Summary
Numerous mechanisms have been proposed to account for the evolution of cryptic and bright coloration in passerine birds. The Hamilton-Zuk revealing handicap model holds that cyclic interactions between hosts and parasites maintain additive genetic variance in secondary sexual traits and adaptive mate choice of resistant genotypes ensues (Hamilton and Zuk, 1982). Here I report no support for this model using various within-taxa techniques to test the functional relationship between the prevalence of hematozoan parasites and male brightness in many species of North American passerines. I establish that phylogeny and predation risk are most strongly associated with variation in male coloration. Ground-nesting passerines are considerably more cryptic than off-ground nesters, and there is evidence that ground-nesting passerines are under greater predation risk. Predation risk may limit the role of sexual selection in the development of bright coloration.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Ornithologist's Union. (1983)Check-list of North American Birds.
Baker, R. R. and Parker, G. (1979) The evolution of bird coloration.Phil. Trans. R. Soc. London B287, 63–130.
Baker, R. R. and Hounsome, M. V. (1983) Bird coloration: unprofitable prey model supported by ringing data.Anim. Behav. 31, 614–615.
Bell, G. (1989) A comparative method.Amer. Natur. 133, 553–571.
Borgia, G. and Collis K. (1989) Female choice for parasite free male satin bowerbirds and the evolution of bright male plumage.Behav. Ecol. Sociob. 25, 445–454.
Burtt, E. H., Jr. (1986) An analysis of physical, physiological, and optical aspects of avian coloration with emphasis on wood-warblers.Ornithological Monographs 38, 1–122.
Butcher, G. S. and Rohwer, S. (1989) The evolution of conspicuous and distinctive coloration for communication in birds.Curr. Ornith. 6, 51–108.
Cott, H. B. (1946) The edibility of birds.Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 116, 371–524.
Darwin, C. (1871)The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex. J. Murray, London.
Dunning, J. B. (1984) Body Weights of 686 Species of North American Birds.Western Bird Banding Assoc. Monog. 1, 1–50.
Ehrlich, P. R., Dobkin, D. S. and Wheye, D. (1988)The Birder's Handbook. Simon and Schuster, New York.
Falconer, D. S. (1981) Introduction to Quantitative Genetic. 2nd Ed. Longham, N.Y.
Felsenstein, J. (1985) Phylogenies and the comparative method.Amer. Natur. 125, 1–15.
Greiner, E. C., Bennett, G. F., White, E. M., and Coombs, R. F. (1975) Distribution of avian hematozoa of North America.Can. J. Zool. 53, 1762–1787.
Hailman, J. P. (1979) Environmental light and conspicuous colors. InThe Behavioral Significance of Color (E. H. Burtt, Jr., ed.) pp. 289–354. Garland STPM Press, New York.
Hamilton, W. D. and Zuk, M. (1982) Heritable true fitness and bright birds: a role for parasites?Science 218, 384–387.
Kirkpatrick, M. (1986) Sexual selection and cycling parasites: a simulation study of Hamilton's hypothesis.J. Theor. Biol. 119, 263–271.
Kirkpatrick, M. (1987) Sexual selection by female choice in polygynous animals.Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 13, 43–70.
Kirkpatrick, M., Price T. and Arnold, S. J. (1990) The Darwin-Fisher theory of sexual selection in monogamous birds.Evolution 44, 180–193.
Krebs, J. R. (1979). Bird colours.Nature 282, 14–16.
Loiselle, B. E. and Hoppes, W. G. (1983) Nest predation in insular and mainland lowland rainforest in Panama.Condor 85, 93–95.
Lyon, B. E. and Montgomerie, R. D. (1985) Conspicuous plumage of birds: Sexual selection or unprofitable prey.Anim. Behav. 33, 1038–1040.
Pagel, M. D. and Harvey, P. H. (1988) Recent developments in the analysis of comparative data.Quart. Rev. Biol. 63, 413–440.
Rappole, J. H., Morton, E. S, Lovejoy, T. E. and Rous, J. L. (1983) Nearctic migrants in the Neotropics.U.S. Dept. Int. Fish and Wild. Serv.
Read, A. F. (1987) Comparative evidence supports the Hamilton-Zuk hypothesis on parasites and sexual selection.Nature 328, 68–70.
Read, A. F. (1988) Sexual selection and the role of parasites.Trends Ecol. Evol. 3, 97–102.
Read, A. F. and Harvey, P. H. (1989) Reassessment of comparative evidence for Hamilton and Zuk theory on the evolution of secondary sexual characters.Nature 339, 618–620.
Ricklefs, R. E. (1969) An analysis of nesting mortality in birds.Smithsonian Contr. Zool. 9, 1–48.
Robbins, C. S., Bruun, B., and Zim, H. S. (1983).A Guide to Field Identification: Birds of North America. Golden Press, New York.
Verner, J. F., and Willson M. F. (1969) Mating systems, sexual dimorphism, and the role of male North American passerine birds in the nesting cycle.Ornith. Monog. 9, 1–76.
Watt, W. B., Carter, P. A. and Donohue, K. (1986) Females' choice of ‘good genotypes’ as mates is promoted by an insect mating system.Science 233, 1187–1190.
Wilcove, D. S. (1985) Nest predation in forest tracts and the decline of migratory songbirds.Ecology 66, 1211–1214.
Zuk, M. (1987) The effects of gregarine parasites, body size, and time of day on spermatophore production and sexual selection in field crickets.Behav. Ecol. Sociob. 21, 65–72.
Zuk, M. (1988) Parasite load, body size, and age of wild-caught male field crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllidae): effects on sexual selection.Evolution 42, 969–976.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Johnson, S.G. Effects of predation, parasites, and phylogeny on the evolution of bright coloration in north american male passerines. Evol Ecol 5, 52–62 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02285245
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02285245