Observations on the Breeding Behavior of the Ring-Necked Pheasant

Taber, Richard D.

doi:10.2307/1364604

Cited by 44 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 9 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In a study of English pheasants, the brightness of the wattle was important for female choice (HILLGARTH & WINGFIELD 1997). The red wattle in male pheasants is a striking character that can be engorged and is used during courtship as well as in dominance behaviour between males (TABER 1949, MATEOS 1998.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of nutrition on sexual ornaments and humoral immune responsiveness in adult male pheasants

Ohlsson

Smith

Råberg

et al. 2003

Ethology Ecology & Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Female pheasants may base their choice of mates on the expression of male ornaments such as the red chin wattle and the length of the spurs. Both these ornaments are predicted to be sensitive to access to carotenoids (and vitamins). Moreover, because carotenoids also enhance immune function, it has been suggested that there is a trade-off in the use of carotenoids for ornament expression and immune function. We fed adult male ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) with food of different nutritional quality. This relieved males from restrictions of access to dietary carotenoids and allowed us to study the simultaneous effect on ornament expression (wattle size and redness, spur length) and immune responsiveness. Two treatment groups were given either a low or a high quality fodder between late February and late May, when males were 8-11 months old. As a result of the food-quality manipulation, males in the high nutrient group achieved significantly redder wattles whereas no significant effect was found for either wattle size or spur length. There was a non-significant tendency that the antibody response to one out of two novel antigens was affected by the experimental treatment, but the mean production of antibodies against the two antigens (diphtheria and tetanus toxoid) was not significantly related to the experimental treatments. Over the experimental period, the change in humoral immune responsiveness was positively related to the increase in spur length, but not related to the change in wattle colouration. We suggest that wattle colour may be an honest indicator of males' ability to find or assimilate dietary carotenoids, but we found no firm evidence that the mechanism maintaining honesty is a trade-off between the use of carotenoids for ornament colouration and general immune function. In contrast, our study lends some support to the idea that spur length, a sexually selected trait, may reflect humoral immunocompetence in male pheasants.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of nutrition on sexual ornaments and humoral immune responsiveness in adult male pheasants

Ohlsson

Smith

Råberg

et al. 2003

Ethology Ecology & Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Pheasants, Phasianus colchicus, operate harem polygyny in a nonresource-based mating system (Ridley & Hill, 1987;Taber, 1949). The harems form at the end of winter and persist through spring during which time females must forage extensively to build energy reserves prior to breeding.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…lateral struts) being better predictors of female choice (G€ oransson, von Schantz, Fr€ oberg, Helgee, & Wittzell, 1990;Grahn, G€ oransson, & von Schantz, 1993;Ridley & Hill, 1987;von Schantz et al, 1989a;von Schantz et al, 1989b). Males offer no parental care (Taber, 1949), and females do not necessarily nest on the male's territory (Hill & Robertson, 1988), so males are not limited by provision of care or resources in their number of mates.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Males and females differentially adjust vigilance levels as group size increases: effect on optimal group size

2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…group size and availability of cover) from that of their natural situation (e.g. Taber 1949). Despite the large number of birds used to produce stock for release into the countryside, there is relatively little research directed to exploring the behavioural requirements of breeding and growing pheasants in Collias and Taber, 1951;Schenkel, 1956Schenkel, , 1958Heinz and Gysel, 1970) and more recently as a model species to test theories of sexual selection (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During the breeding season wild ring-necked pheasants are territorial, guarding harems of females from potential rivals and engaging in threats, displays, such as calling and wingflapping, and aggressive acts, such as chasing, sparring and pecking (Taber, 1949;Ridley and Hill, 1987;Mateos, 1998). Non-territorial males are also reported who do not display or fight but nevertheless may mate with unaccompanied females (Burger, 1966).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of sight barriers in pens of breeding ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus): I. Behaviour and welfare

Deeming

Hodges

Cooper

2011

British Poultry Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Observations on the Breeding Behavior of the Ring-Necked Pheasant

Cited by 44 publications

References 9 publications

Effects of nutrition on sexual ornaments and humoral immune responsiveness in adult male pheasants

Effects of nutrition on sexual ornaments and humoral immune responsiveness in adult male pheasants

Males and females differentially adjust vigilance levels as group size increases: effect on optimal group size

Effect of sight barriers in pens of breeding ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus): I. Behaviour and welfare

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About