Abstract
We compared membrane thickness of fully developed eggs with those of non-developed eggs in different endangered falcon taxa. To our knowledge, membrane thickness variation during development has never been examined before in falcons or any other wild bird. Yet, the egg membrane constitutes an important protective barrier for the developing embryo. Because eggshell thinning is a general process that occurs during bird development, caused by calcium uptake by the embryo, eggs are expected to be less protected and vulnerable to breakage near the end of development. Thus, egg membranes could play an important protective role in the later stages of development by getting relatively thicker. We used linear mixed models to explore the variation in membrane thickness (n = 378 eggs) in relation to developmental stage, taxon, female age, mass and identity (73 females), egg-laying sequence (105 clutches) and the study zone. Our results are consistent with the prediction that egg membranes are thicker in fully developed eggs than in non-developed eggs, suggesting that the increase in membrane thickness during development may compensate for eggshell thinning. In addition, our data shown that thicker membranes are associated with larger, heavier and relatively wider eggs, as well as with eggs that had thinner eggshells. Egg-laying sequence, female age and the study zone did not explain the observed variation of membrane thickness in the falcon taxa studied. As we provide quantitative data on membrane thickness variation during development in falcons not subjected to contamination or food limitation (i.e. bred under captive conditions), our data may be used as a reference for studies on eggs from natural populations. Considering the large variation in membrane thickness and the multiple factors affecting on it and its importance in the protection of the embryo, we encourage other researchers to include measurements on membranes in studies exploring eggshell thickness variation.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the persons in charge and the workers of Roc Falcon especially Harald Kuespert, Stania Kuespert, Oscar Oliva Piferrer and Sandor Sebestyen for providing detailed information about the falcons, for helping to collect the eggs and measuring the birds. We thank Andy Gosler, Sven Thatje, Hugo Robles and one anonymous referee for constructive comments. We also thank to Benno Böer (UNESCO Office Doha, Qatar) for his support and encouragement to improve our knowledge about the biology and conservation of endangered falcons. This work was conducted on a contract of the Spanish National Research Council (Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, CSIC; to AMC), the logistic support of the Ayuntamiento de Sanaüja and the Project MICIIN-CGL 2009-10652 (BOS).
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Castilla, A.M., Van Dongen, S., Herrel, A. et al. Increase in membrane thickness during development compensates for eggshell thinning due to calcium uptake by the embryo in falcons. Naturwissenschaften 97, 143–151 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-009-0620-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-009-0620-z