Investment in a sexual signal results in reduced survival under extreme conditions in the male great tit (Parus major)

Moore, Fhionna R.; Cīrule, Dina; Kivleniece, Inese; Vrublevska, Jolanta; Rantala, Markus J.; Sild, Elin; Sepp, Tuul; Hõrak, Peeter; Krama, Tatjana; Krams, Indriķis

doi:10.1007/s00265-014-1828-2

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…The positive relationship between bib size and H/L ratio is inconsistent with most of the earlier studies (e.g. Minias et al 2014Minias et al , 2019Moore et al 2015;Svobodová et al 2018; but see e.g. Svobodová et al 2013).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 70%

Sex-specific signalling of individual personality by a mutual plumage ornament in a passerine

Fülöp

Lukács

Fábián

et al. 2021

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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The significance of colour signals in species with strong sexual dimorphism and/or elaborated visual ornaments is rather well-understood. Less attention has, however, been devoted to study colour signals in species with weak or no apparent sexual dimorphism. In such species, an interesting possibility arises as both sexes can bear the same colour ornament(s) (i.e. sexes are mutually ornamented), but their signalling value might differ in males and females. We aimed to explore this possibility by investigating the phenotypic correlates of the black bib, a melanin-based plumage ornament, in the Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus). More specifically, we studied the sex-dependent relationships between bib size and three aspects of individuals’ phenotype: body condition (i.e. size-corrected body mass), physiology (i.e. cellular innate immunity/inflammation status, expressed through total leucocyte counts, and chronic physiological stress, expressed through the ratio of heterophils to lymphocytes) and individual personality (i.e. activity in a novel environment). We found that bib size was not associated with body condition and cellular innate immunity/inflammation status, but was positively related to physiological stress levels independent of sex. Furthermore, bib size was negatively associated with activity in males but positively in females. Our findings bring important correlative evidence that mutual ornamental traits may have sex-specific signalling value. Significance statement The signalling role of elaborated colourful ornaments, that are usually possessed only by males in sexually dimorphic species, is well-established. The function of various colour traits which are borne by both sexes (i.e. mutual ornaments), however, is less obvious. Do they have a signalling value in both sexes? If yes, do they signal the same information in males and females? Or, most intriguingly, can they convey different information in the two sexes? To test these alternatives, we studied the signalling value of the black bib, a melanin-based mutual plumage ornament, in Eurasian tree sparrows (Passer montanus). Apart from being correlated with chronic stress in both sexes, bib size was positively related to activity in females but negatively in males. Our results suggest that the information content of the same colour trait in males and females can be different in mutually ornamented species.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 70%

Sex-specific signalling of individual personality by a mutual plumage ornament in a passerine

Fülöp

Lukács

Fábián

et al. 2021

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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“…The stress-linked ICHH has been supported through numerous recent studies. Moore et al (2015) found support for this hypothesis in perceived attractiveness of human male faces, and Owen-Ashley et al (2004) found that testosterone implants significantly increased plasma corticosterone in song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) and suggested that the actions of testosterone were indirect through elevated corticosterone levels suppressing the immune system. Leary and Knapp (2014) found that, while moderate increases of glucocorticoids were related to elaborate male traits and increased reproductive investment, high glucocorticoid levels negatively affected reproduction and could have androgen-suppressive effects.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Trade-offs between immunity and testosterone in male African ground squirrels

O’Brien

Waterman

Anderson

et al. 2018

Journal of Experimental Biology

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The immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (ICHH) proposes that testosterone has both beneficial effects on male reproductive potential and negative effects by suppressing the immune system. However, support for the ICHH has been variable and an alternative hypothesis suggests that testosterone may be acting indirectly via cortisol to suppress immunity (the stress-linked ICHH). A third hypothesis is that increased energetic investment in immunity results in the suppression of testosterone. We tested these hypotheses in male Cape ground squirrels () through two separate manipulations: first, by triggering a strong immune response using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection and, secondly, by increasing circulating testosterone using silastic testosterone implants. Responding to an immune challenge significantly reduced testosterone, supporting the immune suppression hypothesis, while increasing circulating testosterone had no effect on immunocompetence, body mass, ectoparasite abundances or cortisol levels, failing to support either the ICHH or stress-linked ICHH. Our results add to the increasing body of literature that challenges the ICHH, and we conclude that the trade-off between testosterone and immunity is mediated through immune activation and not through testosterone in male Cape ground squirrels. Being able to test the ICHH, stress-linked ICHH and immune suppression hypotheses in a free-ranging mammal gives us a unique opportunity to examine the mechanisms mediating this trade-off.

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“…Studies on short‐lived species have shown that the extent of expression of potentially costly color traits is associated with increased survival (Jennions et al , Griffith et al , Galván and Møller , Galván et al , Hõrak and Männiste ). However, at least two studies have also detected viability selection against conspicuous coloration (Keyser and Siefferman , Moore et al ) and some studies found stabilizing selection on conspicuousness (Gregoire et al , Figuerola and Senar , but see also Acker et al for disruptive viability selection on a plumage trait), suggesting that the sign and magnitude of selection exerted on coloration might be species‐ or trait‐specific (Meunier et al ). It is also suggested that at least in case of heritable melanin‐based colouration, selection may not always be directional, but may be conditional to environmental conditions (Senar et al , Roulin ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A small badge of longevity: opposing survival selection on the size of white and black wing markings

Sepp

Rattiste

Saks

et al. 2017

Journal of Avian Biology

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According to handicap principle, exaggerated ornamental traits are supposed to exert costs on their bearers. However, there is much less theoretical and practical consensus about whether and under which conditions ornament expression should positively correlate with survival. We measured age‐related variation and survival selection on the size of white wing patches and black wing tips in a long‐lived monogamous seabird, the common gull Larus canus. Males had larger white patches than females but patch size showed concave relationship with age irrespective of sex, suggesting that white patch size was prone to senescence in both sexes. Extent of wing tip abrasion correlated negatively with the size of white patch, suggesting, in agreement with the Zahavian handicap hypothesis that only individuals with largest ornaments are able of maintaining them and not paying cost of displaying them. Areas of white wing patches and black wing tips correlated negatively. Irrespective of sex, survival selection favored birds with larger white wing patches and smaller black wing tips, which suggests that white and black wing markings may have coevolved as reverse components of a single ornament. Altogether, our results provide an evidence for the case where survival selection on ornamental traits in females is not weaker than in males. Absence of sex differences with respect to most of observed patterns is consistent with a prediction that among monogamous long‐lived species with biparental care, mutual mate choice leads to evolution of elaborate ornamental traits in both sexes.

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Investment in a sexual signal results in reduced survival under extreme conditions in the male great tit (Parus major)

Cited by 11 publications

References 54 publications

Sex-specific signalling of individual personality by a mutual plumage ornament in a passerine

Sex-specific signalling of individual personality by a mutual plumage ornament in a passerine

Trade-offs between immunity and testosterone in male African ground squirrels

A small badge of longevity: opposing survival selection on the size of white and black wing markings

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