The number and coloration of white flank spots predict the strength of a cutaneous immune response in female Diamond Firetails, Stagonopleura guttata

Zanollo, Valeria; Griggio, Matteo; Robertson, Jeremy; Kleindorfer, Sonia

doi:10.1007/s10336-012-0855-x

Cited by 26 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 89 publications

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“…Indeed, our results are similar to a recent study that found carotenoid-based ornamentation was related to immunity in female American goldfinches (Spinus tristis) but not in males (Kelly et al, 2012). While it is becoming increasingly clear that discrete white plumage patches can be related to individual condition (McGlothlin et al, 2007), quality (Hanssen et al, 2006(Hanssen et al, , 2009Zanollo et al, 2012) or offspring quality (Remeš and Matysioková, 2013), very few studies have examined the reflectance of large white plumage areas (but see Bonato et al, 2009Bonato et al, , 2013. Bonato et al (2013) found a positive relationship between the white brightness of the genetic father and humoral immunity in offspring, a result quite similar to the one we found for innate immunity.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…White brightness may be associated with either the quantity or activity of complement enzymes or lysozyme that are primarily responsible for this aspect of the innate immune response (Matson et al, 2006). The results for females were similar to other recent studies that indicated the size, number or reflectance of white plumage patches is related to the strength of the immune response or parasite load in female birds (Hanssen et al, 2006;Zanollo et al, 2012;Blanco and Fargallo, 2013). Our results suggest that greater attention should be paid to the reflectance of large, white patches of plumage, which are infrequently examined in most avian studies despite being relatively common.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…In female common eiders (Somateria mollissima), smaller white wing bands are associated with immunosuppression (Hanssen et al, 2006), while larger wing patches are associated with lower parasite loads in Eurasian black-billed magpies (Pica pica) (Blanco and Fargallo, 2013). A greater number of white spots and spots with greater UV reflectance are associated with a stronger cutaneous immune response in female diamond firetails (Stagonopleura guttata) (Zanollo et al, 2012). It seems that in both sexes, structural plumage coloration may be associated with 'good genes' for greater immunocompetence or more colorful individuals may be in better condition and thus mount stronger immune responses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Relationships among plumage coloration, blood selenium concentrations, and immune responses of adult and nestling tree swallows

Beck

Hawley

2015

Journal of Experimental Biology

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In a number of taxa, males and females both display ornaments that may be associated with individual quality and could be reliable signals to potential mates or rivals. We examined the iridescent blue/green back and white breast of adult tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) to determine whether plumage reflectance is related to adult or offspring immune responses. We simultaneously addressed the influence of blood selenium levels and the interaction between blood selenium and plumage coloration on adult and nestling immunity. Selenium is a wellknown antioxidant necessary for mounting a robust immune response but its importance in wild birds remains poorly understood. In females, the brightness of white breast coloration was positively associated with bactericidal capacity, but there was no association with blood selenium. In contrast, male bactericidal capacity was associated with an interactive effect between dorsal plumage coloration and blood selenium concentration. Males with bluer hues and greater blue chroma showed increased bactericidal capacity as blood selenium concentrations increased, while bactericidal capacity declined in greener males at higher blood selenium concentrations. In nestlings, bactericidal capacity was positively associated with nestling blood selenium concentrations and white brightness of both social parents. These results suggest that white plumage reflectance is indicative of quality in tree swallows and that greater attention should be paid to the reflectance of large white plumage patches. Additionally, the role of micronutrients, such as selenium, in mediating relationships between physiology and signals of quality, should be explored further.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Relationships among plumage coloration, blood selenium concentrations, and immune responses of adult and nestling tree swallows

Beck

Hawley

2015

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…From our (Zanollo et al. ) and Higgins () observations, birds appear to pair anew for each clutch of eggs. Birds are dimorphic in the number of white flank spots: females have more white spots than males (Zanollo et al.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…; Zanollo et al. ). Male Diamond Firetails have an elaborate courtship display that combines four different traits: (1).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Males with a Faster Courtship Display have More White Spots and Higher Pairing Success in the Diamond Firetail, Stagonopleura guttata

et al. 2013

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There is growing evidence that female mate choice could be based on a combination of multiple signals that often involve both ornamental colourful traits and behavioural displays. The Diamond Firetail is an Australian finch with a variable number of white spots on their black flank feathers. The number of white spots is a dimorphic characteristic: females have more spots than males, and males prefer females with many spots. Previously, we found assortative pairing for spot number despite the absence of experimental evidence for female preference for male spot number. Here, we test whether the male behavioural courtship display (bobbing while waving a grass stem) correlates with male spot number and pairing success. We also test whether male spot number predicts the outcome (winner or loser) of intrasexual competition over courtship materials (grass stem, perch, nest site). Males with many spots had higher pairing success, and male spot number correlated with the intensity of courtship display. In a multivariate statistical analysis, male courtship display was the stronger predictor of male pairing success. Finally, male spot number predicted the outcome of intrasexual interactions: males with many spots consistently won contests over grass stems, perches and nest sites. We suggest that intrasexual selection could favour male spot number, whereas courtship intensity appears to be under stronger intersexual selectio

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Blood parasite infection differentially relates to carotenoid‐based plumage and bill color in the American goldfinch

Lumpkin

Murphy

Tarvin

2014

Ecology and Evolution

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Male and female American goldfinches (Spinus tristis) express condition-dependent carotenoid-based plumage and bill coloration. Plumage color is relatively static, as pigments incorporated into feathers during the spring molt cannot be mobilized thereafter. In contrast, bill color is dynamic, reflecting changes in condition over short time periods. Previous studies have shown that male and female ornaments, though similar in expression, are differentially related to measures of immunocompetence, suggesting that the relationship between ornamentation and parasite infection may differ between the sexes. In this study, we evaluate the relationship between condition-dependent ornamentation (plumage and bill color) and blood parasite infection in male and female American goldfinches. We captured goldfinches after completion of the pre-alternate molt and prior to the onset of nesting and assessed prevalence of Trypanosoma parasites via blood smears. Plumage color strongly predicted trypanosome infection: Birds with more colorful plumage were less likely to present infections. In contrast, we detected no relationship between infection and bill color, which in other studies has been shown to dynamically reflect current condition. Sex did not affect the relationship between infection status and either ornament. Together, these results suggest that physiological pathways linking carotenoid ornamentation and infection may vary even within a single species.

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The number and coloration of white flank spots predict the strength of a cutaneous immune response in female Diamond Firetails, Stagonopleura guttata

Cited by 26 publications

References 89 publications

Relationships among plumage coloration, blood selenium concentrations, and immune responses of adult and nestling tree swallows

Relationships among plumage coloration, blood selenium concentrations, and immune responses of adult and nestling tree swallows

Males with a Faster Courtship Display have More White Spots and Higher Pairing Success in the Diamond Firetail, Stagonopleura guttata

Blood parasite infection differentially relates to carotenoid‐based plumage and bill color in the American goldfinch

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