| population ecology group | ::: | institute | ::: | university | ::: |  |
| Dr Joanna Rutkowska joanna.rutkowska@uj.edu.pl |
Inst. of Environmental Sciences Jagiellonian University Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków Poland tel. + 48 12 664 51 99 fax + 48 12 664 69 12 |
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Evolutionary cost of immunocompetence in birds
We study the significance of genetic and maternally transmitted components of immunity. Experiments are conducted on zebra finches using non-pathogenic antigens that induce immune response. So far, we found that the magnitude of maternal immune response negatively correlates with offspring viability (Rutkowska et al. 2011). We also found that eggs bearing male and female offspring differ in maternal antibody content and we were the first to report sex-specific consequences of maternal immunization (Martyka et al. 2010). Currently we are studying the relationship between oocyte growth rate and antibody transfer to the eggs.
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Zebra finch family photo: Joanna Rutkowska |
Cooperation: Giulia Casasole, Mariusz Cichoń, Aneta Arct and Rafał Martyka (Polish Academy of Sciences).
Reproductive strategies in an urban population of the European blackbird (Turdus merula)
We found increased maternal investment to sons versus daughters expressed in egg sexual size dimorphism (Martyka et al. 2010). This phenomenon can be explained in light of higher fitness variation of males in the European blackbird. Currently, we are studying the relationship between mate switching and extra-pair paternity in this species.
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Blackbird nest photo: Kazimierz Walasz |
Cooperation: Kazimierz Walasz, Mariusz Cichoń, Rafał Martyka, Anna Dybek (Institute of Environmental Sciences), Artur Jarmołowski, Marlena Lembicz and Artur Rogowski (Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University).
Completed projects:
How interactions with a male affects maternal investment in a polygynous species
The model organism in the study was a captive Japanese quail (Coturix japonica). The project revealed that females anticipation of mating opportunity gives her better control of maternal investment in sons and daughters (Rutkowska & Adkins-Regan 2009). We also determined to what extent any increase in female corticosterone level is specific to actual mating with a male compared to visual and auditory contact with a male, and compared to social interaction with another female (Rutkowska et al. 2011).
Cooperation:Elizabeth Adkins-Regan and Ned Place (Cornell University).
Offspring sex determination: integrating ecological context and proximate mechanism of non-random meiosis in birds
The aim of this project was to describe the proximate mechanisms behind adaptive offspring sex adjustment in birds (Rutkowska & Badyaev 2008). As a model system, I've used the house finch (Carpodacus mexicanus).
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House finch pair photo: Alex Badyaev |
Cooperation: Alex Badyaev (University of Arizona).
The effect of testosterone on primary sex ratio and on performance of male and female offspring in the zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata)
We found the cause-and-effect relationship between maternal androgens and proportion of sons among offspring (Rutkowska & Cichoń, 2006) and showed that elevated androgen level might have negative effects on the mother (Rutkowska et al. 2005). We aslo showed how maternal androgens affect survival, development and reproductive success of male and female offspring (Rutkowska et al. 2007).
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Zebra finches in the nest photo: Joanna Rutkowska |
Resources quality and sex allocation in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata)
We found that female birds react to the immediate change in food quality during clutch formation by adjusting sex of subsequently laid eggs within a clutch (Rutkowska and Cichoń, 2002). It shows that female birds control offspring sex to the great extend. We also found that the increase of egg mass with the laying sequence compensates for the negative effects of hatching asynchrony. Sex allocation may influence competition among offspring in asynchronously hatching broods (Rutkowska and Cichoń 2005).
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Zebra finch hatchling photo: Joanna Rutkowska |
Cooperation: Mariusz Cichoń
Costs of rearing sons versus daughters in the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus)
In year 2003 I took part in the studies of maternal investment to male and female offspring in mammals, in the project of Drs Tapio Mappes and Esa Koskela at the Jyväskylä University (Finland). Our results revise the common assumption that in polygynous mammals male offspring receive more resources and that they are more valuable for their mothers (Koskela et al. 2009). Assessing maternal energy budget helped us also to reveal the trade-off between current and future sex allocation in this small mammal (Rutkowska et al. 2011).
Cooperation: Esa Koskela and Tapio Mappes (Jyväskylä University).
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