Ornamental colors reveal age in the king penguin

Marion Nicolaus; Celine Le Bohec; Paul M. Nolan; Michel Gauthier-Clerc; Yvon Le Maho; Jan Komdeur; Pierre Jouventin

doi:10.1007/s00300-007-0332-9

Ornamental colors reveal age in the king penguin

Marion Nicolaus^*, Celine Le Bohec, Paul M. Nolan, Michel Gauthier-Clerc, Yvon Le Maho, Jan Komdeur, Pierre Jouventin

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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Abstract

We investigated whether delayed plumage maturation occurred in king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus). Therefore we examined the relationships between age and sex on spectral properties and size of two colored plumage patches and a UV-reflective beak spot, using known-age cohorts. Unlike the colored patch on the breast, we found age differences in ear and beak coloration. These results suggest that head ornaments in king penguins could signal sexual maturity or social status. No sex differences were found in the intensity of colored ornaments, which can result from mutual mate choice or genetic correlation between sexes. Size of colored patches did not relate to age or sex.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	53-61
Number of pages	9
Journal	Polar Biology
Volume	31
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-007-0332-9
Publication status	Published - Dec-2007

Keywords

plumage maturation
UV
ornamental size
mutual ornamentation
Aptenodytes patagonicus
DELAYED PLUMAGE MATURATION
HOST IMMUNE FUNCTION
MATE CHOICE
MUTUAL ORNAMENTATION
SEXUAL SELECTION
BIRDS
EVOLUTION
BEAK
PREFERENCES
COMPETITION

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title = "Ornamental colors reveal age in the king penguin",

abstract = "We investigated whether delayed plumage maturation occurred in king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus). Therefore we examined the relationships between age and sex on spectral properties and size of two colored plumage patches and a UV-reflective beak spot, using known-age cohorts. Unlike the colored patch on the breast, we found age differences in ear and beak coloration. These results suggest that head ornaments in king penguins could signal sexual maturity or social status. No sex differences were found in the intensity of colored ornaments, which can result from mutual mate choice or genetic correlation between sexes. Size of colored patches did not relate to age or sex.",

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author = "Marion Nicolaus and {Le Bohec}, Celine and Nolan, {Paul M.} and Michel Gauthier-Clerc and {Le Maho}, Yvon and Jan Komdeur and Pierre Jouventin",

year = "2007",

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doi = "10.1007/s00300-007-0332-9",

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AU - Nicolaus, Marion

AU - Le Bohec, Celine

AU - Nolan, Paul M.

AU - Gauthier-Clerc, Michel

AU - Le Maho, Yvon

AU - Komdeur, Jan

AU - Jouventin, Pierre

PY - 2007/12

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AB - We investigated whether delayed plumage maturation occurred in king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus). Therefore we examined the relationships between age and sex on spectral properties and size of two colored plumage patches and a UV-reflective beak spot, using known-age cohorts. Unlike the colored patch on the breast, we found age differences in ear and beak coloration. These results suggest that head ornaments in king penguins could signal sexual maturity or social status. No sex differences were found in the intensity of colored ornaments, which can result from mutual mate choice or genetic correlation between sexes. Size of colored patches did not relate to age or sex.

KW - plumage maturation

KW - UV

KW - ornamental size

KW - mutual ornamentation

KW - Aptenodytes patagonicus

KW - DELAYED PLUMAGE MATURATION

KW - HOST IMMUNE FUNCTION

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KW - MUTUAL ORNAMENTATION

KW - SEXUAL SELECTION

KW - BIRDS

KW - EVOLUTION

KW - BEAK

KW - PREFERENCES

KW - COMPETITION

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