How feather colour reflects its carotenoid content

Functional Ecology

Volumn 17, Issue 4, 2003, Pages 555-561

  Saks, Lauri ^a   McGraw, Kevin ^b   Hõrak, Peeter ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF TARTU   (Estonia)

^b Department of Obstetrics Gynecology   (United States)

Author keywords

Canary xanthophyll; Carduelis chloris; Feather carotenoid content; Plumage coloration

Indexed keywords

CAROTENOID; COLOR; FEATHER; PLUMAGE;

AVES; CARDUELIS; CARDUELIS CHLORIS; CHLORIS;

EID: 0042853406     PISSN: 02698463     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2435.2003.00765.x     Document Type: Article

References (36)

1. Auber, L. (1957) The distribution of structural colours and unusual pigments in the class Aves. Ibis 99, 463-467.
2. Bendich, A. (1989) Carotenoids and the immune response. Journal of Nutrition 119, 112-115.
3. Britton, G. (1985) General carotenoid methods. Methods in Enzymology 111, 113-149.
4. Cramp, P. & Perrins, C.M. (1994) The Birds of the Western Palearctic, Vol. VII. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
5. Eley, C. (1991) Status signalling in the Western greenfinch (Carduelis chloris). PhD Thesis, University of Sussex, UK.
6. Endler, J.A. (1990) On the measurement and classification of colour in studies of animal colour patterns. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 41, 315-352.
7. Figuerola, J., Munoz, E., Gutierrez, R. & Ferrer, D. (1999) Blood parasites, leucocytes and plumage brightness in the Cirl bunting, Emberiza cirlus. Functional Ecology 13, 594-601.
8. Fitzpatrick, S. (1998) Colour schemes for birds: structural coloration and signals of quality in feathers. Annales Zoologici Fennici 35, 67-77.
9. Fox, D.L. (1979) Biochromy. University of California Press, Berkeley, USA.
10. Fox, H.M. & Vevers, G. (1960) The Nature of Animal Colours. Macmillan, New York.
11. Goodwin, T.W. (1984) The Biochemistry of the Carotenoids, Vol. II. Animals. Chapman & Hall, London.
12. Grill, C.P. & Rush, V.N. (2000) Analysing spectral data: comparison and application of two techniques. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 69, 121-138.
13. Hill, G.E. (1998) An easy, inexpensive means to quantify plumage coloration. Journal of Field Ornithology 69, 353-363.
14. Hill, G.E. (1999) Mate choice, male quality, and carotenoid-based plumage coloration. Proceedings of the International Ornithological Congress 22 (eds N. Adams & R. Slotow), pp. 1654-1668. University of Natal, Durban.
15. Hill, G.E., Inouye, C.Y. & Montgomerie, R. (2002) Dietary carotenoids predict plumage coloration in wild house finches. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 69, 1119-1124.
16. Hudon, J. & Brush, A.H. (1992) Identification of carotenoid pigments in birds. Methods in Enzymology 213, 312-321.
17. Inouye, C.Y., Hill, G.E., Stradi, R.D. & Montgomerie, R. (2001) Carotenoid pigments in male House Finch plumage in relation to age, subspecies, and ornamental coloration. Auk 118, 900-915.
18. Lessells, C.M. & Boag, P.T. (1987) Unrepeatable repeatabilities: a common mistake. Auk 104, 116-121.
19. Lindström, K. & Lundström, J. (2000) Male Greenfinches (Carduelis chloris) with brighter ornaments have higher virus infection clearance rate. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 48, 44-51.
20. Lozano, G.A. (1994) Carotenoids, parasites, and sexual selection. Oikos 70, 309-311.
21. McGraw, K.J. & Hill, G.E. (2000) Differential effects of endoparasites on the expression of carotenoid- and melanin-based ornamental coloration. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 267, 1525-1531.
22. McGraw, K.J., Hill, G.E., Stradi, R. & Parker, R.S. (2002) The effect of dietary carotenoid access on sexual dichromatism and plumage pigment composition in the American Goldfinch. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology B 131, 261-269.
23. Merilä, J., Sheldon, B.C. & Lindström, K. (1999) Plumage brightness in relation to haematozoan infections in the Greenfinch Carduelis chloris: bright males are a good bet. Ecoscience 6, 12-18.
24. Møller, A.P., Biard, C., Blount, J.D., Houston, D.C., Ninni, P., Saino, N. & Surai, P.F. (2000) Carotenoid-dependent signals: indicators of foraging efficiency, immunocompetence or detoxification ability? Avian and Poultry Science Reviews 11, 137-159.
25. Olson, V. & Owens, I.P.F. (1998) Costly sexual signals: are carotenoids rare, risky or required. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 13, 510-514.
26. Saks, L., Ots, I. & Hõrak, P. (2003) Carotenoid-based plumage coloration of male Greenfinches reflects health and immunocompetence. Oecologia 134, 301-307.
27. Senar, J.C. & Escobar, D. (2002) Carotenoid-derived plumage coloration in the siskin Carduelis spinus is related to foraging ability. Avian Science 2, 19-24.
28. Slagsvold, T. & Lifjeld, J.T. (1985) Variation in plumage color of the great tit Parus major in relation to habitat season and food. Journal of Zoology 206, 321-328.
29. Stradi, R. (1998) The Colour of Flight. Solei Gruppo Editoriale Informatico, Milan.
30. Stradi, R., Celentano, G., Boles, M. & Mercato, F. (1997) Carotenoids in bird plumage: the pattern in a series of red-pigmented Carduelinae. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology B 117, 85-91.
31. Stradi, R., Celentano, G. & Nava, D. (1995a) Separation and identification of carotenoids in bird's plumage by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode-array detection. Journal of Chromatography B 670, 337-348.
32. Stradi, R., Celentano, G., Rossi, E., Rovati, G. & Pastore, M. (1995b) Carotenoids in bird plumage - I. The carotenoid pattern in a series of Palearctic Carduelinae. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology B 110, 131-143.
33. Stradi, R., Rossi, E., Celentano, G. & Bellardi, B. (1996) Carotenoids in bird plumage: the pattern in three Loxia species and in Pinicola enucleator. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology B 113, 427-432.
34. Svensson, L. (1992) Identification Guide to European Passerines. L. Svensson, Stockholm.
35. Vershinin, A. (1999) Biological functions of carotenoids - diversity and evolution. Biofactors 10, 99-104.
36. Vevers, G. (1982) The Colours of Animals. Studies in Biology Series No. 146. Edward Arnold, London.