Pairing success relative to male plumage redness and pigment symmetry in the house finch: temporal and geographic constancy |
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Authors: | Hill Geoffrey E; Nolan Paul M; Stoehr Andrew M |
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Institution: | Department of Zoology and Wildlife Science and Alabama
Agricultural Experiment Station, 331 Funchess Hall, Auburn University,
Auburn, AL 36849-5414, USA |
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Abstract: | Male house finches (Carpodacus mexicanus) have carotenoid-based
ornamentalplumage coloration. In previous research it was shown that fora
single population of house finches in a single year, malesthat paired were on
average redder in plumage coloration thanmales that did not pair, and males
with redder plumage tendedto nest earlier than males with less red plumage.
Here we showthat these patterns continued over 6 years and at two widely
separatedlocations. We also tested whether the symmetry of carotenoid-based
crownpigmentation differed between paired and unpaired males andfound that
paired males have, on average, more perfect symmetryof crown pigmentation
than males not paired. These observationssupport the idea that expression of
carotenoid-based plumagecoloration by males is a persistent and widespread
criterionin female mate choice in the house finch. |
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Keywords: | carotenoids Carpodacus mexicanus fluctuating asymmetry mate choice sexual selection |
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