Meeting Abstract
55.6 Jan. 6 Ornamental colors signal sex, health, and breeding status in king penguins, Aptenodytes patagonicus NOLAN, PM*; NICOLAUS, M; BAJZAK, C; COQUEL, A-S; JOUVENTIN, P; The Citadel; C.E.F.E.-CNRS; C.E.F.E.-CNRS; C.E.F.E.-CNRS; C.E.F.E.-CNRS paul.nolan@citadel.edu
We investigated the relationship between colored integumentary ornaments and health, sex, and time of breeding in the king penguin, Aptenodytes patagonicus. Ornamental traits have previously been found to signal condition in other avian species, but very little is known about the signal function of ornamental colors in seabirds such as king penguins. Individuals of this species are characterized by bright yellow-orange patches on their breasts and auricular body regions, and by orange, ultraviolet-violet (UV-V) reflecting beak spots. We examined the relationship between ornamental color and individual quality by examining plumage and beak colors relative to sex, health, time of breeding, and body condition (mass corrected for body size). Colors of the breast and auricular plumage were significantly more saturated on early breeders and healthy individuals, respectively, while the colors of sick birds were significantly brighter than those of healthy birds on both plumage patches. Health status also related significantly to hue and saturation in the yellow-orange wavelengths (450-700 nm) on the beak although not in the UV-V (320-450 nm), where time of breeding related significantly to UV-V saturation. Brightness of all ornamental colors differed significantly between the sexes in healthy breeders, with females exhibiting the brightest feathers and males exhibiting the brightest beaks. We also found significant interactions between sex and health, with sick females displaying particularly bright reflectance from the beak in both the UV-V and longer wavelengths. These results suggest that beak and plumage colors in the king penguin are honest signals of body condition, potentially functioning in pairing to help select mates of the highest possible quality.
