Moult speed constrains the expression of a carotenoid‐based sexual ornament

We investigated the effect of moult speed on the expression of a sexually selected, carotenoid‐based feather ornament in the rock sparrow (Petronia petronia). We experimentally accelerated the moult speed of a group of birds by exposing them to a rapidly decreasing photoperiod and compared the area...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of evolutionary biology 2007-09, Vol.20 (5), p.2028-2034
Main Authors: SERRA, L., GRIGGIO, M., LICHERI, D., PILASTRO, A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal Communication
Animal reproduction
Animals
Birds
carotenoids
Carotenoids - metabolism
Color
Evolutionary biology
Feathers - anatomy & histology
Feathers - growth & development
Feathers - metabolism
Female
honest advertisement
life‐history evolution
Male
Mating Preference, Animal
Molting - physiology
multiple signals
Petronia petronia
photoperiod
sexual selection
Sparrows - anatomy & histology
Sparrows - growth & development
Sparrows - metabolism
structural colours
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Summary:We investigated the effect of moult speed on the expression of a sexually selected, carotenoid‐based feather ornament in the rock sparrow (Petronia petronia). We experimentally accelerated the moult speed of a group of birds by exposing them to a rapidly decreasing photoperiod and compared the area and the spectral characteristics of their ornaments with those of control birds. Birds with accelerated moulting rate showed a smaller yellow patch with lower yellow reflectance compared to their slow‐moulting counterparts. Considering that the time available for moulting is usually constrained between the end of the breeding season and migration or wintering, carotenoid feather ornaments, whose expression is mediated by moult speed, may convey long term information about an individual's condition, potentially encompassing the previous breeding season. Furthermore, the observed trade‐off between moult speed and ornament expression may represent a previously unrecognized selective advantage for early breeding birds.
ISSN:1010-061X
1420-9101
DOI:10.1111/j.1420-9101.2007.01360.x