In:
Journal of Evolutionary Biology, Oxford University Press (OUP), Vol. 36, No. 3 ( 2023-03-01), p. 579-588
Abstract:
Female ornamentation is frequently observed in animal species and is sometimes found as more evolutionary labile than male ornamentation. A complex array of factors may explain its presence and variation. Here we assessed the role of female cost of reproduction and paternal care. Both factors have been pinpointed as important by theoretical studies but have not been investigated yet in details at the interspecific level. We worked on 133 species of North temperate Passeriformes bird species for which both the clutch volume – here taken as the proxy of female cost of reproduction – and amount of paternal care are relatively well known. Using spectrometry, we measured the whole-body coloured plumage patches and quantified three metrics corresponding to brightness (i.e. achromatic component), colour chromaticity (i.e. intensity) and colour volume (i.e. diversity). We found a strong association between male and female colour metrics. Controlling for this association, we found additional small but detectable effects of both cost of reproduction and paternal care. First, females of species with more paternal care were slightly brighter. Second, the interaction between the level of paternal care and egg volume was correlated with female colour intensity: females with more paternal care were more chromatic, with this association mostly present when their investment in reproduction was low. Together these results suggest that female cost of reproduction and paternal care are part of the multiple factors explaining variation of female coloration, besides the strong covariation between male and female coloration. Abstract To a lesser extent than male conspicuous plumage, female plumage colouration may also vary across bird species. This study explores the role of egg production and male parental care in the evolution of female plumage colouration, using 133 species of songbirds. Pictures were provided by Justine Le Vaillant, David López-Idiáquez and Matthew Silk.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1420-9101
,
1010-061X
Language:
English
Publisher:
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Publication Date:
2023
detail.hit.zdb_id:
92624-3
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1465318-7
SSG:
12
