Author ORCID Identifier
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8235-6411 : Oliver Love
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Publication Date
2-7-2009
Volume
276
Issue
1656
First Page
499
Last Page
505
Keywords
Corticosterone, Embryonic stress, European starling, Flight performance, Survival, Yolk hormones
DOI
10.1098/rspb.2008.1294
ISSN
09628452
Abstract
Exposure to maternally derived glucocorticoids during embryonic development impacts offspring phenotype. Although many of these effects appear to be transiently 'negative', embryonic exposure to maternally derived stress hormones is hypothesized to induce preparative responses that increase survival prospects for offspring in low-quality environments; however, little is known about how maternal stress influences longer-term survival-related performance traits in free-living individuals. Using an experimental elevation of yolk corticosterone (embryonic signal of low maternal quality), we examined potential impacts of embryonic exposure to maternally derived stress on flight performance, wing loading, muscle morphology and muscle physiology in juvenile European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). Here we report that fledglings exposed to experimentally increased corticosterone in ovo performed better during flight performance trials than control fledglings. Consistent with differences in performance, individuals exposed to elevated embryonic corticosterone fledged with lower wing loading and had heavier and more functionally mature flight muscles compared with control fledglings. Our results indicate that the positive effects on a survival-related trait in response to embryonic exposure to maternally derived stress hormones may balance some of the associated negative developmental costs that have recently been reported. Moreover, if embryonic experience is a good predictor of the quality or risk of future environments, a preparative phenotype associated with exposure to apparently negative stimuli during development may be adaptive. © 2008 The Royal Society.
E-ISSN
14712970
PubMed ID
18842541
Recommended Citation
Chin, Eunice H.; Love, Oliver P.; Verspoor, Jan J.; Williams, Tony D.; Rowley, Kyle; and Burness, Gary. (2009). Juveniles exposed to embryonic corticosterone have enhanced flight performance. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 276 (1656), 499-505.
https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/ibiopub/108