Variation in the thermal plasticity of avian embryos is produced by the developmental environment, not genes

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 su..., 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., , # **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 individua...现有有限证据表明，种群内表型可塑性（phenotypic plasticity）的变异主要源于环境因素，进而限制了其进化潜力。这在气候变化背景下对温度敏感型代谢而言尤为值得关注。本研究量化了发育环境与基因对鸟类胚胎温度代谢可塑性的相对贡献。我们对602枚家麻雀（Passer domesticus）卵开展了交叉抚育处理，测定了这些胚胎对卵温的心率可塑性，并拆分了可塑性的方差组分。研究发现，抚育（孵化）环境是胚胎可塑性方差的唯一显著来源（而非基因、产卵前亲本效应或环境条件）。与心率可塑性不同，雏鸟生长同时受抚育环境、基因/产卵前亲本效应以及环境条件的影响。尽管该种群内胚胎的温度可塑性存在变异，但本研究结果尚不完整（原文未完整呈现）。 本研究在肯塔基大学的野外巢箱种群中开展家麻雀卵的交叉抚育实验。将巢箱配对为二元实验单元，待每对巢箱的产卵完成后，在两个巢箱之间相互交换两枚卵。随后，我们对所有卵重复测定其心率、卵温及卵重。雏鸟破壳后，直至其离巢前，我们重复测量其跗跖长度。所有数据均按录入时的原始形式呈现。 # **鸟类胚胎温度热可塑性变异源于发育环境而非基因** ## **数据收集说明** 本研究在肯塔基大学的野外巢箱种群中开展家麻雀卵的交叉抚育实验。将巢箱配对为二元实验单元，待每对巢箱的产卵完成后，在两个巢箱之间相互交换两枚卵。随后，我们对所有卵重复测定其心率、卵温及卵重。雏鸟破壳后，直至其离巢前，我们重复测量其跗跖长度。所有数据均按录入时的原始形式呈现。 ## **数据与文件结构说明** 数据集以Excel文件形式提供，各列内容说明如下： * eggID：单枚卵的唯一标识 * originID：卵来源巢箱的标识 * fosterID：接收该卵的抚育巢箱标识 * dyadID：实验配对单元的标识 * order：单枚卵的产卵次序 * stage：个体发育阶段（原文未完整说明）