La Tour du Valat

Institut de recherche pour la conservation des zones humides méditerranéennes

Titre :	Ontogeny of male plumage dichromatism in Madagascar paradise flycatchers Terpsiphone mutata
Auteurs :	R. A. Mulder, Auteur ; R. Ramiarison, Auteur ; R. E. Emahalala, Auteur
Type de document :	Article
Dans :	Journal of Avian Biology (33(4) DEC 2002)
Article en page(s) :	342-348
Langues:	Anglais
Résumé :	Two male plumage morphs, 'white' and 'rufous', coexist in the Madagascar paradise flycatcher Terpsiphone mutata. There has been enduring debate about whether this dimorphism in male plumage represents seasonal dichromatism, delayed plumage maturation, or genetic differences. We present data from a nine-year study monitoring plumage changes in 119 individually colour-banded males (430 male-years). Our data show that paradise flycatchers are not seasonally dichromatic, and that although males show delayed plumage maturation, the rufous morph is not simply a precursor to white plumage, as previously thought. Individual males followed irreversible developmental pathways to 'rufous' or 'white', and could be reliably assigned to these distinct phenotypes by their second year. 'White' males adopted definitive plumage by the age of three years, whereas 'rufous' males did so between the ages of three and six years. The fixed nature of these morphs suggests that a genetic basis for the dichromatism is likely. However, variation in the timing of definitive plumage acquisition in rufous males could involve condition dependence and be environmentally influenced.

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