Naturwissenschaften

, 98:493 | Cite as

Blue-green eggshell coloration is not a sexually selected signal of female quality in an open-nesting polygynous passerine

  • Marcel Honza
  • Milica Požgayová
  • Petr Procházka
  • Michael I. Cherry
Original Paper
First Online:
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:

Abstract

It has been proposed that blue-green egg colours have evolved as a post-mating signal of female quality, selected by males allocating their parental effort in response to the strength of this signal. We tested two main assumptions of the sexually selected egg coloration hypothesis: (1) whether the intensity of eggshell blue-green chroma (BGC) reflects female quality; and (2) whether males make their decisions on the level of parental care that they provide according to the intensity of eggshell BGC. As a model species, we chose the facultatively polygynous great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus). In this species, females simultaneously paired with the same male, compete for his nest attendance and could benefit from signalling their quality through egg coloration. However, we found no association between the variation in eggshell BGC and the measures of female quality (physical condition, mean egg volume and age). Moreover, great reed warbler males did not adjust their investment (as measured in terms of nest defence against a brood parasite) in relation to the eggshell BGC. We conclude that blue-green egg coloration in this open-nesting passerine is unlikely to have a signalling function. Rather, the large colour variation among clutches of individual females may depend on yearly fluctuations in environmental conditions.

Keywords

Acrocephalus arundinaceus Blue-green chroma Egg colour Female condition Great reed warbler Polygyny 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Notes

Acknowledgements

We thank V. Jelínek, M. Čapek, K. Morongová, Z. Šebelíková, P. Samaš and R. Hrdlička for their invaluable assistance in the field. The study was supported by GAAV (IAA600930605, IAA600930903) and MŠMT (LC06073). We are obliged to the management of the Fish Farm Hodonín and local conservation authorities for permissions to conduct the field work. All manipulations were conducted following the ASCR Animal Care Protocol (licence number 0008/98-M103) and in compliance with the current Czech Law on the Protection of Animals Against Mistreatment.

References

  1. Alatalo RV, Carlson A, Lundberg A, Ulfstrand S (1981) The conflict between male polygamy and female monogamy: the case of the pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca. Am Nat 117:738–753CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. Avilés JM (2008) Egg colour mimicry in the common cuckoo Cuculus canorus as revealed by modeling host retinal function. Proc R Soc B 275:2345–2352PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. Avilés JM, Soler JJ, Pérez-Contreras T (2006) Dark nests and egg colour in birds: a possible functional role of ultraviolet reflectance in egg detectability. Proc R Soc B 273:2821–2829PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. Avilés JM, Stokke BG, Moksnes A (2007) Environmental conditions influence egg color of reed warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus and their parasite, the common cuckoo Cuculus canorus. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 61:475–485CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. Bensch S, Hasselquist D (1991) Territory infidelity in the polygynous great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus: the effect of variation in territory attractiveness. J Anim Ecol 60:857–871CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. Bensch S, Hasselquist D (1994) Higher rate of nest loss among primary than secondary females: infanticide in the great reed warbler? Behav Ecol Sociobiol 35:309–317CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. Bensch S, Hasselquist D, Nielsen B, Hansson B (1998) Higher fitness for philopatric than for immigrant males in a semi-isolated population of great reed warblers. Evolution 52:877–883CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. Burnham PB, Anderson DR (2002) Model selection and multimodel inference: a practical information-theoretic approach. Springer, New YorkGoogle Scholar
  9. Cassey P, Ewen J, Blackburn T, Hauber ME, Vorobyev M, Marshall N (2008) Eggshell colour does not predict measures of maternal investment in eggs of Turdus thrushes. Naturwissenschaften 95:413–721CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. Cherry MI, Gosler AG (2010) Avian eggshell coloration: new perspectives on adaptive explanations. Biol J Linn Soc 100:753–762CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. Cramp S (1992) The birds of the Western Palearctic, vol. VI. Warblers. Oxford University Press, OxfordGoogle Scholar
  12. Dyrcz A (1986) Factors affecting facultative polygyny and breeding results in the great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus). J Ornithol 127:447–461CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. English PA, Montgomerie R (2010) Robin’s egg blue: does egg color influence male parental care? Behav Ecol Sociobiol. doi: 10.1007/s00265-010-1107-9 Google Scholar
  14. Falchuk KH, Contin JM, Dziedzic TS, Feng ZL, French TC, Heffron GJ, Montorzi M (2002) A role for biliverdin IX alpha in dorsal axis development of Xenopus laevis embryos. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 99:251–256PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. Gosler AG, Higham JP, Reynolds SJ (2005) Why are birds’ eggs speckled? Ecol Lett 8:1105–1113CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. Hanley D, Doucet SM (2009) Egg coloration in ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis): a test of the sexual signaling hypothesis. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 63:719–729CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. Hanley D, Heiber G, Dearborn DC (2008) Testing an assumption of the sexual-signaling hypothesis: does blue-green egg color reflect maternal antioxidant capacity? Condor 110:767–771CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. Hargitai R, Herényi M, Török J (2008) Eggshell coloration in relation to male ornamentation, female condition and egg quality in the collared flycatcher Ficedula albicollis. J Avian Biol 39:413–422Google Scholar
  19. Holveck M-J, Doutrelant C, Guerreiro R, Perret P, Gomez D, Grégoire A (2010) Can eggs in a cavity be a female secondary sexual signal? Male nest visits and modelling of egg visual discrimination in blue tits. Biol Lett 6:453–457PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. Hoyt DF (1979) Practical methods of estimating volume and fresh egg weights of bird eggs. Auk 96:73–77Google Scholar
  21. Johnsen A, Vesterkjær K, Slagsvold T (2011) Do male pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) adjust their feeding effort according to egg colour? Ethology 117:309–317CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  22. Johnson LS, Kermott LH, Lein MR (1993) The cost of polygyny in the house wren Troglodytes aedon. J Anim Ecol 62:669–682CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  23. Kennedy GY, Vevers HG (1976) A survey of avian eggshell pigments. Comp Biochem Physiol B 55:117–123PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  24. Kilner RM (2006) The evolution of egg colour and patterning in birds. Biol Rev 81:383–406PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  25. Krist M, Grim T (2007) Are blue eggs a sexually selected signal of female collared flycatchers? A cross-fostering experiment. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 61:863–876CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  26. Lahti DC (2008) Population differentiation and rapid evolution of egg color in accordance with solar radiation. Auk 125:796–802CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  27. López-Rull I, Celis P, Gil D (2007) Egg colour covaries with female expression of a male ornament in the spotless starling (Sturnus unicolor). Ethology 113:926–933CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  28. López-Rull I, Mikšík I, Gil D (2008) Egg pigmentation reflects female and egg quality in the spotless starling Sturnus unicolor. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 12:1877–1884CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  29. López-Rull I, Gil D (2009) Do female spotless starlings Sturnus unicolor adjust maternal investment according to male attractiveness? J Avian Biol 40:254–262CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  30. Mikšík I, Holáň V, Deyl Z (1996) Avian eggshell pigments and their variability. Comp Biochem Physiol B 113:607–612CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  31. Morales J, Sanz JJ, Moreno J (2006) Egg colour reflects the amount of yolk maternal antibodies and fledging success in a songbird. Biol Lett 2:334–336PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  32. Morales J, Torres R, Velando A (2010) Parental conflict and blue egg coloration in a seabird. Naturwissenschaften 97:173–180PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  33. Morales J, Velando A, Moreno J (2008) Pigment allocation to eggs decreases plasma antioxidants in a songbird. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 63:227–233CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  34. Moreno J, Osorno JL (2003) Avian egg colour and sexual selection: does eggshell pigmentation reflect female condition and genetic quality? Ecol Lett 6:803–806CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  35. Moreno J, Osorno JL, Morales J, Merino S, Tomás G (2004) Egg colouration and male parental effort in the pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca. J Avian Biol 35:300–304CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  36. Moreno J, Morales J, Lobato E, Merino S, Tomás G, Martínez-de la Puente J (2005) Evidence for the signaling function of egg color in the pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca. Behav Ecol 16:931–937CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  37. Moreno J, Morales J, Lobato E, Merino S, Tomás G, Martínez-de la Puente J (2006a) More colorful eggs induce a higher relative paternal investment in the pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca: across-fostering experiment. J Avian Biol 37:555–560CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  38. Moreno J, Lobato E, Morales J, Merino S, Tomas G, Martínez-de la Puente J, Sanz JJ, Mateo R, Soler JJ (2006b) Experimental evidence that egg color indicates female condition at laying in a songbird. Behav Ecol 17:651–655CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  39. Moreno J, Lobato E, Merino S, Martínez-de la Puente J (2008) Blue-green eggs in pied flycatchers: an experimental demonstration that a supernormal stimulus elicits improved nestling condition. Ethology 114:1078–1083CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  40. Pinxten R, Eens M (1990) Polygyny in the European starling: effect on female reproductive success. Anim Behav 40:1035–1047CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  41. Polačiková L, Procházka P, Cherry MI, Honza M (2009) Choosing suitable hosts: common cuckoos Cuculus canorus parasitize great reed warblers Acrocephalus arundinaceus of high quality. Evol Ecol 23:879–891CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  42. Požgayová M, Procházka P, Honza M (2009) Sex-specific defence behaviour against brood parasitism in a host with female-only incubation. Behav Process 81:34–38CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  43. R Development Core Team (2010) R: a language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna http://www.R-project.org
  44. Reynolds SJ, Martin GR, Cassey P (2009) Is sexual selection blurring the functional significance of eggshell coloration hypotheses? Anim Behav 78:209–215CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  45. Scalise I, Durantini EN (2004) Photodynamic effect of metallo 5-(4-carboxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tris(4-methylphenyl) porphyrins in biomimetic AOT reverse micelles containing urease. J Photochem Photobiol A 162:105–113CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  46. Schulte-Hostedde AI, Zinner B, Millar JS, Hickling GJ (2005) Restitution of mass/size residuals: validating body condition indices. Ecology 86:155–163CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  47. Sejberg D, Bensch S, Hasselquist D (2000) Nestling provisioning in polygynous great reed warblers (Acrocephalus arundinaceus): do males bring larger prey to compensate for fewer nest visits? Behav Ecol Sociobiol 47:213–219CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  48. Siefferman L, Navara KJ, Hill GE (2006) Egg coloration is correlated with female condition in eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 59:651–656CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  49. Soler JJ, Moreno J, Avilés JM, Møller AP (2005) Blue and green egg color intensity is associated with parental effort and mating system in passerines: support for the sexual selection hypothesis. Evolution 59:636–644PubMedGoogle Scholar
  50. Soler J, Navarro C, Pérez Contreras T, Avilés JM, Cuervo JJ (2008) Sexually selected egg coloration in spotless starling. Am Nat 171:183–194PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  51. Stocker R, Yamamaoto Y, McDonagh AF, Glazer AN, Ames BN (1987) Bilirubin as an antioxidant of possible physiological importance. Science 235:1043–1046PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  52. Trnka A, Prokop P (2010) Does social mating system influence nest defence behaviour in great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) males? Ethology 116:1075–1083CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  53. Trnka A, Prokop P, Batáry P (2010) Infanticide or interference: does the great reed warbler selectively destroy eggs? Ann Zool Fenn 47:272–277Google Scholar
  54. Urano E (1990) Factors affecting the cost of polygynous breeding for female great reed warblers Acrocephalus arundinaceus. Ibis 132:584–594CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  55. Večlová B, Hořák D (2009) Causes of variability in avian eggshell coloration. Sylvia 45:51–72Google Scholar
  56. Yasukawa K, McClure JL, Boley RA, Zanocco J (1990) Provisioning of nestlings by male and female red-winged blackbirds, Agelaius phoeniceus. Anim Behav 40:153–166CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 2011

Authors and Affiliations

  • Marcel Honza
    • 1
  • Milica Požgayová
    • 1
  • Petr Procházka
    • 1
  • Michael I. Cherry
    • 2
  1. 1.Institute of Vertebrate BiologyAcademy of Sciences of the Czech RepublicBrnoCzech Republic
  2. 2.Department of Botany and ZoologyUniversity of StellenboschMatielandSouth Africa

Personalised recommendations