Carotenoid coloration is related to fat digestion efficiency in a wild bird

Die Naturwissenschaften
Christina MadoniaTuul Sepp

Abstract

Some of the most spectacular visual signals found in the animal kingdom are based on dietarily derived carotenoid pigments (which cannot be produced de novo), with a general assumption that carotenoids are limited resources for wild organisms, causing trade-offs in allocation of carotenoids to different physiological functions and ornamentation. This resource trade-off view has been recently questioned, since the efficiency of carotenoid processing may relax the trade-off between allocation toward condition or ornamentation. This hypothesis has so far received little exploratory support, since studies of digestive efficiency of wild animals are limited due to methodological difficulties. Recently, a method for quantifying the percentage of fat in fecal samples to measure digestive efficiency has been developed in birds. Here, we use this method to test if the intensity of the carotenoid-based coloration predicts digestive efficiency in a wild bird, the house finch (Haemorhous mexicanus). The redness of carotenoid feather coloration (hue) positively predicted digestion efficiency, with redder birds being more efficient at absorbing fats from seeds. We show for the first time in a wild species that digestive efficiency predicts o...Continue Reading

Associated Datasets

References

Oct 1, 1994·Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition·M TranR Kuijten
Jul 20, 2002·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology·K J McGrawR S Parker
Nov 24, 2004·Die Naturwissenschaften·Geoffrey E Hill, Kristy L Farmer
Oct 6, 2005·Physiology & Behavior·Kevin J McGraw, Robert S Parker
Nov 21, 2007·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Enrique Caviedes-VidalWilliam H Karasov
May 4, 2010·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Lorenzo Pérez-RodríguezCarlos Alonso-Alvarez
Jan 17, 2012·Journal of Comparative Physiology. B, Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology·Kevin D Kohl
Mar 1, 2012·Nutrition in Clinical Practice : Official Publication of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition·Rosa Krajmalnik-BrownJohn K DiBaise
May 6, 2014·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Geoffrey E Hill
Sep 14, 2016·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Ismael GalvánJuan José Negro
Feb 9, 2017·Trends in Genetics : TIG·David P L ToewsScott A Taylor

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Oct 15, 2019·Evolutionary Anthropology·Laís A A MoreiraAmanda D Melin
Mar 25, 2021·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Chloe PeneauxAndrea S Griffin

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
Assay

Software Mentioned

Dryad
R
ImageJ

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.