Pheomelanin-based colouration is correlated with indices of flying strategies in the barn owl

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Version: Final published version
Serval ID
serval:BIB_6B4439A50CB7
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Pheomelanin-based colouration is correlated with indices of flying strategies in the barn owl
Journal
Journal of Ornithology
Author(s)
Charter M., Leshem Y., Izhaki I., Roulin A.
ISSN
1439-0361
ISSN-L
0021-8375
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2015
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
156
Number
1
Pages
309-312
Language
english
Abstract
Resource polymorphism refers to individuals from the same population foraging in alternative habitats or on alternative food. Food specialization can be associated with adaptations such as colour polymorphism, with pale and dark colours conferring differential camouflage in different habitats. Pale and dark-reddish pheomelanic Barn Owls (Tyto alba) forage on different prey species in closed and open habitats, respectively. We show here that darker-reddish owls have heavier stomach content when found dead, and their 5th secondary wing feather is more deeply anchored inside the integument. These correlations suggest that their feathers bend less when flying, and that darker-reddish Barn Owls are able sustain more intense flying than their paler conspecifics.
Keywords
Colour polymorphism, Feather, Flying, Foraging, Melanin, Stomach content
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
10/10/2014 10:12
Last modification date
20/08/2019 15:25
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