Hackle spectral characteristics and their role in mate choice in European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)

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dc.contributor.advisor Barber, Colleen Anne, 1962-
dc.coverage.spatial Nova Scotia
dc.creator Slade, Joel
dc.date.accessioned 2013-09-19T19:05:25Z
dc.date.available 2013-09-19T19:05:25Z
dc.date.issued 2012
dc.identifier.other QL696 P278 S56 2012
dc.identifier.uri http://library2.smu.ca/xmlui/handle/01/25213
dc.description ix, 74 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm.
dc.description Includes abstract.
dc.description Includes bibliographical references (leaves 66-74).
dc.description.abstract Plumage spectral characteristics are thought to play an essential role in mate choice. Male and female birds may benefit from mating outside of their social-pair bond if they obtain genetic benefits for their offspring by choosing mates with plumage that signals individual high quality. The goal of this thesis was to test the hypothesis that male and female genetic quality is signaled through hackle spectral characteristics and used in mate choice decisions by European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). Hackle brightness was positively correlated with female body condition and male provisioning effort. Also males with brighter hackles sired proportionally more male offspring than males with duller hackles. Purple hackles were positively correlated with male body condition and female realized reproductive success. This study demonstrates the importance of hackle spectral quality in European starlings and the role it plays in mate choice. en_CA
dc.description.provenance Submitted by Trish Grelot (trish.grelot@smu.ca) on 2013-09-19T19:05:25Z No. of bitstreams: 1 slade_joel_masters_2012.PDF: 3073394 bytes, checksum: 63e2e3689861a0bfa386c55859bd2269 (MD5) en
dc.description.provenance Made available in DSpace on 2013-09-19T19:05:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 slade_joel_masters_2012.PDF: 3073394 bytes, checksum: 63e2e3689861a0bfa386c55859bd2269 (MD5) en
dc.language.iso en en_CA
dc.publisher Halifax, N.S. : Saint Mary's University
dc.subject.lcc QL696.P278
dc.subject.lcsh Sturnus vulgaris -- Nova Scotia
dc.subject.lcsh Sexual selection in animals -- Nova Scotia
dc.subject.lcsh Feathers -- Spectra
dc.title Hackle spectral characteristics and their role in mate choice in European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) en_CA
dc.type Text en_CA
thesis.degree.name Master of Science in Applied Science
thesis.degree.level Masters
thesis.degree.discipline Biology
thesis.degree.grantor Saint Mary's University (Halifax, N.S.)
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