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Aggression and fitness differences between plumage morphs in the common buzzard (Buteo buteo)

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  • M. Boerner
  • O. Krüger

Abstract

Genetic plumage polymorphism in birds is increasingly recognized as a potentially important trait influencing birds' life histories. In the common buzzard Buteo buteo, the 3 color morphs vary in lifetime reproductive success (LRS), but the proximate mechanisms leading to these differences are unknown. We first confirmed the stability of the fitness differences found previously, using a greatly extended LRS data set. To find potential causes for these differences, we experimentally studied variation in aggressive behavior of the morphs, both against an interspecific predator and intraspecific competitors. The morphs showed substantial variation in aggressive behavior. Light-colored males were most aggressive toward an interspecific predator, followed by intermediate and dark males. In females, this pattern was reversed, resulting in sex-related differences of aggression in 2 morphs. When defending their territory against intraspecific competitors, no absolute difference in aggression was found, but the morphs reacted strongest toward intruders of a morph similar to their own. This suggests that aggression differs both between and within morphs, leading to a complex pattern on the population level. Coupled with the strong fitness differences, our results suggest that the genetic basis of the polymorphism has far-reaching behavioral consequences. Copyright 2009, Oxford University Press.

Suggested Citation

  • M. Boerner & O. Krüger, 2009. "Aggression and fitness differences between plumage morphs in the common buzzard (Buteo buteo)," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 20(1), pages 180-185.
  • Handle: RePEc:oup:beheco:v:20:y:2009:i:1:p:180-185
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/beheco/arn132
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    Cited by:

    1. Valentijn van den Brink & Vassilissa Dolivo & Xavier Falourd & Amélie N. Dreiss & Alexandre Roulin, 2012. "Melanic color-dependent antipredator behavior strategies in barn owl nestlings," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 23(3), pages 473-480.
    2. Baumeister, Marléne & Ditzhaus, Marc & Pauly, Markus, 2024. "Quantile-based MANOVA: A new tool for inferring multivariate data in factorial designs," Journal of Multivariate Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    3. Nayden Chakarov & Martina Pauli & Anna-Katharina Mueller & Astrid Potiek & Thomas Grünkorn & Cor Dijkstra & Oliver Krüger, 2015. "Territory Quality and Plumage Morph Predict Offspring Sex Ratio Variation in a Raptor," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(10), pages 1-14, October.

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