Carotenoid-based skin ornaments reflect foraging propensity in a seabird, Sula leucogaster.

ABSTRACT: Carotenoid-based ornaments are common signalling features in animals. It has long been proposed that such ornaments communicate information about foraging abilities to potential mates. However, evidence linking foraging with ornamentation is largely missing from unmanipulated, free-ranging populations. To investigate this relationship, we studied a coastal population of brown booby (Sula leucogaster brewsteri), a seabird with a carotenoid-based gular skin ornament. δ¹³C values from both feathers and blood plasma were negatively correlated with male gular colour, indicating birds that consumed more pelagic prey in offshore locations had more ornamented skin than those that fed on nearshore, benthic prey. This relationship was supported by our GPS tracking results, w

SUBMITTER: Michael NP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6170756 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature