Natural soiling has a small effect on structurally-based plumage coloration

Surmacki, Adrian

doi:10.1163/157075511x596918

Cited by 6 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…), changes in the thickness and composition of the preen gland wax (Pérez‐Rodríguez et al . , Surmacki ) and, for carotenoid‐based traits, also pigment degradation (McGraw & Hill , Surmacki , Higginson et al . ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

When to measure plumage reflectance: a lesson from Collared FlycatchersFicedula albicollis

Hegyi

Laczi

Boross

et al. 2018

Ibis

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Sexually selected colour traits of bird plumage are widely studied. Although the plumage is replaced only at one or two yearly moults, plumage colour has long been shown to change between moults. Nevertheless, most studies measure colour weeks to months after the courtship period, typically at nestling rearing, and it is unclear whether these measurements yield relevant data concerning the primary process of sexual selection. Here we analyse repeated spectrometric data taken from male Collared Flycatchers during social courtship and nestling rearing. We show that some spectral traits are not correlated between the two measurements and that within‐individual correlation declines significantly with the likely exposure of the plumage area to damage and soiling. There is an overall decline in spectral trait exaggeration during breeding, but trait decline is not closely related to measurement latency, especially not in the damage‐exposed areas. Finally, sexual selection estimates differ depending on whether they are derived from spectra measured during courtship or during nestling rearing. These results suggest that, contrary to current practice, measurements of plumage reflectance should be made during the primary period of sexual signalling. Spectral trait decline during breeding could also be studied as a possible signal for mates and neighbours.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

When to measure plumage reflectance: a lesson from Collared FlycatchersFicedula albicollis

Hegyi

Laczi

Boross

et al. 2018

Ibis

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“…Grooming could then also efficiently eliminate metals, among other particles, from the surface of the plumage, and explain our observations. Urban pollution could also alter plumage quality by altering visual characteristics (such as in reflectance in UV range and yellow chroma Griggio et al 2011;Pérez-Rodríguez et al 2011;Surmacki 2011) and select for increased plumage care among males. Interestingly, we found differences between metals: contrary to what we found for the three other metals, external depositions in zinc were similar between males and females.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex-associated differences in trace metals concentrations in and on the plumage of a common urban bird species

et al. 2015

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Urban areas encompass both favorable and stressful conditions linked with human activities and pollution. Pollutants remain of major ecological importance for synanthropic organisms living in the city. Plumage of urban birds harbour trace metals, which can result from external deposition or from internal accumulation. External and internal plumage concentrations likely differ between specific trace metals, and may further differ between males and females because of potential sex-linked differential urban use, physiology or behaviour. Here, we measured the concentrations in four trace metals (cadmium, copper, lead and zinc) in both unwashed and washed feathers of 49 male and 38 female feral pigeons (Columba livia) from Parisian agglomeration. We found that these concentrations indeed differed between unwashed and washed feathers, between males and females, and for some metals depended on the interaction between these factors. We discuss these results in the light of physiological and behavioural differences between males and females and of spatial repartition of the four trace metals in the city.

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“…This may be due to accidental staining with organic or inorganic substances (Ficken & Ficken, 1962;Kennard, 1918;Shawkey et al, 2011;Surmacki, 2011;Surmacki & Nowakowski, 2007), abrasion (Fig uerola & Senar, 2004;Veiga, 1996;Willoughby et al, 2002), saprophytic fungal growth (Clubb & Herron, 1998), denaturation of pigments (Blanco et al, 2005), or to the deliberate application of some substances over the feathers by the birds themselves (i.e., cosmetic coloration; Delhey et al, 2007;Montgomerie, 2006;Negro et al, 1999;van Overheld et al, 2017;Pérez-Rodríguez et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…But there are an increasing number of evidences showing that feather coloration may change between molting periods, even during short‐term ones. This may be due to accidental staining with organic or inorganic substances (Ficken & Ficken, 1962 ; Kennard, 1918 ; Shawkey et al., 2011 ; Surmacki, 2011 ; Surmacki & Nowakowski, 2007 ), abrasion (Fig uerola & Senar, 2004 ; Surmacki et al., 2011 ; Veiga, 1996 ; Willoughby et al., 2002 ), saprophytic fungal growth (Clubb & Herron, 1998 ), denaturation of pigments (Blanco et al., 2005 ), or to the deliberate application of some substances over the feathers by the birds themselves (i.e., cosmetic coloration; Delhey et al., 2007 ; Montgomerie, 2006 ; Negro et al., 1999 ; van Overheld et al., 2017 ; Pérez‐Rodríguez et al., 2011 ). Both male and female greater flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus apply over their plumage, as makeup, uropygial secretions pigmented with carotenoids that make their feathers redder (Amat et al., 2011 , 2018 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The color of greater flamingo feathers fades when no cosmetics are applied

Chiale

Rendón

Labaude

et al. 2021

Ecology and Evolution

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Greater flamingos use cosmetic coloration by spreading uropygial secretions pigmented with carotenoids over their feathers, which makes the plumage redder.Because flamingos inhabit open environments that receive direct solar radiation during daytime, and carotenoids bleach when exposed to solar radiation, we expected that the plumage color would fade if there is no maintenance for cosmetic purposes.Here, we show that the concentrations of pigments inside feathers and on the surface of feathers were correlated, as well as that there was a correlation between the concentrations of pigments in the uropygial secretions and on the surface of feathers. There was fading in color (becoming less red) in feathers that received direct solar radiation when there was no plumage maintenance, but not so in others maintained in darkness. When we controlled for the initial color of feathers, the feathers of those individuals with higher concentration of pigments on the feather surfaces were those that lost less coloration after experimental exposure of feathers to sunny conditions. These results indicate that exposure to sunlight is correlated with the fading of feather color, which suggests that individuals need to regularly apply makeup to be more colorful. These results also reinforce the view that these birds use cosmetic coloration as a signal amplifier of plumage color. This may be important in species using highly variable habitats, such as wetlands, since the conditions experienced when molting may differ from those when the signal should be functional, usually months after molting.

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Natural soiling has a small effect on structurally-based plumage coloration

Cited by 6 publications

References 32 publications

When to measure plumage reflectance: a lesson from Collared FlycatchersFicedula albicollis

When to measure plumage reflectance: a lesson from Collared FlycatchersFicedula albicollis

Sex-associated differences in trace metals concentrations in and on the plumage of a common urban bird species

The color of greater flamingo feathers fades when no cosmetics are applied

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