Data from: Variation in the thermal plasticity of avian embryos is produced by the developmental environment, not genes
Data files
Sep 05, 2024 version files 289.40 KB
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README.md
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VariationinAvianPlasticity.xlsx
Abstract
Limited evidence suggests that variation in phenotypic plasticity within populations may arise largely from environmental sources, thereby constraining its evolvability. This is of concern for temperature-sensitive metabolism in the face of climate change. We quantified the relative influence of the developmental environment versus genes on the metabolic plasticity of avian embryos to temperature. We partially cross-fostered 602 house sparrow eggs (Passer domesticus), measured the heart rate plasticity of these embryos to egg temperature, and partitioned variance in plasticity. We found that the foster (incubation) environment was the sole meaningful source of variance in embryonic plasticity (not genes, pre-laying effects, or ambient conditions). In contrast to heart rate plasticity, nestling growth was influenced by the foster environment, genes/pre-laying parental effects, and ambient conditions. Although embryonic plasticity to temperature varied in this population, these results suggest that it is unlikely to evolve quickly. Nevertheless, the expression of this plasticity may be able to shift between generations in response to changes in the developmental environment. Whether the multidimensional plasticity of heart rate to both current temperature and the developmental environment is itself an adaptive, evolved trait allowing avian embryos to optimize their metabolic plasticity to their current environment remains to be tested.
README: Variation in the thermal plasticity of avian embryos is produced by the developmental environment, not genes
Description of the data collection
In this study, we cross-fostered the eggs of house sparrows in a free-living nest-box population located at the University of Kentucky. Nests were paired into dyads, and two eggs were reciprocally swapped between the two nests within the dyad upon the completion of egg laying. We then repeatedly measured the heart rate, egg temperature, and egg mass for all individual eggs. Upon hatching, we repeatedly measured the tarsus of nestlings until they fledged the nest. Data is presented as it was entered.
Description of the data and file structure
Data is included as an excel file. Here is a description of the contents of each column:
- eggID: individual egg identity
- originID: nest of origin identity
- fosterID: foster nest identity
- dyadID: experimental dyad identity
- order: lay order for each egg
- stage: whether the individual is an embryo or a nestling
- hr: embryonic heart rate in bpm
- temp: egg temperature in degrees celsius
- incduration: days between incubation onset (clutch completion) and hatching
- eggage: days since incubation onset (clutch completion)
- mass: egg mass in grams
- chickage: days since hatching
- tarsus: nestling tarsus length in mm
- swap: indicates whether the individual was swapped into a foster nest (yes) or remained in natal nest (no)
Methods
In this study, we cross-fostered the eggs of house sparrows in a free-living nest box population located at the University of Kentucky. Nests were paired into dyads, and two eggs were reciprocally swapped between the two nests within the dyad upon the completion of egg laying. We then repeatedly measured the heart rate, egg temperature, and egg mass for all individual eggs. Upon hatching, we repeatedly measured the tarsus length of nestlings until they fledged the nest. Data is presented as it was entered.