How to translate text using browser tools
1 January 2011 Territoriality Versus Flocking in The Zenaida Dove (Zenaida aurita): Resource Polymorphism Revisited Using Morphological and Genetic Analyses
Karine Monceau, Remi Wattier, François-Xavier Dechaume-Moncharmont, Sebastien Motreuil, Frank Cézilly
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

The term “resource polymorphism” refers to the existence of alternative phenotypes in relation to resource use, as a result of disruptive selection. Evidence for resource polymorphism is widespread in fish but remains scarce in birds. Although Zenaida Doves (Zenaida aurita) usually defend year-round territories, doves on Barbados can also be observed foraging at seed-storage sites in large flocks with little, if any, inter-individual aggression. On the basis of morphological variation, it has been suggested (Sol et al. 2005) that this represents a case of resource polymorphism, primarily driven by competition for territories. Using new data, we revisited the evidence for resource polymorphism in Zenaida Doves on Barbados. In particular, we added replicates in time and space for territorial and flock-foraging birds and used molecular markers to assign sex to adults and juveniles. In addition, we used microsatellite markers to assess potential genetic differentiation between flock-feeding and territorial doves. Our results confirm previous observations that territorial adults were larger than flock-feeding ones, whereas the reverse was observed in juveniles. Contrary to previous observations, we found a significant excess of females among flock-feeding adults, whereas the sex ratio was balanced in territorial adults and in juveniles. In addition, we observed no significant difference in body condition and no genetic differentiation between territorial and flock-feeding individuals. Overall, our data question the existence of resource polymorphism in Zenaida Doves in Barbados. We suggest alternative, more parsimonious explanations, based on age- and sex-related differences in the relative benefits of holding a territory.

© 2011 by The American Ornithologists' Union. All rights reserved. Please direct all requests for permission to photocopy or reproduce article content through the University of California Press's Rights and Permissions website, http://www.ucpressjournals.com/reprintInfo.asp.
Karine Monceau, Remi Wattier, François-Xavier Dechaume-Moncharmont, Sebastien Motreuil, and Frank Cézilly "Territoriality Versus Flocking in The Zenaida Dove (Zenaida aurita): Resource Polymorphism Revisited Using Morphological and Genetic Analyses," The Auk 128(1), 15-25, (1 January 2011). https://doi.org/10.1525/auk.2010.09247
Received: 30 November 2009; Accepted: 1 August 2010; Published: 1 January 2011
KEYWORDS
alternative resource use
competition
genetic differentiation
metareplication
Morphometrics
Zenaida aurita
Zenaida Dove
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top