore
May 16, 2008·Biometrical Journal. Biometrische Zeitschrift·Torsten HothornPeter Westfall
Dec 29, 2009·FEBS Letters·Shin-ichi IshikawaMakoto Itoh
Jan 8, 2010·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Mary Caswell Stoddard, Martin Stevens
Aug 17, 2010·PloS One·Phillip CasseyTim M Blackburn
Nov 6, 2012·Nature·W JetzA O Mooers
Jun 19, 2014·Nature Communications·Mary Caswell StoddardChristopher Town
May 23, 2015·Biology Letters·Daniel HanleyMark E Hauber
Feb 26, 2016·The American Naturalist·Iliana MedinaNaomi E Langmore
Apr 18, 2016·European Archives of Oto-rhino-laryngology : Official Journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : Affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery·Ruben M StrijbosMyrthe K S Hol
Apr 23, 2016·The American Naturalist·David C Lahti, Daniel R Ardia
Feb 10, 2017·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Daniel HanleyMark E Hauber
May 24, 2017·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Mary Caswell Stoddard, Mark E Hauber
Jun 24, 2017·Science·Mary Caswell StoddardL Mahadevan
Nov 23, 2018·Nature·Jasmina WiemannMark A Norell

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Oct 30, 2019·Nature Ecology & Evolution·Phillip A WisockiDaniel Hanley

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
PCA

Software Mentioned

spdep
lmerTest
robComposition
ArcGIS
lme4
SpotEgg
AvaSoft
multcomp
maptools
raster

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.