Geography and age are related to plumage coloration of male Golden-winged Warblers (Vermivora chrysoptera)

2018 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
pp. 286-296
Author(s):  
Anna C. Tisdale ◽  
John Anthony Jones ◽  
Kyle R. Aldinger ◽  
Marja H. Bakermans ◽  
Jeffery L. Larkin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plumage Coloration ◽  
Vermivora Chrysoptera

scholarly journals Feather corticosterone levels are not correlated with health or plumage coloration in juvenile house finches

2018 ◽  
Vol 124 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuul Sepp ◽  
Steve Desaivre ◽  
Adam Z Lendvai ◽  
József Németh ◽  
Kevin J McGraw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plumage Coloration ◽  
House Finches ◽  
Feather Corticosterone

scholarly journals A wood-warbler produced through both interspecific and intergeneric hybridization

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 20180557 ◽  
Author(s):  
David P. L. Toews ◽  
Henry M. Streby ◽  
Lowell Burket ◽  
Scott A. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Intergeneric Hybridization ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Morphometric Traits ◽  
Early Generation ◽  
Phenotypic Differences ◽  
Vermivora Chrysoptera ◽  
Hybridization Event ◽  
Wood Warblers ◽  
Declining Populations ◽  
Female Hybrid

Hybridization between divergent taxa can provide insight into the breakdown of characters used in mate choice, as well as reproductive compatibility across deep evolutionary timescales. Hybridization can also occur more frequently in declining populations, as there is a smaller pool of conspecific mates from which to choose. Here, we report an unusual combination of factors that has resulted in a rare, three-species hybridization event among two genera of warblers, one of which is experiencing significant population declines. We use bioacoustic, morphometric and genetic data, to demonstrate that an early generation female hybrid between a golden-winged warbler ( Vermivora chrysoptera ) and a blue-winged warbler ( V. cyanoptera ) went on to mate and successfully reproduce with a chestnut-sided warbler ( Setophaga pensylvanica ) . We studied the product of this event—a putative chrysoptera × cyanoptera × pensylvanica hybrid—and show that this male offspring sang songs like S. pensylvanica , but had morphometric traits similar to Vermivora warblers. The hybrid's maternal parent had V. chrysoptera mitochondrial DNA and , with six plumage-associated loci, we predicted the maternal parent's phenotype to show that it was likely an early generation Vermivora hybrid . That this hybridization event occurred within a population of Vermivora warblers in significant decline suggests that females may be making the best of a bad situation, and that wood-warblers in general have remained genetically compatible long after they evolved major phenotypic differences.

scholarly journals Variables associated with nest survival of Golden-winged Warblers (Vermivora chrysoptera) among vegetation communities commonly used for nesting

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle R. Aldinger ◽  
Theron M. Terhune II ◽  
Petra B. Wood ◽  
David A. Buehler ◽  
Marja H. Bakermans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nest Survival ◽  
Vegetation Communities ◽  
Vermivora Chrysoptera

scholarly journals Plumage iridescence is associated with distinct feather microbiota in a tropical passerine

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronika Gvoždíková Javůrková ◽  
Erik D. Enbody ◽  
Jakub Kreisinger ◽  
Kryštof Chmel ◽  
Jakub Mrázek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Selection ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Plumage Coloration ◽  
Microbial Load ◽  
Sexual Dichromatism ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Fitness Consequences ◽  
Future Work

Abstract Birds present a stunning diversity of plumage colors that have long fascinated evolutionary ecologists. Although plumage coloration is often linked to sexual selection, it may impact a number of physiological processes, including microbial resistance. At present, the degree to which differences between pigment-based vs. structural plumage coloration may affect the feather microbiota remains unanswered. Using quantitative PCR and DGGE profiling, we investigated feather microbial load, diversity and community structure among two allopatric subspecies of White-shouldered Fairywren, Malurus alboscapulatus that vary in expression of melanin-based vs. structural plumage coloration. We found that microbial load tended to be lower and feather microbial diversity was significantly higher in the plumage of black iridescent males, compared to black matte females and brown individuals. Moreover, black iridescent males had distinct feather microbial communities compared to black matte females and brown individuals. We suggest that distinctive nanostructure properties of iridescent male feathers or different investment in preening influence feather microbiota community composition and load. This study is the first to point to structural plumage coloration as a factor that may significantly regulate feather microbiota. Future work might explore fitness consequences and the role of microorganisms in the evolution of avian sexual dichromatism, with particular reference to iridescence.

scholarly journals Mitochondrial DNA Variation, Species Limits, and Rapid Evolution of Plumage Coloration and Size in the Savannah Sparrow

The Condor ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 107 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M. Zink ◽  
James D. Rising ◽  
Steve Mockford ◽  
Andrew G. Horn ◽  
Jonathan M. Wright ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Nova Scotia ◽  
San Diego ◽  
Baja California ◽  
Rapid Evolution ◽  
Plumage Coloration ◽  
Phylogeographic Structure ◽  
Species Status ◽  
Passerculus Sandwichensis ◽  
Savannah Sparrows

Abstract We compared sequences from two mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genes (ND2, ND3) in Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis; n = 112) sampled from Baja California (five sites), coastal Sonora and the continental range (eight sites). Populations from Baja California, San Diego and Sonora formed a clade within which there was no phylogeographic structure; this clade merits species status (Passerculus rostratus). The other clade, consisting of phenotypically “typical” savannah sparrows, should be classified as P. sandwichensis. Among the typical sparrows, there was no phylogeographic structure, although two major clades were discovered. Representatives of each of the two main clades occurred at most sampling localities, excluding Suisan Bay, California and Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. Haplotypes found on Sable Island, representing the “Ipswich Sparrow,” were not distinctive, thereby failing to support species status for this taxon. On Isla San Benito, a single haplotype was found, which also occurred in other Mexican localities. The results for Sable Island and Isla San Benito show that size and plumage coloration can evolve rapidly. Variación en ADN Mitocondrial, Límites entre Especies y Evolución Rápida de la Coloración del Plumaje y el Tamaño en Passerculus sandwichensis Resumen. En este estudio comparamos secuencias de dos genes mitocondriales (ND2 y ND3) entre individuos de la especie Passerculus sandwichensis (n = 112) muestreados en Baja California (5 sitios), la costa de Sonora y el rango de distribución continental (8 sitios). Las poblaciones de Baja California, San Diego y Sonora formaron un clado, al interior del cual no existió estructura filogeográfica; este clado merece estatus de especie (Passerculus rostratus). El otro clado, conformado por individuos fenotípicamente “típicos”, debe clasificarse como P. sandwichensis. Entre los individuos típicos no existió estructura filogeográfica, aunque se descubrieron dos clados principales. Individuos representativos de cada uno de estos dos clados se encontraron en la mayoría de las localidades, excepto Suisan Bay, California y Sable Island, Nova Scotia. Los haplotipos encontrados en Sable Island, correspondientes al “gorrión de Ipswich” no fueron distintivos, lo que no apoya el estatus de especie para este taxón. En Isla San Benito se encontró un solo halpotipo, el cual también se encontraba en otras localidades mexicanas. Los resultados de Sable Island e Isla San Benito muestran que el tamaño y la coloración del plumaje pueden evolucionar rápidamente.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document