Meeting Abstract

62.4  Sunday, Jan. 5 14:15  Early life experience influences adult zebra finch bill color before and after antigen challenge MERRILL, L*; GRINDSTAFF, J.L.; NAYLOR, M; Oklahoma State University; Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois; Oklahoma State University; Oklahoma State University loren.merrill@okstate.edu

Zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) have bright red/orange bills that are thought to be honest indicators of phenotypic quality. The red/orange coloration is due to carotenoids, which may provide a link between bill color and condition. Bill color can change rapidly following exposure to stressors, including immunological challenges, but little work has been done examining the effects of early life experience on the magnitude of change in coloration. In this study we examined the change in bill color in adult male and female zebra finches before and after exposure to two antigens: lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). Birds in this experiment were exposed to LPS, KLH or a control during development, and came from mothers who were exposed to LPS, KLH or a control prior to egg-laying. We found that baseline bill coloration and the change in color following exposure to LPS and KLH were affected by both maternal and young treatments. These results indicate that early life exposure to antigens can permanently impact carotenoid-dependent signal expression, and can also affect the magnitude of change in signal expression after antigen challenge.