Gergely Hegyi

Eötvös Loránd University

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János Török

Eötvös Loránd University

Balázs Rosivall

Eötvös Loránd University

Miklós Laczi

Eötvös Loránd University

László Zsolt Garamszegi

Institute of Ecology and Botany

Eszter Szöllősi

Eötvös Loránd University

Gergely Nagy

Eötvös Loránd University

Márton Herényi

Eötvös Loránd University

Gábor Markó

Plant Protection Institute

Eszter Szász

Eötvös Loránd University

Rita Hargitai

Pázmány Péter Catholic University

Cooperative Institutions

Eötvös Loránd University

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

Google (United States)

Hungarian Academy of Sciences

Max Planck Institute for Ornithology

University of Groningen

Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas

University of Oxford

Centre for Ecological Research

Pázmány Péter Catholic University

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Phenotypic correlates of digit ratio in a wild bird: implications for the study of maternal effects

Animal Behaviour (2007)

László Zsolt Garamszegi Gergely Hegyi Eszter Szöllősi Balázs Rosivall János Török

Digit ratio

Sexual dimorphism

10.1016/j.anbehav.2006.11.023

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Citations (16)

Experimental data suggest between population reversal in the condition dependence of two sexually selected traits

Scientific Reports (2025)

Gergely Hegyi Miklós Laczi Gyula M. Szabó Dóra Kötél Fanni Sarkadi

Abstract When viewing mate choice as a process of adaptive evolution, the condition-dependence of sexual ornaments represents a central pillar. Experimental tests of condition-dependence are few and refer to one population per species. The first brood size manipulation experiment aimed to test ornament condition-dependence had been reported from a Swedish population of collared flycatchers. Here we report a similar experiment conducted in a Hungarian population, examining the change of white plumage patch sizes of male parents by the next year and the patch sizes of male offspring in adulthood. The results consistently indicate that experimentally modified reproductive effort affects male wing, but not forehead patch size. To the contrary, previous results from the Swedish population indicated significant effects on forehead, but not wing patch sizes. Both patches are sexually selected in both populations, so the diverging results offer the first experimental suggestion of a trait by population crossover in the information content of two sexual ornaments. We conclude that explaining why some ornaments are condition-dependent is still far ahead, and further, preferably experimental population comparisons would be helpful.

Ornaments

Plumage

Trait

10.1038/s41598-025-88720-y

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Döntési mechanizmusok a madarak viselkedésökológiájában: anyai eredetű biomolekulák környezetfüggő átvitele a petesejtbe = Decision marking in behaviour ecology of birds: maternal preference

János Török László Zsolt Garamszegi Rita Hargitai Gergely Hegyi Gábor Michl

Az oroklott tulajdonsagok mellett az utodok ratermettseget a korai kornyezeti (anyai) hatasok jelentősen modosithatjak. Madaraknal vizsgaltuk, hogy a tojo altal a tojasba juttatott anyagok (ivari hormonok, vitaminok, karotinoidok, immunanyagok) hogyan segitik a fiokak fejlődeset ill. az anyagok allokacios mintazatat milyen (proximalis es ultimalis) valtozok magyarazhatjak. Megallapitottuk, hogy az orvos legykaponal a tojasmeretet a kornyezeti tenyezők es a tojo minősege, a tojas IgG-szintjet a tojo minősege prediktalta. A karotinoidok, az E- es A-vitamin, valamint a biliverdin (tojashej pigment) deponalasa a tojo parjanak koratol fuggott. Kompenzacios mechanizmusra utal, hogy a tapasztalatlan fiatal himek feszekaljaiban a tojok noveltek a tesztoszteront es az antioxidansokat. Kiserletesen bizonyitottuk, hogy a tesztoszteron depoziciojara hat, a karotinoidok es az IgG depoziciojara viszont nem hat a szocialis kornyezet valtozasa. Az orvos legykapo tojasok biopszias vizsgalataibol es japanfurj tojasok hormonkoncentraciojanak kiserletes megemeleseből arra kovetkeztethetunk, hogy a tojasokban levő androgenek (T, A4, DHT) rovid tavon elterően hatnak az utodok ratermettsegere. A kek cinegeknel pozitiv kapcsolatot talaltunk a himek egy ivari szignalja (fejtető UV visszaverese) es a tojasok becsult karotinoidmennyisege kozott. Vegul a szencinege tobbszoros ivari szignalizaciojat elemezve ramutattunk a szignalizacio es az anyai hatasok kornyezetfuggősegere. | In addition to genetic effects, the fitness of offspring is considerably modified by early environmental (maternal) effects. We examined how egg constituents deposited by the female (sexual hormones, vitamins, carotenoids, immune mediators) help offspring development and what proximate and ultimate factors may explain the allocation pattern of these substances. In the collared flycatcher we found that egg size was predicted by environmental factors and female quality, while IgG level by the quality of the female. The deposition of carotenoids, biliverdin, vitamins A and E depended on the characteristics of the female's mate. Consistent with a compensation mechanism, females increased the concentration of egg testosterone and antioxidants in clutches laid for inexperienced young males. We experimentally demonstrated that changing social environment modifies the deposition of testosterone but not that of carotene metabolites and IgG. By conducting biopsy studies of collared flycatcher eggs and experimentally elevating sex steroid levels in Japanese quail eggs, we found that different androgens in the egg (T, A4, DHT) have different short term effects on offspring fitness. In blue tits, we found a positive relationship between a sexual signal of males (crown UV reflectance) and the estimated carotenoid levels of eggs. Finally, analyses of multiple sexual signals in great tits indicated the environment-dependence of signalization and maternal effects.

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Paternal age and offspring growth: separating the intrinsic quality of young from rearing effects

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology (2006)

Gergely Hegyi Balázs Rosivall János Török

Fledge

Animal ecology

Maternal effect

Altricial

Paternal care

10.1007/s00265-006-0211-3

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Citations (33)

Qualitative population divergence in proximate determination of a sexually selected trait in the collared flycatcher

Journal of Evolutionary Biology (2002)

Gergely Hegyi János Török L. Viktor Tóth

Abstract We examined proximate determination of sexually selected forehead patch size in a Central-European population of Ficedula albicollis, the collared flycatcher, using a 9-year database, and compared our results with those obtained in other populations of the same and the sister species. Between-individual variation of forehead patch size was large, its repeatability larger than, and heritability similar to the Swedish population. Unlike in the other populations, the trait proved unaffected by body condition, and only very slightly influenced by age. There was no relationship between forehead patch size and breeding lifespan, and a marginal negative association with survivorship in adult males. Our results suggest that additive genetic variance of the trait in this population is large, but genes act independently of body condition, and there is no viability indicator value of the trait. This is the first report of a qualitative intraspecific difference in proximate determination of a sexually selected trait.

Ficedula

Trait

10.1046/j.1420-9101.2002.00449.x

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Citations (69)

Mate Choice for Genetic Benefits: Time to Put the Pieces Together

Ethology (2009)

Attila Hettyey Gergely Hegyi Mikael Puurtinen Herbert Hoi János Török

Abstract It is thought that mate choice allows individuals to obtain genetic benefits for their offspring, and although many studies have found some support for this hypothesis, several critical questions remain unresolved. One main problem is that empirical studies on mate choice and genetic benefits have been rather piecemeal. Some studies (1) aimed to test how mate choice affects offspring fitness, but have not examined whether the benefits are because of genetic effects. Other studies tested whether mate choice provides (2) additive or (3) non‐additive genetic benefits and only a few studies (4) considered these genetic effects together. Finally, some studies (5) examined whether the potential benefits that might be gained from mate choice are due to additive genetic effects vs. non‐additive effects, and although they found evidence for both, they did not examine whether mate choice is relevant. Furthermore, previous studies have usually not controlled for non‐genetic sources of variation in offspring fitness. Thus, there remain gaping holes in our understanding, and it is the connections among the research approaches that now need more attention. We suggest that studies are needed that measure non‐genetic effects, the potential benefits from both additive and non‐additive genetic effects, and also determine whether mate choice exploits these potential benefits. Such integrative studies are necessary to put the pieces together and clarify the role of genetic benefits in the evolution of mate choice.

Genetic Fitness

10.1111/j.1439-0310.2009.01704.x

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Fejlődési dinamika, egyedi minőség és tollazati jelzések = Developmental dynamics, individual quality and plumage signals

Gergely Hegyi

1) A recefelek feher szarnyfoltjaival evoluciosan kapcsolodnak egyes viselkedesi es eletmenet-karakterek. Az orvos legykapok ket feher tollazati foltjanak elterő a metabolikus indikator szerepe. A feher homlokfolt oroklődik, a ra mutatott preferencia viszont nem. A tollazat fenyvisszaverese integralt, parbaallast befolyasolo plasztikus jelzesrendszert kepez. 2) A tojasban talalhato tobbfele androgen hormon egymastol elterő hatast fejt ki a fiokak fejlődesere es tulelesere a japanfurjnel es az orvos legykaponal. Az utobbi fajnal kontextusfuggő tulelesi szelekcio hat a fiokanovekedesre, a novekedesi plaszticitas merteke pedig osszefugg a taplalek szezonalitasaval. 3) A recefelek feher szarnyfoltjai egyutt evolvaltak a himek utodnevelesi hozzajarulasaval. Az orvos legykapo tojok feher szarnyfoltjanak merete a tojas androgeneken keresztul osszekapcsolodik a fiokak novekedesevel. A novekedesre hato tulelesi szelekcio iranya fugg az apa feher szarnyfoltjanak meretetől. | 1) Some behavioral and life-history traits are evolutionarily linked to the white wing patches of ducks. The two white plumage patches of collared flycatchers have different metabolic indicator roles. The white forehead patch is heritable, but the preference on it is not. Plumage reflectance constitutes an integrated, plastic signal system with a role in mate acquisition. 2) Different androgen hormones in the egg differ from each other in their effects on nestling development and survival in Japanese quails and collared flycatchers. In the latter species, survival selection on nestling growth is context-dependent, while the magnitude of growth plasticity depends on the seasonality of food supply. 3) The white wing patches of ducks have co-evolved with the parental contribution of males. The white wing patch size of female collared flycatchers is linked to nestling growth via egg androgens. The direction of survival selection on growth depends on the white wing patch size of the father.

Plumage

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Breeding Experience and the Heritability of Female Mate Choice in Collared Flycatchers

PLoS ONE (2010)

Gergely Hegyi Márton Herényi Alastair J. Wilson László Zsolt Garamszegi Balázs Rosivall

Background Heritability in mate preferences is assumed by models of sexual selection, and preference evolution may contribute to adaptation to changing environments. However, mate preference is difficult to measure in natural populations as detailed data on mate availability and mate sampling are usually missing. Often the only available information is the ornamentation of the actual mate. The single long-term quantitative genetic study of a wild population found low heritability in female mate ornamentation in Swedish collared flycatchers. One potentially important cause of low heritability in mate ornamentation at the population level is reduced mate preference expression among inexperienced individuals. Methodology/Principal Findings Applying animal model analyses to 21 years of data from a Hungarian collared flycatcher population, we found that additive genetic variance was 50 percent and significant for ornament expression in males, but less than 5 percent and non-significant for mate ornamentation treated as a female trait. Female breeding experience predicted breeding date and clutch size, but mate ornamentation and its variance components were unrelated to experience. Although we detected significant area and year effects on mate ornamentation, more than 85 percent of variance in this trait remained unexplained. Moreover, the effects of area and year on mate ornamentation were also highly positively correlated between inexperienced and experienced females, thereby acting to remove difference between the two groups. Conclusions/Significance The low heritability of mate ornamentation was apparently not explained by the presence of inexperienced individuals. Our results further indicate that the expression of mate ornamentation is dominated by temporal and spatial constraints and unmeasured background factors. Future studies should reduce unexplained variance or use alternative measures of mate preference. The heritability of mate preference in the wild remains a principal but unresolved question in evolutionary ecology.

Animal sexual behaviour

10.1371/journal.pone.0013855

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Mutual ornamentation and the parental behaviour of male and female Collared Flycatchers Ficedula albicollis during incubation

Ibis (2016)

Dóra Kötél Miklós Laczi János Török Gergely Hegyi

One of the benefits of mate choice based on sexually selected traits is the greater investment of more ornamented individuals in parental care. The choosy individual can also adjust its parental investment to the sexual signals of its partner. Incubation is an important stage of avian reproduction, but the relationship between behaviour during incubation and mutual ornamentation is unclear. Studying a population of Collared Flycatchers Ficedula albicollis , we monitored the behaviour of both sexes during incubation in relation to their own and their partner's plumage traits, including plumage‐level reflectance attributes and white patch sizes. There was a marginally positive relationship between male feeding rate during incubation and female incubation rate. Female but not male behavioural traits were associated with the laying date of the first egg and clutch size. The behaviour of the two sexes jointly determined the relative hatching speed of clutches and the hatching success of eggs. Females with larger white wing patches spent less time incubating eggs and left the nestbox more frequently. Males with larger white wing patches fed females less frequently, whereas males with brighter white plumage areas visited the nestbox more regularly without feeding. Females tended to leave the nest less often when mated to males with larger wing patches, and females spent less time incubating when males had more UV chromatic plumage. The behaviour of both partners during incubation therefore predicted hatching patterns and was correlated with their own and sometimes with their partner's plumage ornamentation. These results call for further studies of mutual ornamentation and reproductive effort during incubation.

Plumage

Paternal care

Ficedula

Parental investment

Avian clutch size

Nest box

Captivity

10.1111/ibi.12389

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Plumage color degradation indicates reproductive effort: an experiment

Scientific Reports (2023)

Gergely Hegyi Miklós Laczi Gyula M. Szabó Fanni Sarkadi János Török

Plumage color has traditionally been regarded as a static ornamental trait, but evidence is accumulating for significant color changes without molt that typically reduce the conspicuousness of ornamentation. In some species, the social partner seems to increase its reproductive investment if the color trait is experimentally enhanced, suggesting that color change could act as a signal. However, the information content of this signal is so far unclear. For example, birds in poor condition or making greater effort may deteriorate more severely. We used brood size manipulations to alter the reproductive effort of male and female collared flycatchers Ficedula albicollis. Both sexes showed less severe decline in some reflectance attribute of their white breast when their brood was experimentally reduced. In each sex, greater deterioration of the reflectance trait affected by the manipulation was accompanied by increased feeding rate by the partner. These feeding patterns do not prove, but are consistent with, a compensatory response by the partner to induced degradation. The manipulation effects on color change we detected confirm for the first time that plumage color deterioration can indicate current reproductive effort, thereby providing a potential fitness advantage to social partners that react to such deterioration.

Plumage

Trait

10.1038/s41598-023-45348-0

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Citations (1)