Does colour-morph variation in metabolic physiology and oxidative stress match morph-specific life-history strategies?

ABSTRACT: Understanding to what extent phenotypes vary in their physiological traits and their associations to life-history strategies may help to better understand how animals are adapted to their environment and how they can cope with changing conditions. Melanin-based colour polymorphism is a phenotypic trait closely associated with physiological characteristics and fitness, which in tawny owls (Strix aluco) is highly heritable and strongly associated with adult survival. Pheomelanic (brown) tawny owl adults raise heavier offspring, suggesting higher parental effort and/or faster growth of brown offspring, but have shorter lifespan than grey ones. Moreover, brown morphs show faster rate of telomere shortening than the grey morph, but only after reaching adulthood. To further explore the potential

SUBMITTER: Morosinotto C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12106557 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature