Multiple achromatic plumage ornaments signal to multiple receivers
We investigated whether achromatic plumage traits can act as multiple ornaments in an Arctic-breeding passerine, the snow bunting ( Plectrophenax nivalis ). Specifically, we examine whether multiple ornaments are providing multiple differing messages, are redundant, are unreliable signals of male qu...
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2012
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fthighwire:oai:open-archive.highwire.org:beheco:ars215v1 2023-05-15T15:04:11+02:00 Multiple achromatic plumage ornaments signal to multiple receivers Guindre-Parker, Sarah Gilchrist, H. Grant Baldo, Sarah Doucet, Stephanie M. Love, Oliver P. 2012-12-23 22:13:51.0 text/html http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/ars215v1 https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/ars215 en eng Oxford University Press http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/ars215v1 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/beheco/ars215 Copyright (C) 2012, International Society for Behavioral Ecology Research Article TEXT 2012 fthighwire https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/ars215 2016-11-16T18:36:51Z We investigated whether achromatic plumage traits can act as multiple ornaments in an Arctic-breeding passerine, the snow bunting ( Plectrophenax nivalis ). Specifically, we examine whether multiple ornaments are providing multiple differing messages, are redundant, are unreliable signals of male quality, or are aimed at different receivers. We measured plumage reflectance and pigmentation patterns made conspicuous during male inter- and intrasexual displays that advertise different plumage regions. Our results indicate that although several aspects of male plumage may have redundant messages, different body regions appear aimed at different receivers. The wings of males—displayed primarily toward females during courtship—appear to indicate a pair’s future reproductive performance. Conversely, melanin-based plumage reflectance displayed during intrasexual threat displays provides information on territory features and a male’s capacity to defend it (i.e., territory size, territory quality, testosterone levels). Taken together, we suggest that snow buntings have multiple ornaments that provide information of differential importance in inter- versus intrasexual communication. This study demonstrates that achromatic plumage traits can serve in complex communication. Text Arctic Plectrophenax nivalis Snow Bunting HighWire Press (Stanford University) Arctic Behavioral Ecology 24 3 672 682 |
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HighWire Press (Stanford University) |
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English |
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Research Article |
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Research Article Guindre-Parker, Sarah Gilchrist, H. Grant Baldo, Sarah Doucet, Stephanie M. Love, Oliver P. Multiple achromatic plumage ornaments signal to multiple receivers |
topic_facet |
Research Article |
description |
We investigated whether achromatic plumage traits can act as multiple ornaments in an Arctic-breeding passerine, the snow bunting ( Plectrophenax nivalis ). Specifically, we examine whether multiple ornaments are providing multiple differing messages, are redundant, are unreliable signals of male quality, or are aimed at different receivers. We measured plumage reflectance and pigmentation patterns made conspicuous during male inter- and intrasexual displays that advertise different plumage regions. Our results indicate that although several aspects of male plumage may have redundant messages, different body regions appear aimed at different receivers. The wings of males—displayed primarily toward females during courtship—appear to indicate a pair’s future reproductive performance. Conversely, melanin-based plumage reflectance displayed during intrasexual threat displays provides information on territory features and a male’s capacity to defend it (i.e., territory size, territory quality, testosterone levels). Taken together, we suggest that snow buntings have multiple ornaments that provide information of differential importance in inter- versus intrasexual communication. This study demonstrates that achromatic plumage traits can serve in complex communication. |
format |
Text |
author |
Guindre-Parker, Sarah Gilchrist, H. Grant Baldo, Sarah Doucet, Stephanie M. Love, Oliver P. |
author_facet |
Guindre-Parker, Sarah Gilchrist, H. Grant Baldo, Sarah Doucet, Stephanie M. Love, Oliver P. |
author_sort |
Guindre-Parker, Sarah |
title |
Multiple achromatic plumage ornaments signal to multiple receivers |
title_short |
Multiple achromatic plumage ornaments signal to multiple receivers |
title_full |
Multiple achromatic plumage ornaments signal to multiple receivers |
title_fullStr |
Multiple achromatic plumage ornaments signal to multiple receivers |
title_full_unstemmed |
Multiple achromatic plumage ornaments signal to multiple receivers |
title_sort |
multiple achromatic plumage ornaments signal to multiple receivers |
publisher |
Oxford University Press |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/ars215v1 https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/ars215 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Plectrophenax nivalis Snow Bunting |
genre_facet |
Arctic Plectrophenax nivalis Snow Bunting |
op_relation |
http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/ars215v1 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/beheco/ars215 |
op_rights |
Copyright (C) 2012, International Society for Behavioral Ecology |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/ars215 |
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Behavioral Ecology |
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24 |
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3 |
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672 |
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682 |
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1766335996120530944 |