Do sexual ornaments demonstrate heightened condition-dependent expression as predicted by the handicap hypothesis?

Cotton, Samuel; Fowler, Kevin; Pomiankowski, Andrew

doi:10.1098/rspb.2004.2688

Cited by 563 publications

(718 citation statements)

References 97 publications

(143 reference statements)

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“…Thus, although the plumage coloration of males and females is differently affected by the brood size, it may be that the added demands on males to grow faster and develop more exaggerated plumage color cause males to suffer more from being reared in enlarged broods. These results are consistent with predictions from the sexual selection theory that more-exaggerated ornaments will be more sensitive to environmental conditions (Cotton et al 2004). An alternative explanation is that in the enlarged broods, females are better able to compete for the limited food resources than males.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

The effect of rearing environment on blue structural coloration of eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis)

Siefferman

Hill

2007

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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We used a brood-size manipulation to test the effect of rearing environment on structural coloration of feathers grown by eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) nestlings. Ultraviolet (UV)-blue structural coloration has been shown to be sexually selected in this species. Our experimental design took advantage of the growth of UV-blue wing feathers in nestlings that are retained as part of the first nuptial plumage. We cross-fostered nestlings to create enlarged and reduced broods with the purpose of manipulating parental feeding rates and measured the effect on nestling growth and plumage coloration. Brood size influenced feeding rates to offspring, but the effect varied with season. In general, male nestlings reared in reduced broods were fed more often, weighed more, and displayed brighter structural plumage compared to nestlings reared in enlarged broods. Female nestlings appeared to experience less adverse affects of brood enlargement, and we did not detect an effect of brood-size manipulation on the plumage coloration of female nestlings. Measures of plumage coloration in both males and females, however, were correlated to hatching date and nestling mass during feather development. These data provide empirical evidence that environmental quality can influence the development of the blue structural coloration of feathers and that males may be more sensitive to environmental fluctuations than females.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

The effect of rearing environment on blue structural coloration of eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis)

Siefferman

Hill

2007

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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“…2004). This includes traits that are subject to precopulatory male–male competition (e.g., Emlen 1994) and female choice (e.g., David et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Condition dependence of male and female reproductive success: insights from a simultaneous hermaphrodite

Janicke

Chapuis

2016

Ecology and Evolution

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Sexually selected traits are predicted to show condition dependence by capturing the genetic quality of its bearer. In separate‐sexed organisms, this will ultimately translate into condition dependence of reproductive success of the sex that experiences sexual selection, which is typically the male. Such condition dependence of reproductive success is predicted to be higher in males than females under conditions promoting intense sexual selection. For simultaneous hermaphrodites, however, sex allocation theory predicts that individuals in poor condition channel relatively more resources into the male sex function at the expense of the female function. Thus, male reproductive success is expected to be less condition dependent than female reproductive success. We subjected individuals of the simultaneously hermaphroditic snail Physa acuta to two feeding treatments to test for condition dependence of male and female reproductive success under varying levels of male–male competition. Condition dependence was found for female, but not for male, reproductive success, meaning that selection on condition is relatively stronger through the female sex function. This effect was consistent over both male–male competition treatments. Decomposition of male and female reproductive performance revealed that individuals in poor condition copulated more in their male role, indicating an increased male allocation to mate acquisition. These findings suggest that sex‐specific condition dependence of reproductive success is at least partially driven by condition‐dependent sex allocation. We discuss the implications of condition‐dependent sex allocation for the evolution of sexually selected traits in simultaneous hermaphrodites.

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“…There is, thus, little support for the Hamilton-Zuk hypothesis of parasite-mediated sexual selection (Hamilton & Zuk, 1982) as an explanation for male colour in mandrills. However, correlational studies provide weak tests of the relationship between ornaments and condition (Cotton, Fowler, & Pomiankowski, 2004), and improved measures of immune system quality are needed for a robust test of the hypothesis that colour signals health in this species. Red is also unrelated to either overall genetic diversity or to MHC diversity (Setchell et al, 2009).…”

Section: Mandrillsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Color in competition contexts in non-human animals

Setchell¹

2015

Handbook of Color Psychology

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show abstract

Do sexual ornaments demonstrate heightened condition-dependent expression as predicted by the handicap hypothesis?

Cited by 563 publications

References 97 publications

The effect of rearing environment on blue structural coloration of eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis)

The effect of rearing environment on blue structural coloration of eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis)

Condition dependence of male and female reproductive success: insights from a simultaneous hermaphrodite

Color in competition contexts in non-human animals

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