Effects of Maternal Diet and Infection History on Offspring Exploratory and Social Behavior

Maternal diet and infection can have lasting effects on offspring physiology and behavior. Host responses to infection, such as the severity and longevity of symptoms can also be modulated by diet. Although these factors remain unknown. If changes in physiology and behavior in adults persist during periods of reproduction, they could also influence offspring development. We explored this by examining how maternal diet quality (high-protein, high-lipid) and infection history (control, or infected with the avian bacterium Mycoplasma gallisepticum) influence offspring behavior in domestic canaries. Prior to breeding, all infections were cleared and diet treatments were ceased. At 15 days old, offspring exploratory behavior was assessed in a novel open area with one refuge. Maternal infection history didn’t affect offspring behavior. However, female offspring of mothers who consumed a high protein diet were less active than the male offspring. Interestingly, offspring with yellow plumage were more active than those with darker plumage. These findings suggest that offspring exploratory behavior can be shaped by maternal diet, offspring sex, and feather coloration. At 40 days old, we observed offspring social behavior in a novel area. The offspring were placed and analyzed for the first 5 minutes then added the adult to the novel environment. Neither maternal infection, diet, or interaction significantly affected offspring exploratory behavior. Offspring from mothers that were fed a high lipid diet did not increase preening behavior in response to novel individuals.  Offspring from mothers that recently cleared a bacterial infection were less social. 

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