Sexual Dimorphism and UV Signaling in Birds

鸟类的性别二态性和紫外线信号

• 批准号: 0215560
• 负责人: Peter Dunn
• 金额: $ 5.96万
• 依托单位: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2002
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2002-08-01 至 2005-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0215560&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Sexual; Dimorphism; UV; Signaling; Birds

Lay Abstract for proposal #0215560Sexual dimorphism and UV signaling in birdsThe brilliant colors of birds have played a prominent role in the study of sexual and natural selection. In many species of birds males possess bright colors, while females are cryptic. This sexual dimorphism in plumage is traditionally explained as a consequence of variation in sexual selection (i.e., mating success). However, there are several reasons why this explanation may be inadequate. First, all comparative analyses to date have relied on subjective evaluations of plumage color and brightness by human observers, and it is now clear that birds see quite differently than humans. Not only do birds see in the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum to which humans are blind, they also see differently in the human visible spectrum. Unfortunately, there has not yet been a large-scale comparative analysis of UV reflectance in birds, so it is not known if UV signaling is widespread or if such signals commonly differ between the sexes. Second, recent studies of sexual differences in plumage color have found that evolutionary changes in plumage have been more common among females than males, suggesting that we have been focussing on the wrong sex. Indeed, there are many cases of bright colors in both sexes (e.g., parrots, tanagers, toucans) suggesting that selection has acted on females as well as males. Bright plumage in females may be favored by male mate choice or aggression between females over access to mates or food. In addition, natural selection may favor brightly colored females when both sexes defend a territory year-round or color patterns are involved in camouflage. Thus, other forms of selection besides sexual selection on males appear to be important in the evolution of avian plumage patterns.The three year study proposed here will examine the evolution of avian plumage patterns and sexual differences in plumage color using objective measures of color (spectrometer measurements) taken from museum specimens. We will measure spectral reflectance of both sexes of the1031 species used in our previous study of avian dimorphism. By building on our previous work, this study will lead to significantly deeper understanding of signaling in birds and the evolution of plumage patterns, a subject that has enthralled and perplexed both biologists and lay persons for over 100 years. In addition, this study will provide opportunities for training students in comparative methods, enhance research facilities at UWM and produce a web site with spectral data of birds that can be used by other researchers and teachers.

提案的摘要＃0215560二态性和紫外线信号传导在鸟类的鲜艳色彩中在性和自然选择的研究中发挥了重要作用。 在许多鸟类中，雄性具有鲜艳的色彩，而女性则是神秘的。 传统上，这种性二态性是由于性选择的差异（即交配成功）所解释的。但是，有几个原因导致这种解释可能不足。 首先，迄今为止的所有比较分析都依赖于人类观察者对羽毛颜色和亮度的主观评估，现在很明显，鸟类的看法与人类的看法完全不同。 鸟类不仅在人类盲目的紫外线（UV）频谱中看到，它们在人类可见频谱中的看法也有所不同。不幸的是，尚未对鸟类的紫外线反射率进行大规模的比较分析，因此尚不清楚紫外线信号是否普遍存在，或者性别之间的这些信号是否通常有所不同。 其次，最近关于羽毛颜色的性差异的研究发现，羽毛的进化变化在女性中比男性更为普遍，这表明我们一直专注于错误的性别。 实际上，两性（例如鹦鹉，制剂，tanagers，toucans）中有许多鲜艳的案例，暗示选择对女性和雄性作用。 女性的伴侣选择或女性之间的侵略性比获得伴侣或食物的男性伴侣的选择可能受到青睐。 此外，当两个性别全年捍卫领土或颜色模式涉及伪装时，自然选择可能会有利于鲜艳的女性。 因此，除了对男性的性选择外，其他形式的选择似乎在鸟类羽毛模式的进化中很重要。此处提出的三年研究将使用从博物馆标本中获得的客观颜色测量（光谱计测量值）研究鸟类羽毛模式的演变和羽毛颜色的性差异的演变。 我们将测量我们先前对鸟态二态性研究中使用的1031种性别的光谱反射率。 通过基于我们以前的工作，这项研究将使人们对鸟类的信号传导以及羽毛模式的演变有更深入的了解，这一主题已经吸引了生物学家和外行人已有100多年的历史了。 此外，这项研究将为培训比较方法的培训学生提供机会，增强UWM的研究设施，并生产一个网站，其中包含其他研究人员和教师可以使用的鸟类光谱数据。