Journal article
Conspicuous plumage does not increase predation risk: A continent-wide test using model songbirds
KE Cain, ML Hall, I Medina, AV Leitao, K Delhey, L Brouwer, A Peters, S Pruett-Jones, MS Webster, NE Langmore, RA Mulder
American Naturalist | UNIV CHICAGO PRESS | Published : 2019
DOI: 10.1086/701632
Abstract
The forces shaping female plumage color have long been debated but remain unresolved. Females may benefit from conspicuous colors but are also expected to suffer costs. Predation is one potential cost, but few studies have explicitly investigated the relationship between predation risk and coloration. The fairy-wrens show pronounced variation in female coloration and reside in a wide variety of habitats across Australasia. Species with more conspicuous females are found in denser habitats, suggesting that conspicuousness in open habitat increases vulnerability to predators. To test this, we measured attack rates on 3-D-printed models mimicking conspicuously colored males and females and dull..
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Awarded by Australian Wildlife Conservancy
Funding Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the students, volunteers, field assistants, and technicians that assisted at each field site and staff at the Australian Wildlife Conservancy's Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary for continued support. Extra thanks to S. Hoobler, N. Svedin, J. Heathcote, and K. Wetten for their assistance in data collection and to O. Branquinho for assistance in model painting and construction. Thanks to the University of Melbourne Digitisation Centre for 3-D scanning and the Department of Engineering Workshop for access to 3-D printers. K.E.C., M.L.H., A.V.L., and R.A.M. were supported by Australian Research Council (ARC) grant DP150101652 to R.A.M., N.E.L., and K.D.; I.M. and N.E.L. were supported by ARC grant DP110101966 to N.E.L.; L.B. and K.D. were supported by ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award fellowships (DE130100174 to L.B., DE120102323 to K.D.); and A.P. was supported by an ARC Future Fellowship (FT 110100505). Research was conducted under the following permits: animal ethics 1212668.2 and scientific research WISP13237913 and RK865 to R.A.M., M.L.H., and K.E.C. Research was approved by the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme (ABBBS license 2230 to A.P.), the Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation, the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, and the ethics committees of the School of Biological Sciences at Monash University (BSCI/2011/28, BSCI/2015/11). The authors would also like to acknowledge the insight and contributions of the reviewers and editors, whose efforts greatly improved the quality of this publication.