Abstract
Feathers are used for flight, and any damage to feathers impairs efficient escape from predators. Because individuals can either rapidly produce feathers of poor quality or slowly produce feathers of high quality, prey experience a trade-off between speed of molt, quality of feathers, and risk of predation. We analyzed feathers produced by Woodpigeon Columba palumbus prey captured by Goshawks Accipiter gentilis and compared those to feathers shed during molt in the same areas. Feathers that were produced rapidly as reflected by long daily growth increments suffered from a greater degree of feather wear than feathers that were produced slowly. Prey had longer daily growth increments and a shorter period of molt than non-prey. Woodpigeons with worn feathers were more likely to fall prey to Goshawks than those with little or no wear to the plumage. These effects were independent of age, year, and time during the breeding season. These findings are consistent with a trade-off between speed of molt and feather quality affecting predation risk.
Zusammenfassung
Der Kompromiss zwischen schnellem Federwachstum und verminderter Federqualität erhöht das Prädationsrisiko.
Federn dienen dem Flug und jegliche Federschäden beeinträchtigen eine erfolgreiche Flucht vor Prädatoren. Da Individuen entweder schnell Federn minderer Qualität oder langsam Federn höherer Qualität bilden können, unterliegen Beutevögel einer Gratwanderung zwischen Mausergeschwindigkeit, Federqualität und Prädationsrisiko. Wir analysierten Federn von durch Habichte Accipiter gentilis erbeuteten Ringeltauben Columba palumbus und verglichen diese mit Mauserfedern aus denselben Gebieten. Schnell gewachsene Federn, erkennbar an breiten täglichen Wachstumsstreifen, unterlagen einem stärkeren Abnutzungsgrad als Federn, die langsam gewachsen waren. Erbeutete Vögel hatten breitere tägliche Wachstumsstreifen und einen kürzeren Mauserzeitraum als nicht erbeutete Vögel. Ringeltauben mit abgenutzten Federn wurden mit größerer Wahrscheinlichkeit von Habichten erbeutet als solche mit wenig oder keiner Gefiederabnutzung. Diese Effekte traten unabhängig von Alter, Jahr und Brutzeitabschnitt auf. Diese Befunde stehen im Einklang mit einem Kompromiss zwischen Mausergeschwindigkeit und Federqualität, welcher das Prädationsrisiko beeinflusst.
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Acknowledgements
We thank the landowners for access to the study sites. J. M. Neto, W. Cresswell and two anonymous referees provided constructive criticism.
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Communicated by O. Krüger.
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Møller, A.P., Nielsen, J.T. The trade-off between rapid feather growth and impaired feather quality increases risk of predation. J Ornithol 159, 165–171 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-017-1483-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-017-1483-2