Age-Related Differences in a Carotenoid-Based Coloration Trait are Due to Within-Individual Changes in Great Tits Parus major

Ardea

Esther del Val²  Juan Carlos Senar²  Javier Quesada¹ 

[1] 1 Evolutionary Ecology Associate Research Unit (CSIC), Natural History Museum, Passeig Picasso s/n, 08003 Barcelona, Spain2 Catalan Ornithological Institute. Natural History Museum. Passeig Picasso s/n, 08003 Barcelona, Spain;1 Evolutionary Ecology Associate Research Unit (CSIC), Natural History Museum, Passeig Picasso s/n, 08003 Barcelona, Spain

关键词: Foraging Experience;   

DOI  :  

学科分类：动物科学

来源: Nederlandse Ornithologische Unie/Netherlands Ornithological Union

【 摘 要 】

Adultbirdsusuallydisplaybrighterplumagecolorationthanyoungerindividuals.Thisdifferencemaybeeitherduetoselectionagainstlesscolouredyearlingsortoanincreaseincolorationaftertheirfirstcompletemoult.Inthisstudy,weexaminedage-relateddifferencesincarotenoid-basedyellowventralcolorationofGreatTitsParusmajor.Cross-sectionalanalysesatthepopulationlevelshowedthatoldermalesareingeneralgreenerandmoresaturatedincolourthanyearlingindividuals.Longitudinalanalysesusingbirdscapturedinsubsequentseasonsconfirmedwithin-individualchangesincolorationwithage.Suchincreaseincolorationmightbetheresultofthedevelopmentofbetterforagingskillswithage-andhence,theindividualabilitytoobtainenoughcarotenoid-richsourcesatthetimeofmoult-,orconsequenceofotherfactorsindirectlyassociatedwithage.However,wecannotruleoutthepossibilitythatotherfactors(suchasdirectionalselectionagainstlesscolouredindividuals)operateadditionallyatthepopulationlevel.

【 授权许可】

Unknown