80.
The signaling function of carotenoid-based plumage is mainly determined by the concentration of pigments in feathers. For
this reason, most studies of the proximate control of coloration focus on processes during and preceding moult. In great tits
Parus major, past research demonstrates that carotenoid-based plumage coloration honestly indicates male quality and, thus, may be a
sexually selected signal. In this study, we investigate how dirt and preen oil influence the coloration of carotenoid-based
feathers in the great tit. We collected six feathers from each individual bird; three feathers served as controls while the
remaining three feathers were washed with a chloroform/methanol mixture to remove soil and preen waxes. We assessed plumage
coloration using digital photography. This cleaning procedure slightly enhanced ornamentation; the experimentally cleaned
feathers expressed hues shifted towards shorter wavelengths and expressed brighter overall coloration than control feathers.
This is the first experimental study conducted on wild birds demonstrating that, in addition to pigment concentration, the
presence of preen waxes and soils on feathers may contribute to variation in coloration.
相似文献