KOTASOVÁ ADÁMKOVÁ, Marie, Oldřich TOMÁŠEK and Tomáš ALBRECHT. An unexpected age-related pattern in feather growth contributes to age-dependent ornament expression in a passerine bird. Journal of Ornithology. Springer, 2022, vol. 163, No 4, p. 987-996. ISSN 2193-7192. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10336-022-01990-5.
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Basic information
Original name An unexpected age-related pattern in feather growth contributes to age-dependent ornament expression in a passerine bird
Authors KOTASOVÁ ADÁMKOVÁ, Marie (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Oldřich TOMÁŠEK (203 Czech Republic) and Tomáš ALBRECHT (203 Czech Republic).
Edition Journal of Ornithology, Springer, 2022, 2193-7192.
Other information
Original language English
Type of outcome Article in a journal
Field of Study 10615 Ornithology
Country of publisher Germany
Confidentiality degree is not subject to a state or trade secret
WWW URL
Impact factor Impact factor: 1.300
RIV identification code RIV/00216224:14310/22:00129278
Organization unit Faculty of Science
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10336-022-01990-5
UT WoS 000803575300001
Keywords in English Age; Barn Swallow; Tail fork; Hirundo rustica; Tail streamers
Tags rivok
Tags International impact, Reviewed
Changed by Changed by: Mgr. Marie Šípková, DiS., učo 437722. Changed: 25/1/2023 07:00.
Abstract
The length of the ornamental tail rectrices has been shown to be an important condition-dependent sexually selected trait in various bird species. Similarly, the shape and depth of the tail fork may represent a costly sexual signal that enhances individual attractiveness but compromises flight manoeuvrability. Avian flight feathers, including ornamental rectrices, generally become longer in successive years. In this study, we analysed age and sex differences in the length of central tail feathers and the depth of the tail fork in 141 Barn Swallows observed repeatedly over consecutive years. As expected, tail fork depth was mainly determined by the length of the outer ornamental tail streamers and to some extent to the non-ornamental central feathers, with individuals with deeper forks having longer outer streamers and shorter central tail feathers. Central tail feathers were sexually dimorphic and shorter in males than females. We also found an unexpected pattern of shortening of central tail feathers with increasing age that contributed to an age-related increase in tail fork depth in both sexes. The shortening of central tail feathers was achieved by the reduction of daily feather growth rates and not by feather abrasion. To the best of our knowledge, our study provides the first evidence of age-related continuous shortening of flight feathers in an avian species and suggests a possible sexual role of central tail feather length in Barn Swallows.
Links
GA21-22160S, research and development projectName: Diverzita a fyziologické mechanizmy stárnutí v populaci volně žijícího pěvce
Investor: Czech Science Foundation
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