1
|
Simons MJP, Sebire M, Verhulst S, Groothuis TGG. Androgen Elevation Accelerates Reproductive Senescence in Three-Spined Stickleback. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:752352. [PMID: 34977010 PMCID: PMC8718761 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.752352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Costs of reproduction shape the life-history evolution of investment in current and future reproduction and thereby aging. Androgens have been proposed to regulate the physiology governing these investments. Furthermore, androgens are hypothesized to play a central role in carotenoid-dependent sexual signaling, regulating how much carotenoids are diverted to ornamentation and away from somatic maintenance, increasing oxidative stress, and accelerating aging. We investigated these relationships in male three-spined stickleback in which we elevated 11-ketotestosterone and supplied vitamin E, an antioxidant, in a 2 × 2 design. Androgen elevation shortened the time stickleback maintained reproductive activities. We suspect that this effect is caused by 11-ketotestosterone stimulating investment in current reproduction, but we detected no evidence for this in our measurements of reproductive effort: nest building, body composition, and breeding coloration. Carotenoid-dependent coloration was even slightly decreased by 11-ketotestosterone elevation and was left unaffected by vitamin E. Red coloration correlated with life expectancy and reproductive capacity in a quadratic manner, suggesting overinvestment of the individuals exhibiting the reddest bellies. In contrast, blue iris color showed a negative relationship with survival, suggesting physiological costs of producing this aspect of nuptial coloration. In conclusion, our results support the hypothesis that androgens regulate investment in current versus future reproduction, yet the precise mechanisms remain elusive. The quadratic relationships between sexual signal expression and aspects of quality have wider consequences for how we view sexual selection on ornamentation and its relationship with aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mirre J P Simons
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Marion Sebire
- The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Weymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Behavioural Biology, Centre for Behaviour and Neuroscience, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Ton G G Groothuis
- Behavioural Biology, Centre for Behaviour and Neuroscience, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ecological effects on female bill colour explain plastic sexual dichromatism in a mutually-ornamented bird. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14970. [PMID: 34294752 PMCID: PMC8298529 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93897-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in ornamentation are common and, in species with conventional sex roles, are generally thought of as stable, due to stronger sexual selection on males. Yet, especially in gregarious species, ornaments can also have non-sexual social functions, raising the possibility that observed sex differences in ornamentation are plastic. For example, females may invest in costly ornamentation more plastically, to protect body and reproductive ability in more adverse ecological conditions. We tested this hypothesis with experimental work on the mutually-ornamented common waxbill (Estrilda astrild), supplementing their diets either with pigmentary (lutein, a carotenoid) or non-pigmentary (vitamin E) antioxidants, or alleviating winter cold temperature. We found that both lutein and vitamin E supplementation increased red bill colour saturation in females, reaching the same mean saturation as males, which supports the hypothesis that female bill colour is more sensitive to environmental or physiological conditions. The effect of vitamin E, a non-pigment antioxidant, suggests that carotenoids were released from their antioxidant functions. Alleviating winter cold did not increase bill colour saturation in either sex, but increased the stability of female bill colour over time, suggesting that female investment in bill colour is sensitive to cold-mediated stress. Together, results show that waxbill bill sexual dichromatism is not stable. Instead, sexual dichromatism can be modulated, and even disappear completely, due to ecology-mediated plastic adjustments in female bill colour.
Collapse
|
3
|
Koyama S, Mizutani Y, Yoda K. Exhausted with foraging: Foraging behavior is related to oxidative stress in chick-rearing seabirds. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2021; 258:110984. [PMID: 34004319 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.110984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
To understand foraging strategies and behavioral flexibility in wild animals, it is important to evaluate the physiological costs imposed by foraging efforts and how these costs affect foraging and provisioning behavior. Oxidative stress is a possible physiological indicator associated with foraging behavior in wild seabirds, and may also affect their reproductive performance. However, no previous study has simultaneously recorded foraging behavior and the associated oxidative stress in wild seabirds. Using an integrative approach based on oxidative stress measurements and bio-logging techniques (i.e., the use of animal-borne sensors), we determined the relationships between foraging behavior and oxidative stress in chick-rearing streaked shearwaters Calonectris leucomelas in 2018 and 2019. To quantify their oxidative stress, we measured reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) and biological antioxidant potential (BAP) in their plasma. We found that the d-ROMs levels were positively related to the maximum distance from the colony and the number of takeoffs, especially in 2019 when shearwaters flew further to forage. In 2018, when they flew relatively short distances, the BAP levels were positively related to the levels of their physical activity (overall dynamic body acceleration; ODBA). We conclude that longer and less successful foraging may lead to increase oxidative stress, while successful foraging may mitigate the oxidative stress of foraging by providing dietary antioxidants. Our results highlight that the combined data from bio-logging and oxidative stress measurements aid in evaluating the underlying physiological costs of foraging behavior in wild animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shiho Koyama
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan.
| | - Yuichi Mizutani
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
| | - Ken Yoda
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Martínez‐Renau E, Ruiz‐Castellano C, Azcárate‐García M, Barón MD, Soler JJ. Coloration of spotless starling nestlings shows genetic and environmentally determined characteristics while begging for food. Funct Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ester Martínez‐Renau
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC) Almería Spain
| | - Cristina Ruiz‐Castellano
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC) Almería Spain
| | - Manuel Azcárate‐García
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC) Almería Spain
| | | | - Juan José Soler
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC) Almería Spain
- Unidad Asociada (CSIC): Coevolución: Cucos, Hospedadores y Bacterias Simbiontes Universidad de Granada Granada Spain
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhang JL, Zhang CN, Li EC, Jin MM, Huang MX, Cui W, Lin YY, Shi YJ. Triphenyltin exposure affects mating behaviors and attractiveness to females during mating in male guppies (Poecilia reticulata). ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2019; 169:76-84. [PMID: 30423510 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2018] [Revised: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/03/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The impacts of triphenyltin (TPT) on ecological health have been of great concern due to their widespread use and ubiquity in aquatic ecosystems. However, little is known about the effects of TPT on the reproductive behaviors of fishes. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the effects of TPT at environmentally relevant concentrations (0, 1 and 10 ng Sn/L) on the mating behaviors and the attractiveness to females during mating in male guppies (Poecilia reticulata). The results showed that TPT exposure disturbed the mating behaviors; the TPT-exposed male fish performed more sneaking attempts, but no changes in sigmoid courtship were displayed. The increases in sneaking attempts might be related to increases in testosterone levels induced by TPT exposure. In the context of a competing male, the TPT-exposed males were less attractive to females during mating. The decreases in attractiveness might be related to decreases in carotenoid-based coloration, shown as decreases in caudal fin redness values and skin carotenoid contents. In addition, TPT-induced total antioxidant capacities, the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase, and the contents of malondialdehyde in liver and intestinal tissues indicated increases in oxidative stress. Both oxidative stress and coloration are linked to carotenoids. Thus, we speculated that the TPT-exposed males might use carotenoids to cope with increases in oxidative stress at the expense of carotenoid-based coloration. The disruption of mating behaviors and the decrease in attractiveness to females in male fish could result in reproductive failure. The present study underscores the importance of using behavioral tests as a sensitive tool in assessing the impact of pollutants present in aquatic environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Liang Zhang
- Laboratory of Aquatic Environment and Animal Safety, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, China.
| | - Chun-Nuan Zhang
- Laboratory of Aquatic Environment and Animal Safety, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, China
| | - Er-Chao Li
- College of Ocean Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Miao-Miao Jin
- Laboratory of Aquatic Environment and Animal Safety, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, China
| | - Mao-Xian Huang
- Laboratory of Aquatic Environment and Animal Safety, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, China; College of Ocean Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Wei Cui
- Laboratory of Aquatic Environment and Animal Safety, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, China
| | - Yang-Yang Lin
- Laboratory of Aquatic Environment and Animal Safety, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, China
| | - Ya-Jun Shi
- Laboratory of Aquatic Environment and Animal Safety, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Foo YZ, Rhodes G, Simmons LW. The carotenoid beta-carotene enhances facial color, attractiveness and perceived health, but not actual health, in humans. Behav Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arw188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zhi Foo
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia, and
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology & School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Gillian Rhodes
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia, and
| | - Leigh W. Simmons
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia, and
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology & School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Foo YZ, Simmons LW, Rhodes G. Predictors of facial attractiveness and health in humans. Sci Rep 2017; 7:39731. [PMID: 28155897 PMCID: PMC5290736 DOI: 10.1038/srep39731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 11/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Facial attractiveness has been suggested to provide signals of biological quality, particularly health, in humans. The attractive traits that have been implicated as signals of biological quality include sexual dimorphism, symmetry, averageness, adiposity, and carotenoid-based skin colour. In this study, we first provide a comprehensive examination of the traits that predict attractiveness. In men, attractiveness was predicted positively by masculinity, symmetry, averageness, and negatively by adiposity. In women, attractiveness was predicted positively by femininity and negatively by adiposity. Skin colour did not predict attractiveness in either sex, suggesting that, despite recent interest in the literature, colour may play limited role in determining attractiveness. Male perceived health was predicted positively by averageness, symmetry, and skin yellowness, and negatively by adiposity. Female perceived health was predicted by femininity. We then examined whether appearance predicted actual health using measures that have been theoretically linked to sexual selection, including immune function, oxidative stress, and semen quality. In women, there was little evidence that female appearance predicted health. In men, we found support for the phenotype-linked fertility hypothesis that male masculinity signalled semen quality. However, we also found a negative relationship between averageness and semen quality. Overall, these results indicate weak links between attractive facial traits and health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zhi Foo
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, 6009, WA, Australia
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology & School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, 6009, WA, Australia
| | - Leigh W. Simmons
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, 6009, WA, Australia
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology & School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, 6009, WA, Australia
| | - Gillian Rhodes
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, 6009, WA, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Marasco V, Costantini D. Signaling in a Polluted World: Oxidative Stress as an Overlooked Mechanism Linking Contaminants to Animal Communication. Front Ecol Evol 2016. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2016.00095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
|
9
|
Lee WS, Monaghan P, Metcalfe NB. Perturbations in growth trajectory due to early diet affect age-related deterioration in performance. Funct Ecol 2016; 30:625-635. [PMID: 27610000 PMCID: PMC4994260 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Accepted: 07/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Fluctuations in early developmental conditions can cause changes in growth trajectories that subsequently affect the adult phenotype. Here, we investigated whether compensatory growth has long-term consequences for patterns of senescence.Using three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus), we show that a brief period of dietary manipulation in early life affected skeletal growth rate not only during the manipulation itself, but also during a subsequent compensatory phase when fish caught up in size with controls.However, this growth acceleration influenced swimming endurance and its decline over the course of the breeding season, with a faster decline in fish that had undergone faster growth compensation.Similarly, accelerated growth led to a more pronounced reduction in the breeding period (as indicated by the duration of sexual ornamentation) over the following two breeding seasons, suggesting faster reproductive senescence. Parallel experiments showed a heightened effect of accelerated growth on these age-related declines in performance if the fish were under greater time stress to complete their compensation prior to the breeding season.Compensatory growth led to a reduction in median life span of 12% compared to steadily growing controls. While life span was independent of the eventual adult size attained, it was negatively correlated with the age-related decline in swimming endurance and sexual ornamentation.These results, complementary to those found when growth trajectories were altered by temperature rather than dietary manipulations, show that the costs of accelerated growth can last well beyond the time over which growth rates differ and are affected by the time available until an approaching life-history event such as reproduction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Who-Seung Lee
- Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences University of Glasgow Graham Kerr Building Glasgow G12 8QQ UK; Present address: Southwest Fisheries Science Cente NOAA Fisheries and Center for Stock Assessment Research University of California Santa Cruz CA 95064 USA
| | - Pat Monaghan
- Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences University of Glasgow Graham Kerr Building Glasgow G12 8QQ UK
| | - Neil B Metcalfe
- Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences University of Glasgow Graham Kerr Building Glasgow G12 8QQ UK
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Lifshitz N, St Clair CC. Coloured ornamental traits could be effective and non-invasive indicators of pollution exposure for wildlife. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2016; 4:cow028. [PMID: 27766151 PMCID: PMC5069843 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cow028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2015] [Revised: 06/09/2016] [Accepted: 06/22/2016] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Growth in human populations causes habitat degradation for other species, which is usually gauged by physical changes to landscapes. Corresponding habitat degradation to air and water is also common, but its effects on individuals can be difficult to detect until they result in the decline or disappearance of populations. More proactive measures of pollution usually combine abiotic samples of soil, water or air with invasive sampling of expendable species, but this approach sometimes creates ethical dilemmas and has limited application for threatened species. Here, we describe the potential to measure the effects of pollution on many species of birds and fish by using ornamental traits that are expressed as coloured skin, feathers and scales. As products of sexual selection, these traits are sensitive to environmental conditions, thereby providing honest information about the condition of their bearers as ready-made biomarkers. We review the documented effects of several classes of pollutants, including pharmaceuticals, pesticides, industry-related compounds and metals, on two classes of colour pigments, namely melanins and carotenoids. We find that several pollutants impede the expression of both carotenoids and brown melanin, while enhancing traits coloured by black melanin. We also review some of the current limitations of using ornamental colour as an indicator of pollution exposure, suggest avenues for future research and speculate about how advances in robotics and remote imagery will soon make it possible to measure these traits remotely and in a non-invasive manner. Wider awareness of this potential by conservation managers could foster the development of suitable model species and comparative metrics and lay a foundation for pollution monitoring that is more generalizable and biologically relevant than existing standards.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Lifshitz
- Corresponding author: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Z-708, 11455 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9. Tel: +1 780 492 9685.
| | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Henschen AE, Whittingham LA, Dunn PO. Oxidative stress is related to both melanin‐ and carotenoid‐based ornaments in the common yellowthroat. Funct Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amberleigh E. Henschen
- Behavioral and Molecular Ecology Group Department of Biological Sciences University of Wisconsin‐Milwaukee PO Box 413 Milwaukee WI53201 USA
| | - Linda A. Whittingham
- Behavioral and Molecular Ecology Group Department of Biological Sciences University of Wisconsin‐Milwaukee PO Box 413 Milwaukee WI53201 USA
| | - Peter O. Dunn
- Behavioral and Molecular Ecology Group Department of Biological Sciences University of Wisconsin‐Milwaukee PO Box 413 Milwaukee WI53201 USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Carotenoids increase immunity and sex specifically affect color and redox homeostasis in a monochromatic seabird. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-015-1922-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
13
|
Noguera JC, Metcalfe NB, Surai PF, Monaghan P. Are you what you eat? Micronutritional deficiencies during development influence adult personality-related traits. Anim Behav 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2014.12.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
|
14
|
García-de Blas E, Mateo R, Alonso-Alvarez C. Accumulation of dietary carotenoids, retinoids and tocopherol in the internal tissues of a bird: a hypothesis for the cost of producing colored ornaments. Oecologia 2014; 177:259-71. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-014-3163-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2014] [Accepted: 11/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
|
15
|
Sefc KM, Brown AC, Clotfelter ED. Carotenoid-based coloration in cichlid fishes. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2014; 173C:42-51. [PMID: 24667558 PMCID: PMC4003536 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2014.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2013] [Revised: 03/03/2014] [Accepted: 03/14/2014] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Animal colors play important roles in communication, ecological interactions and speciation. Carotenoid pigments are responsible for many yellow, orange and red hues in animals. Whereas extensive knowledge on the proximate mechanisms underlying carotenoid coloration in birds has led to testable hypotheses on avian color evolution and signaling, much less is known about the expression of carotenoid coloration in fishes. Here, we promote cichlid fishes (Perciformes: Cichlidae) as a system in which to study the physiological and evolutionary significance of carotenoids. Cichlids include some of the best examples of adaptive radiation and color pattern diversification in vertebrates. In this paper, we examine fitness correlates of carotenoid pigmentation in cichlids and review hypotheses regarding the signal content of carotenoid-based ornaments. Carotenoid-based coloration is influenced by diet and body condition and is positively related to mating success and social dominance. Gaps in our knowledge are discussed in the last part of this review, particularly in the understanding of carotenoid metabolism pathways and the genetics of carotenoid coloration. We suggest that carotenoid metabolism and transport are important proximate mechanisms responsible for individual and population-differences in cichlid coloration that may ultimately contribute to diversification and speciation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristina M Sefc
- Institute of Zoology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Alexandria C Brown
- Department of Biology, Amherst College, Amherst, MA 01002, USA; Graduate Program in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003 USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Pellitteri-Rosa D, Martín J, López P, Bellati A, Sacchi R, Fasola M, Galeotti P. Chemical polymorphism in male femoral gland secretions matches polymorphic coloration in common wall lizards (Podarcis muralis). CHEMOECOLOGY 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s00049-014-0148-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
|
17
|
Kopena R, López P, Martín J. Relative contribution of dietary carotenoids and vitamin E to visual and chemical sexual signals of male Iberian green lizards: an experimental test. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-013-1672-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
|
18
|
Giraudeau M, Sweazea K, Butler MW, McGraw KJ. Effects of carotenoid and vitamin E supplementation on oxidative stress and plumage coloration in house finches (Haemorhous mexicanus). Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2013; 166:406-13. [PMID: 23872319 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2013.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2013] [Revised: 07/09/2013] [Accepted: 07/09/2013] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
There has been much recent interest from both applied and basic scientists in the broad series of benefits that animals reap from acquiring high concentrations of dietary antioxidants, such as carotenoids and vitamins (e.g., vitamin E, or tocopherol). Most attention has been paid to separate effects of these compounds on, for example, coloration, health state, development, and vision, but because of possible interactions between these lipid-soluble molecules, we are in need of more studies that co-manipulate these substances and examine their possible synergistic impacts on animal physiology and phenotype. We capitalized on a model avian system (the house finch, Haemorhous mexicanus), where extensive information is available on the fitness roles of carotenoids, to test how variation in carotenoid and/or vitamin E concentrations in the diet impacts body accumulation of these compounds, factors related to oxidative damage (e.g., breast muscle and plasma oxidative-stress susceptibility, plasma nitric-oxide levels), and plumage color development. As in a previous study of ours on carotenoids and health in finches, we employed a 2×2 factorial experimental design on birds in both molting and non-molting conditions, to understand how seasonal shifts in carotenoid use (i.e., pigment incorporation into plumage) might alter the accumulation and roles of carotenoids and vitamins. As expected, lutein supplementation increased the level of circulating carotenoids in both experiments and the color of newly molted plumage. By contrast, vitamin E provisioning did not significantly affect plasma carotenoid levels or plumage coloration in either experiment. Interestingly, carotenoid provisioning decreased circulating vitamin E levels during molt, which suggests either molecular competition between carotenoids and tocopherol at the absorption/transport stages or that vitamin E serves as an antioxidant to offset harmful actions that carotenoids may have at very high concentrations. Finally, in both experiments, we found a reduction in breast-muscle oxidative damage for tocopherol-supplemented birds, which constitutes the first demonstration of a protective effect of vitamin E against oxidative stress in wild birds. Taken together, these findings provide an interesting contrast with our earlier work on season-specific physiological benefits of carotenoids in finches and point to complex associations between indicators of antioxidant and oxidative state in wild-caught animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Giraudeau
- Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
|
20
|
Velando A, Kim SY, Noguera JC. Begging response of gull chicks to the red spot on the parental bill. Anim Behav 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2013.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
21
|
Noguera JC, Kim SY, Velando A. Maternal testosterone influences a begging component that makes fathers work harder in chick provisioning. Horm Behav 2013; 64:19-25. [PMID: 23651611 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2013.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2013] [Revised: 04/21/2013] [Accepted: 04/24/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
In species with biparental care, parents disagree evolutionarily over the amount of care that each of them is willing to provide to offspring. It has recently been hypothesised that females may try to manipulate their mates by modifying offspring begging behaviour through yolk hormone deposition, shifting the division of labour in their own favour. To test this hypothesis we first investigated how yellow-legged gull (Larus michaellis) parents feed offspring in relation to each component of complex begging behaviour and if feeding behaviour varies between sexes. Then we investigated the effect of yolk testosterone on chicks' begging by experimentally increasing yolk testosterone levels. Our results revealed that yolk testosterone has a component-specific effect on chicks' begging, specifically increasing the number of chatter calls. Parental feeding effort was influenced by the number of chatter calls emitted by chicks, but most importantly, the influence was stronger in male than in female parents. Moreover, chick body mass increased with the number of paternal feeds. In conclusion, these results show that female gulls may use yolk testosterone deposition to exploit their partners as predicted by the 'Manipulating Androgen Hypothesis (MAH)'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José C Noguera
- Division of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Tobler M, Sandell MI, Chiriac S, Hasselquist D. Effects of Prenatal Testosterone Exposure on Antioxidant Status and Bill Color in Adult Zebra Finches. Physiol Biochem Zool 2013; 86:333-45. [DOI: 10.1086/670194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
|
23
|
Lucas A, Morales J, Velando A. Differential effects of specific carotenoids on oxidative damage and immune response of gull chicks. J Exp Biol 2013; 217:1253-62. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.098004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Summary
Micronutrients are essential for normal metabolic processes during early development. Concretely, it has been suggested that diet-derived carotenoids can play a key role in physiological functions due to their antioxidant and immunostimulant properties. However, their role as antioxidants remains controversial. Additionally, it is also unclear whether oxidative stress mediates their immunostimulatory effects. In this field study, we separately supplemented yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis, Naumann 1840) chicks with two carotenoids (lutein and β-carotene) with different molecular structure and different transformation pathways into other oxidative forms of carotenoids. We quantified their effect on the oxidative status and the immune response of chicks before and after an oxidative challenge with Paraquat, a pro-oxidant molecule. Prior to oxidative challenge, no carotenoid treatment affected the oxidative status of chicks, but they enhanced the inflammatory response to an antigen compared to controls. The oxidative challenge enhanced plasma vitamin E levels (but not in β-carotene supplemented chicks) and the antioxidant capacity in the short term. Interestingly, lutein-supplemented chicks showed lower oxidative damage to proteins than non-lutein supplemented chicks. After the oxidative challenge, the positive effect of carotenoid supplementation on the immune response disappeared. Thus, these results suggest differential effects of two carotenoids with different molecular structure on the oxidative status. Lutein but not β-carotene helps to combat oxidative damage after a free-radical exposure. Additionally, the results indicate that the immunostimulatory effects of carotenoids are linked to oxidative status during early life.
Collapse
|
24
|
Noguera JC, Dean R, Isaksson C, Velando A, Pizzari T. Age-specific oxidative status and the expression of pre- and postcopulatory sexually selected traits in male red junglefowl, Gallus gallus. Ecol Evol 2012; 2:2155-67. [PMID: 23139875 PMCID: PMC3488667 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2012] [Revised: 05/21/2012] [Accepted: 05/23/2012] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress is emerging as a key factor underpinning life history and the expression of sexually selected traits. Resolving the role of oxidative stress in life history and sexual selection requires a pluralistic approach, which investigates how age affects the relationship between oxidative status (i.e., antioxidants and oxidative damage) and the multiple traits contributing to variation in reproductive success. Here, we investigate the relationship between oxidative status and the expression of multiple sexually selected traits in two-age classes of male red junglefowl, Gallus gallus, a species which displays marked male reproductive senescence. We found that, irrespective of male age, both male social status and comb size were strongly associated with plasma oxidative status, and there was a nonsignificant tendency for sperm motility to be associated with seminal oxidative status. Importantly, however, patterns of plasma and seminal antioxidant levels differed markedly in young and old males. While seminal antioxidants increased with plasma antioxidants in young males, the level of seminal antioxidants remained low and was independent of plasma levels in old males. In addition, old males also accumulated more oxidative damage in their sperm DNA. These results suggest that antioxidant allocation across different reproductive traits and somatic maintenance might change drastically as males age, leading to age-specific patterns of antioxidant investment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jose C Noguera
- Dpto. Ecoloxia e Bioloxía Animal, Edificio de Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad de Vigo 36310, Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Differential effects of testosterone metabolites oestradiol and dihydrotestosterone on oxidative stress and carotenoid-dependent colour expression in a bird. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-012-1387-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
|
26
|
Garratt M, Brooks RC. Oxidative stress and condition-dependent sexual signals: more than just seeing red. Proc Biol Sci 2012; 279:3121-30. [PMID: 22648155 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2012.0568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The links between fitness, health, sexual signals and mate choice are complex and subject to ongoing study. In 1999, von Schantz et al. made the valuable suggestion that oxidative stress may be an important missing piece of this complex puzzle. Their suggestion has been enthusiastically tested, with over 300 studies citing their paper, but most effort has concerned carotenoid-based (and to a lesser extent melanin-based) visual signals, predominantly in birds and fishes. Today, we know a great deal more about oxidative stress and related physiology, in both a pathological and regulatory sense, than we did in 1999. We revisit von Schantz et al.'s predictions and, more importantly, highlight novel mechanisms that could link oxidative stress with a range of energetically demanding signals, greatly increasing the scope from visual signalling systems that are usually discussed and nearly always tested. In particular, we argue that differences between individuals in their ability to regulate physiology related to oxidative stress may be an important factor influencing the production of sexual signals and the costs that are incurred from investment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Garratt
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia.
| | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Orledge JM, Blount JD, Hoodless AN, Royle NJ. Antioxidant supplementation during early development reduces parasite load but does not affect sexual ornament expression in adult ring-necked pheasants. Funct Ecol 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2012.01977.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
|
28
|
San-Jose LM, Granado-Lorencio F, Fitze PS. Dietary lipids reduce the expression of carotenoid-based coloration in Lacerta vivipara. Funct Ecol 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2012.01970.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
|
29
|
Orledge JM, Blount JD, Hoodless AN, Pike TW, Royle NJ. Synergistic effects of supplementation of dietary antioxidants during growth on adult phenotype in ring-necked pheasants,Phasianus colchicus. Funct Ecol 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2011.01932.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
|
30
|
|
31
|
Integument coloration signals reproductive success, heterozygosity, and antioxidant levels in chick-rearing black-legged kittiwakes. Naturwissenschaften 2011; 98:773-82. [DOI: 10.1007/s00114-011-0827-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2011] [Revised: 07/01/2011] [Accepted: 07/02/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
32
|
Toomey MB, McGraw KJ. The effects of dietary carotenoid supplementation and retinal carotenoid accumulation on vision-mediated foraging in the house finch. PLoS One 2011; 6:e21653. [PMID: 21747917 PMCID: PMC3126843 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0021653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2010] [Accepted: 06/07/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND For many bird species, vision is the primary sensory modality used to locate and assess food items. The health and spectral sensitivities of the avian visual system are influenced by diet-derived carotenoid pigments that accumulate in the retina. Among wild House Finches (Carpodacus mexicanus), we have found that retinal carotenoid accumulation varies significantly among individuals and is related to dietary carotenoid intake. If diet-induced changes in retinal carotenoid accumulation alter spectral sensitivity, then they have the potential to affect visually mediated foraging performance. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS In two experiments, we measured foraging performance of house finches with dietarily manipulated retinal carotenoid levels. We tested each bird's ability to extract visually contrasting food items from a matrix of inedible distracters under high-contrast (full) and dimmer low-contrast (red-filtered) lighting conditions. In experiment one, zeaxanthin-supplemented birds had significantly increased retinal carotenoid levels, but declined in foraging performance in the high-contrast condition relative to astaxanthin-supplemented birds that showed no change in retinal carotenoid accumulation. In experiments one and two combined, we found that retinal carotenoid concentrations predicted relative foraging performance in the low- vs. high-contrast light conditions in a curvilinear pattern. Performance was positively correlated with retinal carotenoid accumulation among birds with low to medium levels of accumulation (∼0.5-1.5 µg/retina), but declined among birds with very high levels (>2.0 µg/retina). CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE Our results suggest that carotenoid-mediated spectral filtering enhances color discrimination, but that this improvement is traded off against a reduction in sensitivity that can compromise visual discrimination. Thus, retinal carotenoid levels may be optimized to meet the visual demands of specific behavioral tasks and light environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew B Toomey
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America.
| | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Simons MJ, Verhulst S. Zebra finch females prefer males with redder bills independent of song rate—a meta-analysis. Behav Ecol 2011. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arr043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
|
34
|
Noguera JC, Lores M, Alonso-Álvarez C, Velando A. Thrifty development: early-life diet restriction reduces oxidative damage during later growth. Funct Ecol 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2011.01856.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
|
35
|
Saino N, Romano M, Caprioli M, Rubolini D, Ambrosini R. Yolk carotenoids have sex-dependent effects on redox status and influence the resolution of growth trade-offs in yellow-legged gull chicks. Behav Ecol 2011. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arq220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
|
36
|
Van Hout AJM, Eens M, Pinxten R. Carotenoid supplementation positively affects the expression of a non-visual sexual signal. PLoS One 2011; 6:e16326. [PMID: 21283591 PMCID: PMC3026812 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0016326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2010] [Accepted: 12/13/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Carotenoids are a class of pigments which are widely used by animals for the expression of yellow-to-red colour signals, such as bill or plumage colour. Since they also have been shown to promote immunocompetence and to function as antioxidants, many studies have investigated a potential allocation trade-off with respect to carotenoid-based signals within the context of sexual selection. Although an effect of carotenoids on non-visual (e.g. acoustic) signals involved in sexual selection has been hypothesized, this has to date not been investigated. First, we examined a potential effect of dietary carotenoid supplementation on overall song rate during the non-breeding season in captive male European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). After only 3–7 days, we found a significant (body-mass independent) positive effect of carotenoid availability on overall song rate. Secondly, as a number of studies suggest that carotenoids could affect the modulation of sexual signals by plasma levels of the steroid hormone testosterone (T), we used the same birds to subsequently investigate whether carotenoid availability affects the increase in (nestbox-oriented) song rate induced by experimentally elevated plasma T levels. Our results suggest that carotenoids may enhance the positive effect of elevated plasma T levels on nestbox-oriented song rate. Moreover, while non-supplemented starlings responded to T-implantation with an increase in both overall song rate and nestbox-oriented song, carotenoid-supplemented starlings instead shifted song production towards (reproductively relevant) nestbox-oriented song, without increasing overall song rate. Given that song rate is an acoustic signal rather than a visual signal, our findings therefore indicate that the role of carotenoids in (sexual) signalling need not be dependent on their function as pigments.
Collapse
|
37
|
McGraw KJ. Avian Antioxidants and Oxidative Stress: Highlights from Studies of Food, Physiology, and Feathers. OXIDATIVE STRESS IN APPLIED BASIC RESEARCH AND CLINICAL PRACTICE 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-61779-071-3_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
|
38
|
Dietary antioxidants, lipid peroxidation and plumage colouration in nestling blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus. Naturwissenschaften 2010; 97:903-13. [DOI: 10.1007/s00114-010-0708-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2010] [Revised: 08/03/2010] [Accepted: 08/04/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
|
39
|
Metcalfe NB, Alonso-Alvarez C. Oxidative stress as a life-history constraint: the role of reactive oxygen species in shaping phenotypes from conception to death. Funct Ecol 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2010.01750.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 394] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
|
40
|
Morales J, Velando A, Torres R. Biliverdin-based egg coloration is enhanced by carotenoid supplementation. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-010-1025-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
|
41
|
Oil pollution increases plasma antioxidants but reduces coloration in a seabird. Oecologia 2010; 163:875-84. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-010-1677-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2009] [Accepted: 05/24/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
|
42
|
Noguera JC, Morales J, Pérez C, Velando A. On the oxidative cost of begging: antioxidants enhance vocalizations in gull chicks. Behav Ecol 2010. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arq005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
|
43
|
Carotenoid-based plumage colouration is associated with blood parasite richness and stress protein levels in blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus). Oecologia 2009; 162:825-35. [PMID: 19937348 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-009-1510-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2008] [Accepted: 10/30/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Carotenoids are molecules that birds are not able to synthesize and therefore, must be acquired through their diet. These pigments, besides their function of giving birds red and yellow colouration when deposited in feathers, seem to act as immune-stimulators and antioxidants in the organism. Hence, only the healthiest individuals would be able to express carotenoid-based ornaments to a larger extent without compromising the physiological functions of carotenoids. Various studies have reported that birds infected by parasites are paler than those uninfected, but, to our knowledge, none of them has assessed the possible effect of multiple infections by blood parasites on plumage colour. By comparing the yellow colour in the breast plumage of blue tits, Cyanistes caeruleus, between birds infected by different numbers of blood parasite genera, we found that those birds infected by more than one genus were paler than those parasitized just by one. In addition, we examined the potential role of carotenoid-based plumage colour of blue tits as a long-term indicator of other parameters of health status, such as body condition and immunoglobulin and heat shock protein (HSP) levels. Our results indicate that more brightly coloured birds had lower HSP70 levels than paler birds, but we did not find any significant association between colour and body condition or immunoglobulin levels. In addition, we found a positive significant association between Haemoproteus density of infection and HSP60 levels. Overall, these results support the role of carotenoid-based colours as indicators of health status in blue tits and show detrimental effects of parasitism on this character.
Collapse
|
44
|
JANHUNEN MATTI, RUDOLFSEN GEIR, KEKÄLÄINEN JUKKA, FIGENSCHOU LARS, PEUHKURI NINA, KORTET RAINE. Spawning coloration and sperm quality in a large lake population of Arctic charr (Salmonidae: Salvelinus alpinus L.). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2009. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2009.01317.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|
45
|
Pérez C, Munilla I, López-Alonso M, Velando A. Sublethal effects on seabirds after the Prestige oil-spill are mirrored in sexual signals. Biol Lett 2009; 6:33-5. [PMID: 19726443 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2009.0567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been suggested that sexual signals may be a useful measure of environmental quality as they represent the sum of environmental pressures on the animal. Accordingly, it has been proposed that carotenoid-based coloration may be especially valuable in monitoring and detecting the sublethal effects of toxic pollutants in the environment. Here, we evaluate whether the carotenoid-based coloration in the bill of adult yellow-legged gulls reflects oil-induced sublethal effects in breeding colonies affected by the Prestige oil spill. In 2004, we took blood samples from 27 adult birds at four insular breeding colonies located in the pathway of the Prestige oil spill. We measured the size of the red bill spot area and analysed plasma biochemical parameters indicative of sublethal effects of oil contamination in gulls, including glucose, total protein, creatinine, inorganic phosphorus, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transferase. We showed that the size of their red bill spot area was positively related to body condition, while negatively related with AST levels, an enzyme that is commonly used as an indication of hepatic damage in birds. Hence, the present study provides support for the idea that carotenoid-based colour integuments may be a useful measure of environmental quality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristobal Pérez
- Departamento de Ecoloxía e Bioloxía Animal, Facultade de Bioloxía, Universidade de Vigo, Lagoas-Marconsende, Vigo 36310, Spain.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Pérez-Rodríguez
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Vinkler M, Albrecht T. Carotenoid maintenance handicap and the physiology of carotenoid-based signalisation of health. Naturwissenschaften 2009; 97:19-28. [PMID: 19680618 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-009-0595-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2009] [Revised: 07/18/2009] [Accepted: 07/21/2009] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Despite a reasonable scientific interest in sexual selection, the general principles of health signalisation via ornamental traits remain still unresolved in many aspects. This is also true for the mechanism preserving honesty of carotenoid-based signals. Although it is widely accepted that this type of ornamentation reflects an allocation trade-off between the physiological utilisation of carotenoids (mainly in antioxidative processes) and their deposition in ornaments, some recent evidence suggests more complex interactions. Here, we further develop the models currently proposed to explain the honesty of carotenoid-based signalisation of heath status by adding the handicap principle concept regulated by testosterone. We propose that under certain circumstances carotenoids may be dangerous for the organism because they easily transform into toxic cleavage products. When reserves of other protective antioxidants are insufficient, physiological trade-offs may exist between maintenance of carotenoids for ornament expression and their removal from the body. Furthermore, we suggest that testosterone which enhances ornamentation by increasing carotenoid bioavailability may also promote oxidative stress and hence lower antioxidant reserves. The presence of high levels of carotenoids required for high-quality ornament expression may therefore represent a handicap and only individuals in prime health could afford to produce elaborate colourful ornaments. Although further testing is needed, this 'carotenoid maintenance handicap' hypothesis may offer a new insight into the physiological aspects of the relationship between carotenoid function, immunity and ornamentation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michal Vinkler
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Vinicná 7, Prague, 128 44, Czech Republic.
| | | |
Collapse
|
48
|
Hill GE, Hood WR, Huggins K. A multifactorial test of the effects of carotenoid access, food intake and parasite load on the production of ornamental feathers and bill coloration in American goldfinches. J Exp Biol 2009; 212:1225-33. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.026963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
SUMMARY
It has been well established that carotenoid and melanin pigmentation are often condition-dependent traits in vertebrates. Expression of carotenoid coloration in birds has been shown to reflect pigment intake, food access and parasite load; however, the relative importance of and the potential interactions among these factors have not been previously considered. Moreover, carotenoid and melanin pigmentation have been proposed to signal fundamentally different aspects of individual condition but few data exist to test this idea. We simultaneously manipulated three environmental conditions under which American goldfinches (Cardeulis tristis) grew colorful feathers and developed carotenoid pigmentation of their bills. Male goldfinches were held with either high or low carotenoid supplementation,pulsed or continuous antimicrobial drug treatment, or restricted or unlimited access to food. Carotenoid supplementation had an overriding effect on yellow feather coloration. Males given more lutein and zeaxanthin grew yellow feathers with hue shifted toward orange and with higher yellow chroma than males supplemented with fewer carotenoids. Parasites and food access did not significantly affect yellow feather coloration, and there were only minor interaction effects for the three treatments. By contrast, bill coloration was significantly affected by all three treatments. Carotenoid supplementation had a significant effect on yellow chroma of bills, drug treatment and food access both had a significant effect on bill hue, and food access had a significant effect on the yellow brightness of bills. Neither the size nor blackness of the black caps of male goldfinches was affected by any treatment. These results indicate that pigment intake, food access and parasite load can have complex and variable effects on color displays, and that feather and bill coloration signal different aspects of male condition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey E. Hill
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36830,USA
| | - Wendy R. Hood
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36830,USA
| | - Kristal Huggins
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36830,USA
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Morales J, Alonso-Alvarez C, Pérez C, Torres R, Serafino E, Velando A. Families on the spot: sexual signals influence parent-offspring interactions. Proc Biol Sci 2009; 276:2477-83. [PMID: 19364749 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2008.1942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In 1950, Tinbergen described the elicitation of offspring begging by the red spot on the bill of parent gulls, and this became a model system for behavioural studies. Current knowledge on colour traits suggests they can act as sexual signals revealing individual quality. However, sexual signals have never been studied simultaneously in relationship to parent-offspring and sexual conflicts. We manipulated the red-spot size in one member of yellow-legged gull pairs and observed their partners' feeding efforts in relationship to offspring begging. In the enlarged-spot group, partners doubled their effort compared with the other groups. Furthermore, in the reduced-spot group, partners provided food in relationship to offspring begging, contrasting with the fixed effort of the partners of enlarged-spot gulls. Manipulated gulls, independently of treatment, provided food in relationship to chicks begging only when the partner's investment was low, and performed a fixed effort when the partner's contribution was high. Results demonstrate that the red spot in yellow-legged gulls functions as a sexual signal and indicate that parental rules are plastic, depending on the information on offer. Previous evidence and this study indicate that this signal is used by all family members to adjust decision rules. The incorporation of sexual signals in parent-offspring interactions can be crucial in understanding intra-familial conflicts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Judith Morales
- Departamento de Ecoloxía e Bioloxía Animal, Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
50
|
Tinbergen revisited: a replication and extension of experiments on the beak colour preferences of herring gull chicks. Anim Behav 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2008.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
|