http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/309/5734/617
Extreme Reversed Sexual Dichromatism in a Bird Without Sex Role Reversal
Robert Heinsohn,1* Sarah Legge,2 John A. Endler3,4
Science, vol 309, Issue 5734, 617-619, 22 July 2005
Brilliant plumage is typical of male birds, reflecting differential
enhancement of male traits when females are the limiting sex. Brighter
females are thought to evolve exclusively in response to sex role
reversal. The striking reversed plumage dichromatism of Eclectus
roratus parrots does not fit this pattern. We quantify plumage color in
this species and show that very different selection pressures are
acting on males and females. Male plumage reflects a compromise between
the conflicting requirements for camouflage from predators while
foraging and conspicuousness during display. Females are liberated from
the need for camouflage but compete for rare nest hollows.
1 Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies, Australian National
University, Canberra, ACT 0200 Australia.
2 School of Botany and Zoology, Australian National University,
Canberra, ACT 0200 Australia.
3 Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of
California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106–9610, USA.
4 Department of Zoology and Tropical Ecology, James Cook University,
Townsville QLD 4811, Australia.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
---
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