Inter-species variation in yolk steroid levels and a cowbird-host comparison

• Published in: Journal of avian biology 2005-01, Vol.36 (1), p.40-46
• Main Authors: Hahn, D. Caldwell, Hatfield, Jeff S., Abdelnabi, Mahmoud A., Wu, Julie M., Igl, Lawrence D., Ottinger, Mary A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Androgens; Brood parasitism; Eggs; Female animals; Finches; Songbirds; Sparrows; Species; Steroids; Testosterone
• ISSN: 0908-8857; 1600-048X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.0908-8857.2005.03040.x

We examined variability in yolk hormone levels among songbird species and the role of yolk steroids as a mechanism for enhanced exploitation of hosts by the parasitic brown-headed cowbird Molothrus ater. Within-clutch variation in yolk steroids has been found in several avian species in single species studies, but few comparisons have been made among species. We found a large range of differences in yolk testosterone among the seven passerine species examined, with significant differences between those at the high end (song sparrow Melospiza melodia, red-winged blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus, and house sparrow, Passer domesticus) and those at the low end (eastern phoebe Sayornis phoebe, and house finch Carpodacus mexicanus). We also found that the testosterone level in cowbird eggs was intermediate in relation to host species levels and was significantly lower than that in three common cowbird hosts (song sparrow, redwinged blackbird, and house sparrow), but not significantly different from three others. Geographical comparisons of yolk testosterone levels in all cowbird subspecies and populations from several regions showed no significant differences, though a trend that deserves further exploration was the pattern of lowest level in the ancestral population of cowbirds in the central prairies and of highest level in the northwestern population where range invasion occurred approximately 40 years ago. The levels of 17 betaestradiol were similar in the seven songbird species examined, which is consistent with current hypotheses that this hormone plays a role in embryonic sexual differentiation. Further investigation is needed to determine whether the large differences observed among species in absolute level of yolk testosterone are the relevant focal point or whether target tissue sensitivity differences mediate the effects of this yolk steroid, particularly between parasitic and non-parasitic species.