Red coloration of male northern cardinals correlates with mate quality and territory quality |
| |
Authors: | Wolfenbarger L LaReesa |
| |
Institution: | Section of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University,
Ithaca, NY 14853-2702, USA |
| |
Abstract: | I investigated how mate quality and territory quality influencean
extravagant ornament in a socially monogamous species thatdefends
multipurpose territories. Northern cardinals (Cardinaliscardinalis)
are a highly dichromatic, socially monogamous species,and males are a
brilliant red. I conducted a 3-year field studyof northern cardinals and
found that redder males produced moreoffspring in a breeding season. Two
selective factors mediatedthis fitness gain. Redder males were paired with
earlier breedingfemales, an established measure of mate quality in birds.
Second,redder males obtained territories of higher quality, as measuredby
vegetation density. Interactions among these factors werealso important in
explaining variance in male reproductive success.Multivariate analysis
indicated that earlier breeding increasedreproductive success independent of
territory quality. In turn,territory quality contributed to male reproductive
success throughits effect on nest survival and possibly through its role in
attractingan earlier breeding female. |
| |
Keywords: | Cardinalis cardinalis plumage coloration laying date mate quality ornament reproductive success territory quality |
本文献已被 Oxford 等数据库收录! |
|