Carotenoid Availability and Plumage Coloration in a Wild Population of Northern Cardinals

Linville, Susan U.; Breitwisch, Randall

doi:10.2307/4089305

Cited by 85 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…In support of this, several studies have found different ornaments to reflect different aspects of mate quality. For example, ornamental colours that are made up of different pigments often reflect different qualities; carotenoid pigments usually reflect physical condition (Hill & Montgomerie, 1994;Linville & Breitwisch, 1997;Olson & Owens, 1998;McGraw & Hill, 2000), especially disease condition (reviewed by Møller et al, 2000), whereas melanin-based colours mostly reflect social status (reviewed in Senar, 1999; but see Fitze & Richner, 2002). An example of this is the ornamentation of the American goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) where carotenoid-based plumage and bill coloration are sensitive to infection by intestinal coccidians, whereas the melanin-based black cap is not but instead may be shaped by social interactions (McGraw & Hill, 2000).…”

Section: (A) Estimation Of Overall Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of multiple cues in mate choice

2003

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An increasing number of studies find females to base their mate choice on several cues. Why this occurs is debated and many different hypotheses have been proposed. Here I review the hypotheses and the evidence in favour of them. At the same time I provide a new categorisation based on the adaptiveness of the preferences and the information content of the cues. A few comparative and empirical studies suggest that most multiple cues are Fisherian attractiveness cues or uninformative cues that occur alongside a viability indicator and facilitate detection, improve signal reception, or are remnants from past selection pressures. However, much evidence exists for multiple cues providing additional information and serving as multiple messages that either indicate general mate quality or enable females that differ in mate preferences to choose the most suitable male. Less evidence exists for multiple cues serving as back-up signals. The importance of receiver psychology, multiple sensory environments and signal interaction in the evolution of multiple cues and preferences has received surprisingly little attention but may be of crucial importance. Similarly, sexual conflict has been proposed to result in maladaptive preferences for manipulative cues, and in neutral preferences for threshold cues, but no reliable evidence exists so far. An important factor in the evolution of multiple preferences is the cost of using additional cues. Most theoretical work assumes that the cost of choice increases with the number of cues used, which restricts the conditions under which preferences for multiple cues are expected to evolve. I suggest that in contrast to this expectation, the use of multiple cues can reduce mate choice costs by decreasing the number of mates inspected more closely or the time and energy spent inspecting a set of mates. This may be one explanation for why multiple cues are more common than usually expected. Finally I discuss the consequences that the use of multiple cues may have for the process of sexual selection, the maintenance of genetic variation, and speciation.

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Section: (A) Estimation Of Overall Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of multiple cues in mate choice

2003

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“…diet, health, parasites). For example, Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) grew less red plumage in the year after which a deep winter cold spell dramatically reduced fruit availability (Linville and Breitwisch 1997). However, in these cases, data have not been available to examine changes in the condition of the birds for which the annual colour change was observed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In both sexes, yellow crests were more colourful and heavily pigmented in 2002 than in 2003. Prior studies of carotenoid- (Linville and Breitwisch 1997) and melanin-based (Otter and Ratcliffe 1999) plumage colouration in birds have used across-year differences in colouration to infer that it is under environmental control (e.g. diet, health, parasites).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Annual, sexual, size- and condition-related variation in the colour and fluorescent pigment content of yellow crest-feathers in Snares Penguins (Eudyptes robustus)

McGraw

Massaro

Rivers

et al. 2009

Emu - Austral Ornithology

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Abstract. Colourful plumages observed in many birds provide ideal systems for investigating the control and function of animal signals, because we can identify the molecular currency (e.g. pigments, tissue structures) and thus the challenges associated with the production of the trait. To date, most attention has been paid to the signalling costs and benefits of the common pigmentary (e.g. carotenoid-and melanin-based) plumage colours. However, in penguins, the colour of feathers of crests or patches of head plumage is based on an unusual fluorescent pigment, presently thought to be in the class of pterin pigments, which are typically found as colourants in other animals like butterflies and amphibians. These yellow-orange colours may be used in sexual or social communication, but to date little is known about the signalling potential of such ornaments. We collected yellow crest-feathers from adult male and female Snares Penguins (Eudyptes robustus) in two years (2002 and 2003) and examined differences in colour and pigment content as a function of year, sex, body size and body condition. Unlike the typical pattern of birds, crests of female Snares Penguins contained higher concentrations of pigments than those of males. In both years, yellower feathers in females contained more yellow pigment. Birds of both sexes grew yellower and more pigment-rich feathers in 2002 -a year in which birds were in better condition -than in 2003. Males with yellower crests also tended to be larger, heavier and in better condition, regardless of year. These results highlight the potential for yellow crests in Snares Penguins to serve as a condition-dependent indicator to conspecifics. Further work is needed to determine whether or not this plumage trait is a signal of social status or attractiveness, as colourful plumage patches appear to be in other penguin species.

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“…However, it is still unclear to what degree the acquisition of carotenoids versus other environmental interactions influences the final expression of color [46]. For example, both natural [23] and controlled experiments [24] suggest that environmental variation consists of more than just the acquisition of the pigments. In a meta-analysis of many different studies, Olson and Owens [47] concluded that the link between diet and carotenoid plumage coloration was important, but the degree of connection varied phylogenetically and on the type of coloration (red versus yellow).…”

Section: Diet and Conditionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Carotenoids are a diverse class of light-absorbing molecules, each absorbing light at slightly different wavelengths, and the reflected color is due to the type of carotenoid or combination of different types present in the feather [22]. Because the hue and intensity of color in part reflects the quality of diet (at least the quantity of carotenoids in the diet, but see [23,24]), carotenoidderived plumage coloration can communicate habitat quality, foraging efficiency, and individual health to conspecifics, and there has been considerable interest in their role as honest-signals of fitness within the framework of sexual selection [25]. However, because of this environmental variation, measurements of carotenoid colors for the reconstruction of phylogenetic relationships should be approached carefully, with full appreciation of the important role of environment in the expression of these pigments across and within populations.…”

Section: Nature Of Avian Plumage Colorationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Utility of Plumage Coloration for Taxonomic and Ecological Studies

Paxton

2009

TOOENIJ

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Plumage coloration in birds serve multiple purposes, including species recognition, sexual selection cues, and camouflage. Differences in plumage coloration can be used to infer evolutionary relationships, identify distinct taxonomic units, and characterize geographic variation. With the advent of electronic devices to quantify plumage coloration quickly and reliably, taxonomic or geographic differences can be exploited for ecological studies. To evaluate the utility of plumage coloration for taxonomic and ecological studies, I review the basis of plumage coloration and sources of variation. I then review how different studies have used plumage coloration to better understand taxonomic relationships and provide insights into ecological problems.

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Carotenoid Availability and Plumage Coloration in a Wild Population of Northern Cardinals

Cited by 85 publications

References 21 publications

The use of multiple cues in mate choice

The use of multiple cues in mate choice

Annual, sexual, size- and condition-related variation in the colour and fluorescent pigment content of yellow crest-feathers in Snares Penguins (Eudyptes robustus)

The Utility of Plumage Coloration for Taxonomic and Ecological Studies

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