By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Life Science Weekly -- Current study results on Life Science Research have been published. According to news reporting from Bielefeld, Germany, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “Melanin-based plumage polymorphism occurs in many wild bird populations and has been linked to fitness variation in several species. These fitness differences often arise as a consequence of variation in traits such as behaviour, immune responsiveness, body size and reproductive investment.”
Financial support for this research came from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.
The news correspondents obtained a quote from the research from Bielefeld University, “However, few studies have controlled for genetic differences between colour morphs that could potentially generate artefactual associations between plumage colouration and trait variation. Here, we used zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) as a model system in order to evaluate whether life-history traits such as adult body condition and reproductive investment could be influenced by plumage morph. To maximise any potential differences, we selected wild-type and white plumage morphs, which differ maximally in their extent of melanisation, while using a controlled three-generation breeding design to homogenise the genetic background. We found that F2 adults with white plumage colouration were on average lighter and had poorer body condition than wild-type F2 birds. However, they appeared to compensate for this by reproducing earlier and producing heavier eggs relative to their own body mass.”
According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “Our study thus reveals differences in morphological and life history traits that could be relevant to fitness variation, although further studies will be required to evaluate fitness effects under natural conditions as well as to characterise any potential fitness costs of compensatory strategies in white zebra finches.”
For more information on this research see: The influence of inherited plumage colour morph on morphometric traits and breeding investment in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Plos One , 2017;12(11):e0188582. (Public Library of Science - www.plos.org; Plos One - www.plosone.org)
Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting E.T. Krause, Dept. of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany. Additional authors for this research include O. Kruger and J.I Hoffman.
The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0188582. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.
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CITATION: (2018-01-02), Research from Bielefeld University Yields New Findings on Life Science Research [The influence of inherited plumage colour morph on morphometric traits and breeding investment in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata)], Life Science Weekly, 167, ISSN: 1552-2474, BUTTER® ID: 014912824
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