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Ornamental colors reveal age in the king penguin |
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| Authors: | Marion Nicolaus Céline Le Bohec Paul M Nolan Michel Gauthier-Clerc Yvon Le Maho Jan Komdeur Pierre Jouventin |
| Institution: | (1) C.N.R.S-C.E.F.E, Equipe Ecologie Comportementale, 34293 Montpellier Cedex 5, France;(2) C.N.R.S-C.E.P.E, 23, Rue Becquerel, 67087 Strasbourg Cedex 2, France;(3) Department of Biology, The Citadel, Charleston, SC 29409, USA;(4) Station Biologique de la Tour du Valat, Le Sambuc, 13200 Arles, France;(5) Animal Ecology Group, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of Groningen, PO Box 14, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands |
| Abstract: | We investigated whether delayed plumage maturation occurred in king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus). Therefore we examined the relationships between age and sex on spectral properties and size of two colored plumage patches and a UV-reflective beak spot, using known-age cohorts. Unlike the colored patch on the breast, we found age differences in ear and beak coloration. These results suggest that head ornaments in king penguins could signal sexual maturity or social status. No sex differences were found in the intensity of colored ornaments, which can result from mutual mate choice or genetic correlation between sexes. Size of colored patches did not relate to age or sex. |
| Keywords: | Plumage maturation UV Ornamental size Mutual ornamentation Aptenodytes patagonicus |
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