Egg coloration in ring-billed gulls (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Larus delawarensis</Emphasis>): a test of the sexual signaling hypothesis |
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Authors: | Daniel Hanley Stéphanie M Doucet |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Biology Building, Windsor, ON, N9B 3P4, Canada |
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Abstract: | Although many avian eggs appear to be cryptically colored, many species also lay vibrant blue green eggs. This seemingly conspicuous
coloration has puzzled biologists since Wallace, as natural selection should favor reduced egg visibility to minimize predation
pressure. The sexual signaling hypothesis posits that blue green egg coloration serves as a signal of female quality and that
males exert post-mating sexual selection on this trait by investing more in the nests of females laying more intensely blue
green eggs. This hypothesis has received mixed support to date, and most previous studies have been conducted in cavity-nesting
species where male evaluation of his partner’s egg coloration, relative to that of other females, may be somewhat limited.
In this study, we test the sexual signaling hypothesis in colonially nesting ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) where males have ample opportunity to assess their mate’s egg coloration relative to that of other females. We used correlational
data and an experimental manipulation to test four assumptions and predictions of the sexual signaling hypothesis: (1) blue
green pigmentation should be limiting to females; (2) extent of blue green egg coloration should relate to female quality;
(3) extent of blue green egg coloration should relate to offspring quality; and (4) males should provide more care to clutches
with higher blue green chroma. Our data provide little support for these predictions of the sexual signaling hypothesis in
ring-billed gulls. In light of this and other empirical data, we encourage future studies to consider additional hypotheses
for the evolution of blue green egg coloration. |
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Keywords: | Sexual signaling hypothesis Egg coloration Ring-billed gull Parental investment Biliverdin |
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