Consequences of maternal effects and late developmental stress on sexually selected traits and behavior in zebra finches

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The conditions indivuals experience during early development have marked effects on their developmental trajectory and life history strategies. Songbirds have been a key model in studies on short term effects of developmental stress. The closed environment of the egg and the fast developmental process within the egg and after hatching provides unique opportunities to experimental approaches. The research proposed here will test effects of condition during two different key developmental periods, i.e. within the egg, and during "puberty" on the expression of sexually selected traits and behavior in adulthood. In two separate breeding experiments with zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), it is planned (1) to manipulate the nutritional conditions during "puberty", i.e. the period in which song is acquired and other sexually selected traits develop and (2) in a second experiment to manipulate the levels of yolk testosterone in the egg, a factor that is wll know to have short term effects on development. These experiments will provide insights into long term effects of developmental conditions during these key periods of development, an issue that as yet has not been well studied in birds. The results will contributed to the broader understanding of the evolution of sexually selected traits and the proximate factors that lead to their expression.