Preliminary data presented at Animal Behavior Society meeting in 2012. Paper is now published in Animal Behaviour: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003347213003473
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Whittaker abs2012 odor_predictsrs
1. Songbird Odor Predicts
Reproductive Success
Danielle J. Whittaker
Nicole M. Gerlach
Ellen D. Ketterson
BEACONAn NSF Center for the Study of
Evolution in Action
Photo by Marine Drouilly
2. Preen oil is an odor source
Oil secreted from the uropygial gland
contains volatile compounds that give
birds an odor
3. Volatile compound concentration increases
during breeding season
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Concentration
Breeding Non-breeding
Soini et al 2007, J. Chemical Whittaker et al 2011, J. Chemical
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
1
(n=50)
2
(n=28)
3
(n=27)
4
(n=27)
Week (sample size)
1
(n=21)
2
(n=10)
3
(n=11)
4
(n=12)
Week (sample size)
Decanol
Undecanol
Dodecanol
Tridecanol
Tetradecanol
Pentadecanol
Hexadecanol
-6
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
lnconcentration
Undecanone
Dodecanone
Tridecanone
Tetradecanone
Pentadecanone
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
Dodecanoic
Acid
Tetradecanoic
Acid
Hexadecanoic
Acid
Methyl Ketones
Carboxylic Acids
Linear Alcohols
Males Females
4. Odor varies with sex
and population
MANOVA
Sex p<0.001
Population p=0.022
Sex *
Population p=0.03
Whittaker et al. 2010, Behavioral
5. Birds can detect and differentiate
among odors
Whittaker et al. 2011, Behavioral Ecology
7. Photo by Flickr user Enjoy Every San
Dark-eyed
Juncos (Junco
hyemalis)
Seasonal breeders
Socially
monogamous
~30% extra-pair
fertilization (EPF)
rate
Females incubate
eggs, both males
and females feed
nestlings
9. Photo by Dawn O’Neal
Lab Methods
Genotyped at 8
microsatellite loci to
assess parentage
Analyzed chemical
composition of preen
oil with GC-MS
15 volatile compounds
10. Photo by Flickr user wvsaww
Relative proportions of volatile
compounds
Previous studies found
relationships between
relative proportions
and sex, population
differences
More “male-like” and
“female-like” blends
due to different
proportions
20. Photo by Flickr user Dave W
Conclusion
s
Odor is a strong
predictor of RS
in both males
and females
Females may
evaluate
potential social
mates and
EPF mates
using different
cues
No other traits
correlated
21. Acknowledgments
Milos Novotny
Helena Soini
The Ketterson Lab and
United Junco Workers
National Science
Foundation
Indiana University Faculty
Research Support
Program
Indiana Academy of Science
American Philosophical
Society
BEACONAn NSF Center for the Study of
Evolution in Action
Photo by Marine Drouilly
Hinweis der Redaktion
Pop-up PCA graph to reinforce the differences
Have T graph pop up
Were there other correlates (morph characteristics) associated with RS or loss of paternity? (eg tail white, size)Be careful about saying ‘Strong correlation’ – p value not that strong – say highly correlatedJust do Fledging day graphs for males – my awesome circles are confusing. For female, do day 6 and say that it suggests she can produce more offspring (eg is more fecund), not necessarily anything about her parenting ability