Cosmetic coloration of cross-fostered eggs affects paternal investment in the hoopoe (Upupa epops).

ABSTRACT: The signalling hypothesis suggests that avian eggshell coloration is a sexually selected female signal advertising her quality to its male partner, thereby stimulating his provisioning rate. This hypothesis has been tested for structural eggshell pigments, but not for cosmetic colorations, such as that produced by the uropygial secretion on eggshells. During the breeding season, female hoopoes (Upupa epops) host in their uropygial glands symbiotic bacteria. Females actively smear the eggshells with their secretion, protecting embryos from pathogenic trans-shell infections and changing eggshell coloration. Because the colour of the secretions is related to their antimicrobial potential, cosmetic eggshell coloration may act as a cue or even as a post-mating sexually selected signal if

SUBMITTER: Diaz-Lora S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8097196 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature