Adaptive coloration in pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca)-The devil is in the detail.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the origin and persistence of phenotypic variation within and among populations is a major goal in evolutionary biology. However, the eagerness to find unadulterated explanatory models in combination with difficulties in publishing replicated studies may lead to severe underestimations of the complexity of selection patterns acting in nature. One striking example is variation in plumage coloration in birds, where the default adaptive explanation often is that brightly colored individuals signal superior quality across environmental conditions and therefore always should be favored by directional mate choice. Here, we review studies on the proximate determination and adaptive function of coloration traits in male pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca). From numerous stud

SUBMITTER: Sirkia PM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7882974 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature