Experimental evidence that egg color indicates female condition at laying in a songbird |
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| Authors: | Moreno Juan; Lobato Elisa; Morales Judith; Merino Santiago; Tomas Gustavo; Martinez-de la Puente Josue; Sanz Juan J; Mateo Rafael; Soler Juan J |
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| Institution: | a Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC), J. Gutiérrez Abascal 2, E-28006 Madrid, Spain, b Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos-CSIC, Ronda de Toledo S/N, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain, and c Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas-CSIC, General Segura 1, E-04001 Almería, Spain |
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| Abstract: | The signaling hypothesis of eggshell coloration in birds isbased on the assumption that females of species with blue-greeneggs signal their phenotypic quality to their mates throughdeposition of the antioxidant biliverdin as pigment. Egg pigmentationmay be an expression of the condition of females at laying orof genetic linkages between egg color and female performancevariables. We have supplemented 16 pied flycatcher, Ficedulahypoleuca, females with mealworms before and during laying andcompared the mass and color of their eggs as measured on theday of laying to those of 16 control females with the same nestconstruction and laying dates and clutch sizes. Supplementedfemales laid significantly heavier and more intensely blue-greeneggs than control females. Egg blue-green chroma was significantlyassociated with the amount of biliverdin in eggshells. Egg color,and thus biliverdin content, is an expression of female conditionat laying. |
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| Keywords: | biliverdin color analysis egg coloration eggshell pigments female condition food supplement nutrition phenotypic quality sexual selection signaling |
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