Variation in eggshell characteristics and gas exchange of montane and lowland coot eggs

Summary

This study determined how structural features of the eggshells of coots (Fulica americana) laid at 4150 m in the Peruvian Andes differed from those at sea level in Peru and California and how these features affected exchange of water vapor, O₂, and CO₂. While barometric pressure at 4150 m was reduced to 60% of that at sea level, the conductance to water vapor, corrected to 760 torr, of montane eggs was 107% of the corresponding lowland value. When the effect of low barometric pressure on the diffusion coefficient of gases was considered, the ‘effective’ conductance of the montane eggs at altitude was 177% of that at sea level. As a result, daily water loss from the montane eggs was substantially greater than that from lowland ones. The oxygen consumption of montane embryos was lower than that of lowland embryos of all sizes, particularly at larger embryonic masses. Just before pipping, the oxygen consumption of montane embryos was about 60% of the corresponding value for lowland individuals. Air cell oxygen tensions in montane eggs varied between about 65 and 38 torr; these values were about 60–70 torr below those in lowland eggs at equivalent embryonic masses. Just before pipping, the air cell CO₂ tension of montane eggs was about 20 torr below levels in sea level eggs. The eggshell conductance to gases of montane eggs appears to have been selected to promote oxygen delivery at the cost of increased losses of water vapor and CO₂.