Female ornamentation, parental quality, and competitive ability in the rock sparrow |
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Authors: | Matteo Griggio Valeria Zanollo Herbert Hoi |
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Institution: | (1) Konrad Lorenz Institute for Ethology, Savoyenstrasse 1 a, 1160 Vienna, Austria |
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Abstract: | The evolution of female ornaments is poorly understood. Recent evidence suggests not only that female ornaments may be genetic
correlates of selection on males but may also have evolved through male mate choice and/or through female–female aggressive
interactions. In the rock sparrow, Petronia petronia, both sexes have a carotenoid-based yellow patch that is sexually selected by both sexes. The benefits that male may gain
from choosing an attractive female remain unidentified. Both parents participate in caring for the young, so there should
be mutual mate choice because males and females should both benefit from choosing a good parent (good parent hypothesis; GPH).
Moreover, it has already been demonstrated that the yellow patch in males is also a badge of status (armament). Therefore,
the yellow patch could also serve as both ornament and armament in females (dual utility hypothesis; DUH). We investigated
the hypothesis that male and female yellow patch size signals parental quality in the field. We tested by an experiment in
captivity the signal function of the yellow patch in female–female aggressive interactions for access to food. Yellow patch
size correlated with paternal, but not maternal, feeding rates. Thus, this study supports the hypothesis that yellow patch
dimension signals male parental quality, but there is no evidence for the GPH to explain female ornamentation. In the experiment
females with relatively large yellow patches had earlier access to food than those with small patches. These results seem
to suggest that a sexually selected carotenoid-feather signal may be used in female–female competition, in agreement with
the DUH. Males may benefit from choosing well ornamented females because these may be superior competitors. |
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