Habituation to humans affects yolk steroid levels and offspring phenotype in quail

Autor: Kurt Kotrschal, Aline Bertin, Alexandra Kuchar, Katharina Hirschenhauser, Cécilia Houdelier, Marie-Annick Richard-Yris, Erich Möstl, Sophie Lumineau
Přispěvatelé: Physiologie de la reproduction et des comportements [Nouzilly] (PRC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Tours-Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation [Saumur]-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Ethologie animale et humaine (EthoS), Université de Rennes 1 (UR1), Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Université de Caen Normandie (UNICAEN), Normandie Université (NU)-Normandie Université (NU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine, Konrad Lorenz Forschungsstelle Grünau, Universität Wien, Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Vienna [Vienna], Foundation Fyssen, FWF Project P 18601-017, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation [Saumur] (IFCE)-Université de Tours (UT)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Caen Normandie (UNICAEN), Normandie Université (NU)-Normandie Université (NU)-Université de Rennes (UR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation [Saumur]-Université de Tours (UT)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Normandie Université (NU)-Normandie Université (NU)-Université de Rennes 1 (UR1), Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation [Saumur]-Université de Tours-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2008
Předmět:
Zdroj: Hormones and Behavior
Hormones and Behavior, Elsevier, 2008, 54 (3), pp.396--402. ⟨10.1016/j.yhbeh.2008.04.012⟩
Hormones and Behavior, 2008, 54 (3), pp.396--402. ⟨10.1016/j.yhbeh.2008.04.012⟩
ISSN: 0018-506X
1095-6867
DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2008.04.012⟩
Popis: In the field as well as in the laboratory, human-generated stress responses are reduced in adult animals previously habituated to humans in comparison to non-habituated individuals. In birds, yolk steroid levels vary with maternal environment and condition. We tested the hypothesis that the experience of female birds with humans could affect yolk steroids levels and offspring phenotype. Two groups of Japanese quail, one habituated to humans (H) and a second non-habituated (NH), were exposed daily to brief human disturbances. We analysed egg quality, offspring growth, and offspring emotional reactivity. NH females produced eggs with less androgens (testosterone and androstenedione) and more immunoreactive progesterone compared to birds habituated to humans. NH females produced eggs with less yolk, heavier shell and chicks hatching later and being smaller as compared to habituated individuals. A lower emotional reactivity was found in young of NH females compared to young of H females. Thus, human disturbance of the mother triggered different effects on chick phenotype depending on previous experience of mother birds with humans. In addition, we describe for the first time the influence of environmental stimuli on yolk immunoreactive progesterone levels. Our results show that a relatively minor difference in behavioral habituation may have substantial effects on eggs and offspring. This has obvious implications for keeping and handling laboratory animals, for conservation biology and for animal welfare.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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