Parasites and carotenoid-based signal intensity: how general should the relationship be?

ABSTRACT

Evidence that selection by parasites maintains heritable variation in sexually selected signals (Hamilton-Zuk model) has proved equivocal. Bright individuals do not always have fewer parasites in intraspecific comparisons. Because the lymphocyte-based defence system and the production of some colors used in sexual signaling require carotenoids, we consider a trade-off between defence against parasites and sexual signals. The nature and the sign of the covariance between defence and signal brightness can vary. Depending on carotenoid availability and allocation, and the type of sexual signal, various relationships between parasite load and signal intensity are expected.