Document Detail


Inter-specific and intra-specific variability in fruit color preference in two species of Turdus.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21910844     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Data-Review    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
One of the main hypotheses proposed to explain the evolution of fruit color deals with a preference of avian frugivores for specific colors, mainly black and red, which are the most common fruit colors in many of the studied habitats. I analyzed fruit color preferences by wild birds belonging to 2 species of the highly frugivorous genus Turdus (Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 and Redwing Turdus iliacus Linnaeus, 1758) by means of captivity experiments with artificial fruits. Despite important within-individual (i.e. temporal) and among-individual variability, consistent patterns of species-specific color preferences emerged. Eurasian Blackbirds tended to prefer red over blue, green and black, whereas Redwings seemed to prefer black over the rest. Green was systematically avoided by both species, suggesting that it might signal unripeness of fruits. Both preferred colors have been previously reported as the most common among fleshy-fruited plants. The high variability, both within and between individuals, in preferences suggests that they can be subject to changes through experience and learning and, therefore, are not likely to drive the evolution of fruit color. The main differences between both species could be related to the most common fruit color they fed upon during the last months before capture.
Authors:
Asier R Larrinaga
Related Documents :
9594284 - Quantitative analysis of light sensitivities in central 30-degree visual field of norma...
16815254 - The evaluation of light sensitivity in benign essential blepharospasm.
16162354 - Evidence for trichromacy in the green peach aphid, myzus persicae (sulz.) (hemiptera: a...
19472254 - Influence of iodide concentration on the efficiency and stability of dye-sensitized sol...
10908124 - Circadian control of migratory restlessness and the effects of exogenous melatonin in t...
18233414 - Microscale swimming: the molecular dynamics approach.
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Integrative zoology     Volume:  6     ISSN:  1749-4877     ISO Abbreviation:  Integr Zool     Publication Date:  2011 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-09-13     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101492420     Medline TA:  Integr Zool     Country:  Australia    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  244-58     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
© 2011 ISZS, Blackwell Publishing and IOZ/CAS.
Affiliation:
Ecology Area, Biology College, University of Santiago de Compostela, South Campus, s/n, 15782-Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Does multiple seed loading in Blue Jays result in selective dispersal of smaller acorns?
Next Document:  Cuticular hydrocarbons in two parapatric species of ants and their hybrid.