Data from: Tail color signals performance in blue tit nestlings

Class, Barbara, University of Turku

Kluen, Edward, University of Helsinki

Brommer, Jon E., University of Turku

Published May 30, 2019 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.43sd180

Cite this dataset

Class, Barbara; Kluen, Edward; Brommer, Jon E. (2019). Data from: Tail color signals performance in blue tit nestlings [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.43sd180

Abstract

Indirect sexual selection arises when reproductive individuals choose their mates based on heritable ornaments that are genetically correlated to fitness. Evidence for genetic associations between ornamental coloration and fitness remain scarce. In this study we investigate the quantitative genetic relationship between different aspects of tail structural coloration (brightness, hue and UV chroma) and performance (cell mediated immunity, body mass and wing length) in blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) nestlings. In line with previous studies, we find low heritability for structural coloration and moderate heritability for performance measures. Multivariate animal models show positive genetic correlations between the three measures of performance, indicating quantitative genetic variation for overall performance while tail brightness and UV chroma, two genetically independent color measures, are genetically correlated with performance (positively and negatively respectively). Our results suggest that mate choice based on independent aspects of tail coloration can have fitness payoffs in blue tits and provide support for the indirect benefits hypothesis. However, low heritability of tail structural coloration implies that indirect sexual selection on mate choice for this ornament will be a weak evolutionary force.

Usage notes

Data_nestlings_means

Phenotypic measures of all nestling traits (body mass on d16, wing length on d16, PHA response on d13, brightness, hue and UV chroma of 1 tail feather on d16).Color traits are averaged for each individual. Nestlings were cross-fostered between 2005 and 2009 and thus RearID is their nest of rearing while GeneticID is their nest of origin. Sex is 1 for female, 2 for male and 0 when unknown. Vane tarsus, and wing length are measured in mm and weight_d16 is measured in g. machine refers to the spectrophotometer that was used for measuring tail feathers (1 for 2005-2006, 2 for the other years).

Data_nestlings.txt

Data_nestlings_repeats

Phenotypic measures of all nestling traits (body mass on d16, wing length on d16, PHA response on d13, brightness, hue and UV chroma of 1 tail feather on d16).Each individual's tail feather was measured multiple times. Nestlings were cross fostered between 2005 and 2009 and thus RearID is their nest of rearing while GeneticID is their nest of origin. Sex is 1 for female, 2 for male and 0 when unknown. Vane tarsus, and wing length are measured in mm and weight_d16 is measured in g. machine refers to the spectrophotometer that was used for measuring tail feathers (1 for 2005-2006, 2 for the other years).

Pedigree_BT

Pedigree of the blue tit population (2003-2010)

WingWebs

Multiple measures of nestling wing webs (in mm) before (2 times on day 13) and after PHA injection (3 time on day 14) .

Supplementary textR2

R codes used for performing quantitative genetic analyses (with asreml-R), structural equation models (with lavaan) and simulations

Location

Southern Finland