Wl. Hohman et Cd. Ankney, BODY-SIZE AND CONDITION, AGE, PLUMAGE QUALITY, AND FOODS OF PRENESTING MALE CINNAMON TEAL IN RELATION TO PAIR STATUS, Canadian journal of zoology, 72(12), 1994, pp. 2172-2176
Male-biased sex ratios in waterfowl may contribute to sexual selection
and permit females to be the deciding sex in mate selection. Male cha
racteristics potentially influencing female choice include male age, s
ize, plumage quality, and body condition (i.e., relative body mass, fa
t content, or protein content). By examining characteristics of prenes
ting male cinammon teal (Anas cyanoptera) relative to their pair statu
s we evaluated the predictions that (i) paired males are older and phy
sically superior to unpaired males and (ii) older and physically super
ior males pair in advance of other males. Diets of paired and unpaired
males were similar, as were body size, ingesta-free body mass, fat, b
reast, and leg muscle protein contents, and testis, liver, and plumage
masses. Likewise, pair status was not associated with male age. Body
protein content and percentage of alternate plumage were generally gre
ater in paired than unpaired males, but for some unpaired individuals
these values were higher than the mean values for paired males. Thus,
we found only limited evidence to support the above hypotheses. Our da
ta suggest a possible link between winter nutrition and male participa
tion in reproduction. That is, characteristics which enable males, dur
ing winter, to acquire nutrients for initiating and completing the pre
alternate molt in advance of other males also may be associated with a
bility to obtain a mate.