10.5061/DRYAD.H00NK10
Ribot, Raoul F. H.
Deakin University
Berg, Mathew L.
Deakin University
Schubert, Emanuel
Deakin University
Endler, John A.
Deakin University
Bennett, Andrew T. D.
Deakin University
Data from: Plumage coloration follows Gloger’s rule in a ring species
Dryad
dataset
2019
Visual modelling
Platycercus elegans
Parrots
Background coloration
2019-02-15T12:32:12Z
2019-02-15T12:32:12Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.13497
37566 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Aim: Animal coloration is expected to differ between populations in
different habitats according to Gloger’s rule, with darker animals found
in more humid, vegetated or warmer environments. Yet despite considerable
support across the globe, the mechanisms behind this biogeographical rule
are currently still unclear. Exploiting a ring species with plumage
coloration from crimson to pale yellow, we test Gloger’s rule and the
mechanisms behind phenotypic divergence. Location: South-eastern
Australia. Major taxa studied: Crimson rosellas (Platycercus elegans).
Methods: We combined three modelling approaches (spatial regression;
random decision forest species distribution and conditional inference
tree) to test the association between 10 environmental variables (based on
long-term climate data and remotely sensed reflectance of the land) and
plumage coloration across the distribution of P. elegans. We also took
in-situ measurements of background coloration of dominant vegetation to
examine the relationship between 1) background coloration measured locally
and remotely, 2) P. elegans coloration, and 3) known differences in visual
sensitivity of the subspecies using species-specific visual models.
Results: On both a continental and a local scale, the distribution of
yellow-red plumage coloration was strongly predicted by average rainfall,
summer temperature and the Earth’s reflectance between 620-670nm. Remotely
sensed radiance measures correlated strongly and positively with
reflectance of the leaves of the dominant tree species at sites across the
P. elegans distribution. Visual modelling indicated that differences in
background colour could affect signalling efficacy in dim-light
conditions. Main conclusions: Our study shows that the highly variable
plumage coloration conforms to Gloger’s rule, and indicates that
background coloration of the vegetation and thermoregulation are likely to
be important mechanisms. Our results also show that Gloger’s rule can
explain variation in pigmentary systems other than melanin, and highlight
that selection from environmental variation could be an important force
behind the geographic diversity found in ring species.
Environmental variables and Platycercus elegans plumage colorationDataset
containing 10 environmental variables from 358 grid cells used for
analyses of plumage color variation in Platycercus elegans across its
distribution in southeastern Australia. Four P. elegans plumage coloration
groups were used: 1) YR, 2) AR, 3) WS and 4) CR.Platycercus elegans
coloration.csvP elegans sites with 3 environmental variablesDataset with 3
environmental variables from 33 sites across the distribution of
Platycercus elegans.P elegans reflectance spectra leavesDataset containing
reflectance spectra of leaves (between 300 and 690nm and divided into 120
bins of 10nm) measured from dominant trees in the habitat of the four P.
elegans plumage coloration groups (YR, AR, WS, CR) at three different
sites per group.P elegans reflectance spectra sites and leavesDataset
containing measurements of MODIS band 1 taken over three different scales
(500m, 5000m and 10000m) and measurements of overall reflectance and
reflectance between 620-670nm of leaves from dominant trees in the habitat
of P. elegans.