Digit length may reveal unusual breeding behaviour in a seabird.
The hormonal environment experienced during prenatal development may affect adult phenotype and behaviour. Digit lengths may provide an estimate of steroid levels encountered during embryonic development in humans and other vertebrates. Finger patterns in humans have been shown to reveal sexual orientation or cooperative behaviour. We explored individual breeding behaviour in a monogamous seabird, the Balearic shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus and unexpectedly detected some cooperative breeders. Furthermore, we show evidence of correlation between digit lengths and cooperative breeding in this species. Additionally, we suggest that the first digit could be a possible indicator of prenatal steroid levels. These results are the starting point for further tests of the hypothesis that first digit length is an indicator of prenatal hormone levels in other vertebrate species. Moreover, these results may offer practical use in wild populations to study the implications of the changes in prenatal environment for adult social behaviour.
Genovart
Meritxell
M
Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Miquel Marquès 21, 07190 Esporles, Mallorca, Spain. m.genovart@uib.es
Louzao
Maite
M
Igual
José M
JM
Oro
Daniel
D
D000728:Androgens / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005121:Extremities / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal
D000728:Androgens