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Science 4 April 2003:
Vol. 300. no. 5616, pp. 125 - 127
DOI: 10.1126/science.1082142
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Reports

Carotenoid Modulation of Immune Function and Sexual Attractiveness in Zebra Finches

Jonathan D. Blount,1* Neil B. Metcalfe,1 Tim R. Birkhead,2 Peter F. Surai3

One hypothesis for why females in many animal species frequently prefer to mate with the most elaborately ornamented males predicts that availability of carotenoid pigments is a potentially limiting factor for both ornament expression and immune function. An implicit assumption of this hypothesis is that males that can afford to produce more elaborate carotenoid-dependent displays must be healthier individuals with superior immunocompetence. However, whether variation in circulating carotenoid levels causes variation in both immune function and sexual attractiveness has not been determined in any species. In this study, we show that manipulation of dietary carotenoid supply invokes parallel changes in cell-mediated immune function and sexual attractiveness in male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata).

1 Division of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
2 Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
3 Avian Science Research Centre, Scottish Agricultural College, Auchincruive, Ayr KA6 5HW, UK.
*   To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: j.blount{at}bio.gla.ac.uk

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)