Maternal effects on offspring Igs and egg size in relationto natural and experimentally improved food supply

Maternal effects have been suggested to function as a mechanism for transgenerational plasticity,in which the environment experienced by the mother is translated into the phenotype of the offspring.In birds and other oviparous vertebrates where early development is within the egg, mothersmay be able to improve the viability prospects of their offspring at hatching by priming eggs withimmunological and nutritional components.

P. Karell et al, Functional Ecology 2008, 22 , 682-690