Plumage variation and social partner choice in the greater flamingo (m>Phoenicopterus roseusm>)

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• 作者：Hani D. Freeman ; Annie J. Valuska ; Ryan R. Taylor ; Gina M. Ferrie ; Alison P. Grand and Katherine A. Leighty
• 刊名：Zoo Biology
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：September/October 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：35
• 期：5
• 页码：409-414
• 全文大小：429K
• ISSN：1098-2361

文摘

There is evidence that plumage coloration is related to mate choice in several different bird species. However, the relationship between plumage coloration to mate or other social partner choice has rarely been investigated in flamingos. This is important to study because we know plumage coloration can be an indicator of welfare. We assessed plumage color score in relation to sex, age, and social partner choice over a 9-month period in a flock of 34 adult greater flamingos (m>Phoenicopterus roseusm>) living at Disney's Animal Kingdom^®. When looking at primary social partners, redder males were more likely to have primary social partners compared to less red males. In addition, primary social partners tended to have similar color scores to each other. These findings provide insight into one factor that might influence social partner choice in greater flamingos living in ex situ situations. Future studies should investigate how these results relate to reproductive success as part of ex situ management. Zoo Biol. 35:409–414, 2016.