Pheomelanin-based coloration and the ability to cope with variation in food supply and parasitism.

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Version: Final published version
Serval ID
serval:BIB_EAB7DB3884DC
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Pheomelanin-based coloration and the ability to cope with variation in food supply and parasitism.
Journal
American Naturalist
Author(s)
Piault R., Gasparini J., Bize P., Jenni-Eiermann S., Roulin A.
ISSN
1537-5323 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0003-0147
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2009
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
174
Number
4
Pages
548-556
Language
english
Abstract
Although gene by environment interactions may play a key role in the maintenance of genetic polymorphisms, little is known about the ecological factors involved in these interactions. We investigated whether food supply and parasites can mediate covariation between the degree of adult pheomelanin-based coloration, a heritable trait, and offspring body mass in the tawny owl (Strix aluco). We swapped clutches between nests to allocate genotypes randomly among environments. Three weeks after hatching, we challenged the immune system of 80 unrelated nestlings with either a phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or a lipopolysaccharide, surrogates of alternative parasites, and then fed them ad lib. or food-restricted them during the following 6 days in the laboratory. Whatever the immune challenge, nestlings fed ad lib. converted food more efficiently into body mass when their biological mother was dark pheomelanic. In contrast, food-restricted nestlings challenged with PHA lost less body mass when their biological mother was pale pheomelanic. Nestling tawny owls born from differently melanic mothers thus show differing reaction norms relative to food availability and parasitism. This suggests that dark and pale pheomelanic owls reflect alternative adaptations to food availability and parasites, factors known to vary in space and time.
Keywords
Adaptation, Biological, Animals, Body Weight, Environment, Female, Food, Lipopolysaccharides, Male, Melanins/physiology, Phytohemagglutinins, Pigmentation, Strigiformes/parasitology, Strigiformes/physiology
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
19/05/2009 12:31
Last modification date
20/08/2019 16:13
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