Proximate basis of the covariation between a melanin-based female ornament and offspring quality

Oecologia
Alexandre Roulin

Abstract

In contradiction to sexual selection theory, several studies showed that although the expression of melanin-based ornaments is usually under strong genetic control and weakly sensitive to the environment and body condition, they can signal individual quality. Covariation between a melanin-based ornament and phenotypic quality may result from pleiotropic effects of genes involved in the production of melanin pigments. Two categories of genes responsible for variation in melanin production may be relevant, namely those that trigger melanin production (yes or no response) and those that determine the amount of pigments produced. To investigate which of these two hypotheses is the most likely, I reanalysed data collected from barn owls ( Tyto alba). The underparts of this bird vary from immaculate to heavily marked with black spots of varying size. Published cross-fostering experiments have shown that the proportion of the plumage surface covered with black spots, a eumelanin composite trait so-called "plumage spottiness", in females positively covaries with offspring humoral immunocompetence, and negatively with offspring parasite resistance (i.show $132#e. the ability to reduce fecundity of ectoparasites) and fluctuating asymmetr...Continue Reading

References

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Feb 3, 2005·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Alexandre Roulin

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Citations

Jun 27, 2006·Die Naturwissenschaften·Alexandre RoulinMichel Beaud
Apr 19, 2016·Evolutionary Applications·Anna QvarnströmPäivi M Sirkiä
Feb 9, 2011·European Journal of Pharmacology·Alexandre Roulin, Anne-Lyse Ducrest
Jun 23, 2009·Hormones and Behavior·S KittilsenO Overli
Apr 11, 2015·Molecular Ecology·Luis M San-JoseAlexandre Roulin
Jan 30, 2009·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Rolf RødvenIvar Folstad
Dec 7, 2007·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Dominic WrightTommaso Pizzari
Jul 25, 2014·Journal of Evolutionary Biology·M F ScribaA Roulin
Mar 30, 2010·Journal of Evolutionary Biology·B AlmasiA Roulin
Aug 26, 2017·Journal of Biological Rhythms·Madeleine F ScribaAlexandre Roulin
Nov 11, 2011·Journal of Evolutionary Biology·A N DreissAlexandre Roulin
Dec 9, 2020·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Christopher T GriffinSterling J Nesbitt
May 10, 2017·Behavioural Processes·Maryline GaillardAlexandre Roulin

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