Geographical trends in the yolk carotenoid composition of the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)
Geographical trends in the yolk carotenoid composition of the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)
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DOI：
10.1007/s00442-010-1772-4
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发表时间：
2011-02-01
期刊：
影响因子：
2.7
通讯作者：
Laaksonen, Toni
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Eeva, Tapio;Ruuskanen, Suvi;Laaksonen, Toni
鸟类蛋黄中的类胡萝卜素被认为是胚胎快速生长过程中重要的抗氧化剂和免疫刺激剂。卵黄中的类胡萝卜素成分很大程度上受到卵子形成时雌性饮食中类胡萝卜素成分的影响。因此，类胡萝卜素可用性的空间和时间差异可能反映在蛋黄浓度上。为了评估卵黄类胡萝卜素浓度或类胡萝卜素谱是否显示出任何大规模的地理趋势或栖息地之间的差异，我们从 16 个欧洲斑鹟 (Ficedula hyperleuca) 种群中收集了卵黄样本。我们发现，从中欧向北，蛋黄中叶黄素和其他一些叶黄素的浓度和比例逐渐降低。最南端的种群（也是海拔最高的种群）的类胡萝卜素水平也相对较低。 β-胡萝卜素和玉米黄质的浓度没有表现出任何明显的地理梯度。落叶生境中的蛋黄也比混合生境或针叶生境中含有更多的叶黄素和其他叶黄素。我们认为，叶黄素和叶黄素的纬度梯度反映了北部F.hypoleuca种群和南部山地种群中富含叶黄素的食物的可用性较低，相对于树木物候而言，这些种群比中欧种群更早开始产卵。同样，生境间的差异可能反映出落叶林中富含叶黄素的食物更容易获得。我们的研究首次表明，蛋黄类胡萝卜素的浓度和分布可能在物种地理范围的不同部分的种群之间表现出大规模的空间差异。需要进一步的研究来测试这种地理差异的适应性影响。
Carotenoids in the egg yolks of birds are considered to be important antioxidants and immune stimulants during the rapid growth of embryos. Yolk carotenoid composition is strongly affected by the carotenoid composition of the female's diet at the time of egg formation. Spatial and temporal differences in carotenoid availability may thus be reflected in yolk concentrations. To assess whether yolk carotenoid concentrations or carotenoid profiles show any large-scale geographical trends or differences among habitats, we collected yolk samples from 16 European populations of the pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca. We found that the concentrations and proportions of lutein and some other xanthophylls in the egg yolks decreased from Central Europe northwards. The most southern population (which is also the one found at the highest altitude) also showed relatively low carotenoid levels. Concentrations of beta-carotene and zeaxanthin did not show any obvious geographical gradients. Egg yolks also contained proportionally more lutein and other xanthophylls in deciduous than in mixed or coniferous habitats. We suggest that latitudinal gradients in lutein and xanthophylls reflect the lower availability of lutein-rich food items in the northern F. hypoleuca populations and in montane southern populations, which start egg-laying earlier relative to tree phenology than the Central European populations. Similarly, among-habitat variation is likely to reflect the better availability of lutein-rich food in deciduous forests. Our study is the first to indicate that the concentration and profile of yolk carotenoids may show large-scale spatial variation among populations in different parts of the species' geographical range. Further studies are needed to test the fitness effects of this geographical variation.