Contrasting patterns of selection on the size and coloration of a female plumage ornament in common yellowthroats

Females often possess ornaments that appear smaller and duller than homologous traits in males. These ornaments may arise as nonfunctional by‐products of sexual selection in males and cause negative viability or fecundity selection in females in proportion to the cost of their production and mainten...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of evolutionary biology 2014-05, Vol.27 (5), p.982-991
Main Authors: Freeman‐Gallant, C. R., Schneider, R. L., Taff, C. C., Dunn, P. O., Whittingham, L. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age Factors
Animal reproduction
Animals
Behavioral biology
Birds
Body Size
Carotenoids - metabolism
Clutch Size
Color
condition dependence
epigamic signalling
Evolutionary biology
Feathers - metabolism
Female
good genes
Male
Mating Preference, Animal - physiology
Passeriformes - physiology
Pigmentation - physiology
Selection, Genetic
Sex Characteristics
sexual dimorphism
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Summary:Females often possess ornaments that appear smaller and duller than homologous traits in males. These ornaments may arise as nonfunctional by‐products of sexual selection in males and cause negative viability or fecundity selection in females in proportion to the cost of their production and maintenance. Alternatively, female ornaments may function as signals of quality that are maintained by sexual or social selection. In a 4‐year study of 83 female common yellowthroats (Geothlypis trichas) and their 222 young, we found strong viability and fecundity selection on the yellow bib, a carotenoid‐based plumage ornament that is a target of sexual selection in males. Females with larger bibs were older, larger and more fecund than females with smaller bibs. However, bib size positively covaried with bib total brightness and carotenoid chroma, aspects of bib coloration that were under negative viability and fecundity selection. Females with more colourful bibs laid fewer eggs in their first clutch, were more likely to suffer total brood loss due to predation and were less likely to return to the study area. Selection against bib coloration limits the value of bib size as a quality indicator in females and may constrain the elaboration of bib attributes in males.
ISSN:1010-061X
1420-9101
DOI:10.1111/jeb.12369