Maternal deposition of yolk corticosterone in clutches of southern rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome)

High corticosterone levels can have deleterious effects in developing avian embryos and chicks. Therefore, it may be adaptive for avian mothers to reduce corticosterone transfer to their eggs. However, until now, data about the active or/and passive role of mothers in corticosterone transfer to eggs are inconclusive. Here, we study maternal investment into A- and B-eggs of southern rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome). This species exhibits reversed hatching asynchrony and provides a unique model to test whether there is a strategic investment in corticosterone favoring the B-chick, which is most likely to survive. We found that rockhopper penguins had the highest yolk concentrations of any wild bird species studied so far. Contrary to our expectations, B-eggs had more yolk corticosterone both in concentration and in quantity than A-eggs, independently of the laying period and the level of human disturbance. Additionally, females deposited more yolk corticosterone in their eggs when they were disturbed. However, this disturbance effect was particularly strong for A-eggs and for late-laid eggs. The present data support neither the predictions for an active regulation nor for a passive deposition, and hormone deposition mechanisms still need to be explored. The adaptive value, if any, of high yolk corticosterone is presently unknown. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.