Gould Geoffrey M, Carter Gerald G, Augustine Jacqueline K
Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology The Ohio State University Columbus OH USA.
Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology The Ohio State University at Lima Lima OH USA.
Ecol Evol. 2019 Sep 27;9(20):11833-11847. doi: 10.1002/ece3.5687. eCollection 2019 Oct.
Color-based visual signals are important aspects of communication throughout the animal kingdom. Individuals evaluate color to obtain information about age and condition and to behave accordingly. Birds display a variety of striking, conspicuous colors and make ideal subjects for the study of color signaling. While most studies of avian color focus on plumage, bare unfeathered body parts also display a wide range of color signals. Mate choice and intrasexual competitive interactions are easily observed in lekking grouse, which also signal with prominent unfeathered color patches. Most male grouse have one pair of colorful bare part ornaments (combs), and males of several species also have inflatable air sacs in their throat. Previous studies have mostly focused on comb color and size, but little is known about the signaling role of air sac color. We measured comb size and the color properties of combs and air sacs in the Lesser and Greater Prairie-Chickens ( and , respectively), and investigated whether these properties varied with age and mass. We found that mass predicted color properties of air sacs and that age predicted comb size in the Greater Prairie-Chicken, suggesting that these ornaments indicate condition dependence. No conclusive relationships between color and age or size were detected in the Lesser Prairie-Chicken. Color properties of both ornaments differed between the two species. Further research is needed to determine mechanisms that link condition to color and whether the information advertised by color signals from these ornaments is intended for males, females, or both.
基于颜色的视觉信号是整个动物界交流的重要方面。个体通过评估颜色来获取有关年龄和健康状况的信息，并据此采取相应行动。鸟类展现出各种醒目、显眼的颜色，是研究颜色信号的理想对象。虽然大多数关于鸟类颜色的研究集中在羽毛上，但裸露无毛的身体部位也会展现出广泛的颜色信号。在求偶场中求偶的松鸡很容易观察到配偶选择和同性间的竞争互动，它们也会通过突出的无毛色斑来发出信号。大多数雄性松鸡有一对色彩鲜艳的裸露部位装饰（肉垂），还有几个物种的雄性在喉咙处有可充气的气囊。以往的研究大多集中在肉垂的颜色和大小上，但对于气囊颜色的信号作用却知之甚少。我们测量了小草原榛鸡和大草原榛鸡（分别为 和 ）的肉垂大小以及肉垂和气囊的颜色特性，并研究了这些特性是否随年龄和体重而变化。我们发现，体重可以预测大草原榛鸡肉囊的颜色特性，年龄可以预测其肉垂大小，这表明这些装饰表明了对健康状况的依赖。在小草原榛鸡中未检测到颜色与年龄或大小之间的确切关系。这两个物种的两种装饰的颜色特性都有所不同。需要进一步研究来确定将健康状况与颜色联系起来的机制，以及这些装饰的颜色信号所传达的信息是针对雄性、雌性还是两者。
