The Influence of Carotenoid Acquisition and Utilization on the Maintenance of Species‐Typical Plumage Pigmentation in Male American Goldfinches (Carduelis tristis) and Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis)
@article{McGraw2001TheIO, title={The Influence of Carotenoid Acquisition and Utilization on the Maintenance of Species‐Typical Plumage Pigmentation in Male American Goldfinches (Carduelis tristis) and Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis)}, author={Kevin J. McGraw and Geoffrey E. Hill and Riccardo Stradi and Robert S. Parker}, journal={Physiological and Biochemical Zoology}, year={2001}, volume={74}, pages={843 - 852} }
Birds display a tremendous variety of carotenoid‐based colors in their plumage, but the mechanisms underlying interspecific variability in carotenoid pigmentation remain poorly understood. Because vertebrates cannot synthesize carotenoids de novo, access to pigments in the diet is one proximate factor that may shape species differences in carotenoid‐based plumage coloration. However, some birds metabolize ingested carotenoids and deposit pigments that differ in color from their dietary…
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Carotenoid access and intraspecific variation in plumage pigmentation in male American Goldfinches (Carduelis tristis) and Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis)
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