Carry‐over effects of conditions at the wintering grounds on breeding plumage signals in a migratory bird: roles of phenotypic plasticity and selection

• DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12892
• Publication Date: 2016-05-09T15:10:17Z
• Authors: P. E. Järvistö; S. Calhim; W. Schuett; P. M. Sirkiä; W. Velmala; T. Laaksonen
• Keywords: Ficedula; Plumage; Phenotypic trait; Microevolution; Disruptive selection

To understand the consequences of ever-changing environment on dynamics phenotypic traits, distinguishing between selection processes and individual plasticity is crucial. We examined consistency/plasticity in several male secondary sexual traits expressed during breeding season (white wing forehead patch size, UV reflectance white dorsal melanin coloration) a migratory pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) population over an 11-year period. Furthermore, we studied carry-over effects three environmental variables (NAO, climatic index; NDVI, vegetation rainfall) at wintering grounds (during prebreeding moult) expression these plumage males levels. Whereas NAO correlates negatively with moisture West Africa, NDVI positively primary production. Forehead size coloration were highly consistent within individuals among years, whereas consistency other two was moderate. Wing decreased higher increased rainfall level. Interestingly, small-patched suffered lower survival high winters than large-patched males, vice versa low winters. These counteracting meant that individual-level change masked level where no relationship found. Our results provide good example how variation composition natural can be result both environment-dependent short-term microevolution. Moreover, when viability operate simultaneously, their impacts may not evident.