One trait, many signals: different information on male quality is enclosed within the same trait in a blenny fish.

ABSTRACT: Colourful ornaments are traditionally evaluated as one trait. However, they could consist of several components, such as total size, colour intensity and extension, each possibly bearing its own message about one aspect of quality. Males of the blenny Salaria pavo exhibit a colourful head crest and solely care for eggs. During the breeding season, the head crest shows a yellow colouration, the intensity and relative extension of which are independent of crest size. Here, we show that: (1) carotenoids are responsible for the head crest yellow patch; (2) activating the immune system by injecting the bacterial antigen lipopolysaccharides affects both the intensity and extent of the yellow colouration; and (3) females assess males on the basis of colour patch expression. However, the response

SUBMITTER: Locatello L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3448905 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature