Linked Life Data

12590755

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/12590755

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1511
pubmed:dateCreated
2003-2-19
pubmed:abstractText
Sexual selection theory predicts that males advertise quality by displaying extravagant ornaments. By contrast, whether phenotypic variation in females has a signalling function remains an open question. Here, to our knowledge, we provide the first evidence that a female plumage trait can signal fluctuating asymmetry in the offspring. We experimentally demonstrate in wild barn owls (Tyto alba) that the extent to which females display black spots on their plumage does not only signal offspring parasite resistance as shown in a previous study but also developmental homeostasis in the offspring. A greater number of spotted females produced offspring that had more symmetrical feathers during the period of growth. Males, that pair non-randomly with respect to female plumage spottiness therefore appear to gain substantial benefits by mating with heavily spotted females. Genetic variation in plumage spottiness is nevertheless maintained as the covariation between offspring body mass and mother plumage spottiness varies annually depending on environmental conditions.
pubmed:commentsCorrections
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
0962-8452
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
22
pubmed:volume
270
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
167-71
pubmed:dateRevised
2010-9-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2003
pubmed:articleTitle
A female melanin ornament signals offspring fluctuating asymmetry in the barn owl.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK. ra241@hermes.cam.ac.uk
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't