A female melanin ornament signals offspring fluctuating asymmetry in the barn owl.

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Serval ID
serval:BIB_FFD8B84CFE25
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
A female melanin ornament signals offspring fluctuating asymmetry in the barn owl.
Journal
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B Biological Sciences
Author(s)
Roulin A., Ducrest A.L., Balloux F., Dijkstra C., Riols C.
ISSN
0962-8452[print]
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2003
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
270
Number
1511
Pages
167-171
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
Sexual selection theory predicts that males advertise quality by displaying extravagant ornaments. By contrast, whether phenotypic variation in females has a signalling function remains an open question. Here, to our knowledge, we provide the first evidence that a female plumage trait can signal fluctuating asymmetry in the offspring. We experimentally demonstrate in wild barn owls (Tyto alba) that the extent to which females display black spots on their plumage does not only signal offspring parasite resistance as shown in a previous study but also developmental homeostasis in the offspring. A greater number of spotted females produced offspring that had more symmetrical feathers during the period of growth. Males, that pair non-randomly with respect to female plumage spottiness therefore appear to gain substantial benefits by mating with heavily spotted females. Genetic variation in plumage spottiness is nevertheless maintained as the covariation between offspring body mass and mother plumage spottiness varies annually depending on environmental conditions.
Keywords
Animals, Animals, Newborn/physiology, Feathers/physiology, Female, Genetic Variation, Male, Melanins/physiology, Reproduction, Sex Characteristics, Sexual Behavior, Animal, Strigiformes/genetics, Strigiformes/physiology
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
24/01/2008 17:43
Last modification date
20/08/2019 16:30
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