Carotenoids,immune response and the expression of sexual ornaments in male greenfinches (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Carduelis chloris</Emphasis>) |
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Authors: | Eduardo Aguilera Juan A Amat |
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Institution: | 1.Department of Evolutionary Biology,Estación Biológica de Do?ana, CSIC,Seville,Spain |
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Abstract: | Allocation trade-offs of carotenoids between their use in the immune system and production of sexual ornaments have been suggested
as a proximate mechanism maintaining honesty of sexual signals. To test this idea, we experimentally examined whether carotenoid
availability in the diet was related to variation in antibody response to novel antigens in male greenfinches (Carduelis chloris aurantiiventris), a species with extensive carotenoid-dependent plumage colouration. We also measured the cost of mounting a humoral response
in terms of circulating carotenoids. Finally, we examined the relationship between plumage colour, immune response and circulating
carotenoids. We found that males with carotenoid-supplemented diets showed stronger antibody response than non-supplemented
birds. We also found that activation of the immune system significantly reduced circulating carotenoids (24.9% lower in immune-challenged
birds than in control birds). Finally, intensity (chroma) of ventral plumage colouration of males, a character directly related
to concentration of total carotenoids in feathers, was negatively correlated with the immune response and circulating carotenoids
in winter. These results support the idea that carotenoids are a limiting resource and that males trade ornamental colouration
against immune response. |
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Keywords: | Sexual selection Immune response Carotenoids Plumage colour |
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