Evolution of winter molting strategies in European and North American migratory passerines

Pageau, Claudie; Sonnleitner, Jared; Tonra, Christopher M.; Shaikh, Mateen; Reudink, Matthew W.

doi:10.1002/ece3.8047

Cited by 5 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…This is consistent with the idea that shade provided by trees decreases exposure to ultraviolet radiation, thus reducing feather damage (Bergman, 1982) and making additional molts less necessary (Froehlich et al, 2005; Terrill et al, 2020). Contrary to a recent study reporting water habitats as having the highest percentage of species with a pre‐alternate molt (Pageau et al, 2021), in our study, it was the habitat category including grasslands. Our finding is consistent with a scenario in which abrasive vegetation, such as grasses, increases feather wear, ultimately promoting additional molting (Rohwer et al, 2005; Willoughby, 1991).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…Under the time constraints hypothesis, the occurrence of the pre‐alternate molt would be associated with aerial foraging and/or winter territoriality. To complicate the matter, some authors argue that a molt after autumn migration that is driven by time constraints is not a real pre‐alternate molt, but a delayed pre‐basic molt (Pageau et al, 2021). In either case, we would expect this molt to occur early in the winter season.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sexual selection, feather wear, and time constraints on the pre‐basic molt explain the acquisition of the pre‐alternate molt in European passerines

Cuervo

Morales

Soler

et al. 2022

Ecology and Evolution

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Avian feathers need to be replaced periodically to fulfill their functions, with natural, social, and sexual selection presumably driving the evolution of molting strategies. In temperate birds, a common pattern is to molt feathers immediately after the breeding season, the pre‐basic molt. However, some species undergo another molt in winter‐spring, the pre‐alternate molt. Using a sample of 188 European passerine species, Bayesian phylogenetic mixed models, and correlated evolution analyses, we tested whether the occurrence of the pre‐alternate molt was positively associated with proxies for sexual selection (sexual selection hypothesis) and nonsexual social selection (social selection hypothesis), and with factors related to feather wear (feather wear hypothesis) and time constraints on the pre‐basic molt (time constraints hypothesis). We found that the pre‐alternate molt was more frequent in migratory and less gregarious species inhabiting open/xeric habitats and feeding on the wing, and marginally more frequent in species with strong sexual selection and those showing a winter territorial behavior. Moreover, an increase in migratory behavior and sexual selection intensity preceded the acquisition of the pre‐alternate molt. These results provide support for the feather wear hypothesis, partial support for the sexual selection and time constraints hypotheses, and no support for the social selection hypothesis.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual selection, feather wear, and time constraints on the pre‐basic molt explain the acquisition of the pre‐alternate molt in European passerines

Cuervo

Morales

Soler

et al. 2022

Ecology and Evolution

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“…The copyright holder for this preprint this version posted August 18, 2022. ; https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.08.17.504285 doi: bioRxiv preprint empirical support for this idea has been limited 22 . Here, we investigated whether variation in hydrogen stable isotope values in Painted Bunting feathers is associated with reduced gene flow across a transect between populations with differences in the molting behavior.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A key question in evolutionary ecology is to determine whether a particular phenotypic trait leads to population genetic differentiation and ultimately speciation. Some authors have proposed that differences in the timing of molt between populations could lead to reduced gene flow across migratory divides if hybrids with intermediate molting behavior are less fit [74][75][76] , but empirical support for this idea has been limited 22 . Here, we investigated whether variation in hydrogen stable isotope values in Painted Bunting feathers is associated with reduced gene flow across a transect between populations with differences in the molting behavior.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Alternatively, hybrids with intermediate molting behavior may suffer reduced fitness if they molt in suboptimal locations 21 . If differences in molting behavior contribute to reproductive isolation, we would expect to see evidence of reduced gene flow associated with transitions between distinct molting behavior, but empirical support for this idea has been limited partially due to difficulties with identifying the molting phenotype of birds captured on their breeding grounds 22 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Genetic and ecological drivers of molt in a migratory bird

Contina

Bossu

Allen

et al. 2022

Preprint

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The ability of animals to sync the timing and location of molting (the replacement of hair, skin, exoskeletons or feathers) with peaks in resource availability has important implications for their ecology and evolution. In migratory birds, the timing and location of pre-migratory feather molting, a period when feathers are shed and replaced with newer, more aerodynamic feathers, can vary within and between species. While hypotheses to explain the evolution of intraspecific variation in the timing and location of molt have been proposed, little is known about the genetic basis of this trait or the specific environmental drivers that may result in natural selection for distinct molting phenotypes. Here we take advantage of intraspecific variation in the timing and location of molt in the iconic songbird, the Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) to investigate the genetic and ecological drivers of distinct molting phenotypes. Specifically, we use genome-wide genetic sequencing in combination with stable isotope analysis to determine population genetic structure and molting phenotype across thirteen breeding sites. We then use genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) to identify a suite of genes associated with molting and pair this with gene-environment association analysis (GEA) to investigate potential environmental drivers of genetic variation in this trait. Associations between genetic variation in molt-linked genes and the environment are further tested via targeted SNP genotyping in 25 additional breeding populations across the range. Together, our integrative analysis suggests that molting is in part regulated by genes linked to feather development and structure (GLI2 and CSPG4) and that genetic variation in these genes is associated with seasonal variation in precipitation and aridity. Overall, this work provides important insights into the genetic basis and potential selective forces behind phenotypic variation in what is arguably one of the most important fitness-linked traits in a migratory bird.

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Late breeding season definitive prebasic molt in males, and late breeding season brood care by females, in central California Wilson’s warblers

Gilbert

2022

Ecology and Evolution

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I made observations of a central California population of Wilson's Warbler, Cardellina pusilla, after July 1 over 10 breeding seasons. I sighted males in definitive prebasic molt from July 4 (in 2007) to September 1 (in 1999). Most territorial males molted on their breeding territories, and individual molt lasted up to 46 days. Following prebasic molt, territorial males engaged in subdued “post‐molt singing,” which lasted about 7 days in some males, and which I first heard on August 13 (in 2004) and last heard on September 6 (in 1999). I sighted no female in definitive prebasic molt, or in fresh basic plumage, during the study. Of 13 females sighted ≥ July 21, 11 were in late breeding season uniparental brood care, and I could not rule out late brood care for the other two. Most, and possibly all, females not engaged in late season uniparental brood care apparently vacated their breeding territories before July 21. This departure was much earlier than for resident males, the last of which I sighted on September 10 (in 1999). Early‐departing females presumably underwent prebasic molt after July 21 at locations not known. Remaining late‐nesting females must have molted much later than resident males and likely later than early‐departing females, and at locations unknown. I last sighted two uniparental brood‐tending females, still in worn plumage, on August 26 and 29, respectively. Two unique findings of this study are a male/female difference in location of prebasic molt, and a likely dichotomy of prebasic molt timing between females leaving their breeding territories early and those remaining in uniparental brood care. Another finding, post‐molt singing in most and possible all territorial males, is a largely unrecognized behavior, but one previously reported in several passerine species. Post‐molt singing may reliably indicate completion of prebasic molt.

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Evolution of winter molting strategies in European and North American migratory passerines

Abstract: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creat ive Commo ns Attri bution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Cited by 5 publications

References 46 publications

Sexual selection, feather wear, and time constraints on the pre‐basic molt explain the acquisition of the pre‐alternate molt in European passerines

Sexual selection, feather wear, and time constraints on the pre‐basic molt explain the acquisition of the pre‐alternate molt in European passerines

Genetic and ecological drivers of molt in a migratory bird

Late breeding season definitive prebasic molt in males, and late breeding season brood care by females, in central California Wilson’s warblers

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