Meeting Abstract
Birds have a spectacular array of brightly colored ornaments that has long been studied in terms of mate choice. However, little is known about the genetic basis of colorful ornaments, other than in a handful of genes that produce pigments. In this study we constructed a de novo transcriptome to examine gene expression in the developing feathers of a warbler, the common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas). This warbler is one of a few species of birds in which a plumage trait, the size of the black facial mask, is known to be sexually selected through female choice. Preliminary analyses indicate that a large variety of genes, including those related to immunity and oxidative stress, are differentially expressed in the mask of males, compared with feathers from areas of the plumage that are not sexually selected. These results point to mechanisms that allow ornaments to become revealing indicators of male quality.
