Dissecting carotenoid from structural components of carotenoid-based coloration: a field experiment with great tits (Parus major).
Details
State: Public
Version: Final published version
Serval ID
serval:BIB_0E6C3F1B5794
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Dissecting carotenoid from structural components of carotenoid-based coloration: a field experiment with great tits (Parus major).
Journal
American Naturalist
ISSN
1537-5323 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0003-0147
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2010
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
176
Number
1
Pages
55-62
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Publication Status: ppublish
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
Carotenoid-based yellowish to red plumage colors are widespread visual signals used in sexual and social communication. To understand their ultimate signaling functions, it is important to identify the proximate mechanism promoting variation in coloration. Carotenoid-based colors combine structural and pigmentary components, but the importance of the contribution of structural components to variation in pigment-based colors (i.e., carotenoid-based colors) has been undervalued. In a field experiment with great tits (Parus major), we combined a brood size manipulation with a simultaneous carotenoid supplementation in order to disentangle the effects of carotenoid availability and early growth condition on different components of the yellow breast feathers. By defining independent measures of feather carotenoid content (absolute carotenoid chroma) and background structure (background reflectance), we demonstrate that environmental factors experienced during the nestling period, namely, early growth conditions and carotenoid availability, contribute independently to variation in yellow plumage coloration. While early growth conditions affected the background reflectance of the plumage, the availability of carotenoids affected the absolute carotenoid chroma, the peak of maximum ultraviolet reflectance, and the overall shape, that is, chromatic information of the reflectance curves. These findings demonstrate that environment-induced variation in background structure contributes significantly to intraspecific variation in yellow carotenoid-based plumage coloration.
Keywords
Animal Communication, Animals, Carotenoids/administration & dosage, Carotenoids/metabolism, Color, Computer Simulation, Feathers/anatomy & histology, Feathers/metabolism, Passeriformes/metabolism, Passeriformes/physiology, Pigmentation/physiology, Switzerland, Ultraviolet Rays
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
12/11/2010 10:35
Last modification date
20/08/2019 13:35