An unexpected age-related pattern in feather growth contributes
to age-dependent ornament expression in a passerine bird

J 2022

An unexpected age-related pattern in feather growth contributes to age-dependent ornament expression in a passerine bird

KOTASOVÁ ADÁMKOVÁ, Marie, Oldřich TOMÁŠEK and Tomáš ALBRECHT

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

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10615 Ornithology

Country of publisher

Germany

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

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

Abstract

V originále

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 project

Name: Diverzita a fyziologické mechanizmy stárnutí v populaci volně žijícího pěvce

Investor: Czech Science Foundation

Citovat

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.

@article{2242981,
   author = {Kotasová Adámková, Marie and Tomášek, Oldřich and Albrecht, Tomáš},
   article_number = {4},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10336-022-01990-5},
   keywords = {Age; Barn Swallow; Tail fork; Hirundo rustica; Tail streamers},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {2193-7192},
   journal = {Journal of Ornithology},
   title = {An unexpected age-related pattern in feather growth contributes to age-dependent ornament expression in a passerine bird},
   url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-022-01990-5},
   volume = {163},
   year = {2022}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 2242981
AU  - Kotasová Adámková, Marie - Tomášek, Oldřich - Albrecht, Tomáš
PY  - 2022
TI  - An unexpected age-related pattern in feather growth contributes to age-dependent ornament expression in a passerine bird
JF  - Journal of Ornithology
VL  - 163
IS  - 4
SP  - 987-996
EP  - 987-996
PB  - Springer
SN  - 21937192
KW  - Age
KW  - Barn Swallow
KW  - Tail fork
KW  - Hirundo rustica
KW  - Tail streamers
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-022-01990-5
N2  - 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.
ER  -

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. \textit{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.

Detailed Information on Publication Record