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Science 1 October 1999:
Vol. 286. no. 5437, p. 9
DOI: 10.1126/science.286.5437.9m
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In birds, offspring sired by more highly ornamented males often have enhanced survival. Is this because these males have greater genetic quality (the so-called "good genes" model of sexual selection) or because the females invest differentially in the eggs fertilized by these males? Gil et al. (p. 126; see the news story by Vogel) show that female zebra finches mated to experimentally ornamented males deposit more testosterone in eggs than when mated to unornamented males. Additional testosterone has effects on the growth rate and later dominance of the chicks within the brood. Thus, it seems that post-mating maternal effects may play an important role in the differential development of offspring.




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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)