Differential fitness effects of moonlight on plumage colour morphs in barn owls.

ABSTRACT: The Moon cycle exposes nocturnal life to variation in environmental light. However, whether moonlight shapes the fitness of nocturnal species with distinct colour variants remains unknown. Combining data from long-term monitoring, high-resolution global positioning system tracking and experiments using prey, we show that barn owls (Tyto alba) with distinct plumage colourations are differently affected by moonlight. The reddest owls are less successful at hunting and providing food to their offspring during moonlit nights, which associates with lower body mass and lower survival of the youngest nestlings and with female mates starting to lay eggs at low moonlight levels. Although moonlight should make white owls more conspicuous to prey, it either positively affects or does not affect the h

SUBMITTER: San-Jose LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6728161 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature