Sex differences in avian yolk hormone levels

Marion Petrie (), Hubert Schwabl, Nanna Brande-Lavridsen and Terry Burke
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Marion Petrie: Evolution and Behaviour Research Group, University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Hubert Schwabl: Center of Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University
Nanna Brande-Lavridsen: Center of Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University
Terry Burke: University of Sheffield

Nature, 2001, vol. 412, issue 6846, 498-498

Abstract: Abstract It has been suggested that female birds put more resources into eggs fathered by attractive males by laying larger eggs1 or by adding more testosterone2, but this inference could be undermined if eggs of different sex are provisioned differently, as these studies did not control for sex differences. Here we compare hormone concentrations in the yolks of male and female eggs and find that these are significantly different. Our results indicate that it is premature to conclude that female birds invest more in eggs sired by a preferred male, and raise the possibility that yolk sex steroids may be part of the sex-determining process in birds.

Date: 2001
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DOI: 10.1038/35087652

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