Abstract
Maternal condition can affect reproductive investment in one or more ways. Captive female Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) that were heavier, controlling for tarsus length, produced larger eggs and initiated laying earlier, but did not produce more eggs per clutch. Maternal mass was also a positive predictor of offspring mass. That appears to result from the strong positive relationships between egg size and offspring mass. When the relationship between egg size and offspring mass was statistically controlled, maternal mass no longer predicted offspring mass. Mothers in better condition produced male-biased broods, as predicted when offspring condition depends on maternal condition and when male reproductive success is more dependent than female reproductive success on condition.
Maternal Condition, Reproductive Investment, and Offspring Sex Ratio in Captive Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus)