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Morph-dependent resource acquisition and fitness in a polymorphic bird

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Abstract

Understanding genetic colour polymorphism has proved a major challenge, both in terms of the underlying genetic mechanisms and the evolutionarily forces maintaining such genetic variation. In this context, genetic differences in aggression or competitive-related traits may covary with the expression of alternative phenotypes, and affect the evolutionary stability and maintenance of colour polymorphisms. Genetic red and black head-colour morphs of the Gouldian finch (Erythrura gouldiae) co-occur in temporally and geographically stable frequencies in sympatric populations. Gouldian finches are obligate cavity-nesters with highly specific preferences for nest-site morphometry that directly affect reproductive success. Because intra- and interspecific competition for high quality nest-sites is prevalent, and fitness is directly related to nest-site quality, we investigated the relative access (and consequences for reproductive success) of alternative morphs to this critical limiting resource in the wild. Red males defended higher quality nest-sites, and overcame greater levels of nest-site competition against conspecifics and superior heterospecific competitors than black males. Red-headed males also produced more fledglings (especially with red-headed females) than black-headed males, independent of nest-site quality. Finally, the independent (positive) effect of nest-site quality on reproductive success was confirmed. Such competitive asymmetries are important to relative selection among coexisting morphs, and are likely to contribute to the maintenance of alternative sympatric colour-morphs in wild populations.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks to Liam Brunner, Gareth Davies, Josephine Dessmann, Christophe Dufresnes, Rowena Hamer, Jan Lewis, Emma Pariser, Dhanya Pearce, Marjolein Schoe, Nina Svedin, Erica van Rooij and Hanneke Wiggers for their help in the field over the years. Funding was provided by a Macquarie University Research Excellence Scholarship (J.B.B.), an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Grant (S.R.P.), and Save the Gouldian Fund.

Ethical standards

All work described here complies with current Australian laws, and was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Ethics Committees at Macquarie University, and carried out under license from the Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia

    James Brazill-Boast, Simon C. Griffith & Sarah R. Pryke

  2. Ecosystems and Threatened Species Unit, Regional Operations Division, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, Sydney South, NSW, 1232, Australia

    James Brazill-Boast

  3. Division of Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia

    Sarah R. Pryke

Authors
  1. James Brazill-Boast
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  2. Simon C. Griffith
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  3. Sarah R. Pryke
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Correspondence to James Brazill-Boast.

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Brazill-Boast, J., Griffith, S.C. & Pryke, S.R. Morph-dependent resource acquisition and fitness in a polymorphic bird. Evol Ecol 27, 1189–1198 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10682-013-9651-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10682-013-9651-1

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