Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Predator-Prey Interactions

Predator-Prey Interactions

Predators consume prey for energy. Predators that acquire prey and prey that avoid predation both increase their chances of survival and reproduction (i.e., fitness). Routine predator-prey interactions elicit mutual adaptations that improve predator offenses, such as claws, teeth, and speed, as well as prey defenses, including crypsis, aposematism, and mimicry. Thus, predator-prey interactions resemble an evolutionary arms race.Although predation is commonly associated with carnivory, for...

Frequency-dependent Selection

Frequency-dependent Selection

When the fitness of a trait is influenced by how common it is (i.e., its frequency) relative to different traits within a population, this is referred to as frequency-dependent selection. Frequency-dependent selection may occur between species or within a single species. This type of selection can either be positive—with more common phenotypes having higher fitness—or negative, with rarer phenotypes conferring increased fitness.Positive Frequency-Dependent SelectionIn positive...

Types of Selection

Types of Selection

Natural selection influences the frequencies of particular alleles and phenotypes within populations in several different ways. Primarily, natural selection can be directional, stabilizing, or disruptive. Directional selection favors one extreme trait and shifts the population towards that phenotype while selecting against individuals displaying alternate traits. Stabilizing selection favors an intermediate trait with a narrow range of variation. Deviation from the optimal phenotype towards an...

Limits to Natural Selection

Limits to Natural Selection

Organisms that are well-adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. However, natural selection does not lead to perfectly adapted organisms. Several factors constrain natural selection.For one, natural selection can only act upon existing genetic variation. Hypothetically, redtusks may enhance elephant survival by deterring ivory-seeking poachers. However, if there are no gene variants—or alleles—for redtusks, natural selection cannot increase the prevalence of...

Optimal Foraging

Optimal Foraging

How animals obtain and eat their food is called foraging behavior. Foraging can include searching for plants and hunting for prey and depends on the species and environment.

Life Histories

Life Histories

Constrained by limited energy and resources, organisms must compromise between offspring quantity and parental investment. This trade-off is represented by two primary reproductive strategies; K-strategists produce few offspring but provide substantial parental support, whereas r-strategists produce much progeny that receives little care. These strategies are related to an organism’s survival likelihood across its lifespan, which is represented by a survivorship curve. Three general types of...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Large-scale changes in marine and terrestrial environments drive the population dynamics of long-tailed ducks breeding in Siberia.

Scientific reports·2022

Same author

Author Correction: Effects of climate variation on bird escape distances modulate community responses to global change.

Scientific reports·2021

Same author

Effects of climate variation on bird escape distances modulate community responses to global change.

Scientific reports·2021

Same author

Reduced colonization by soil invertebrates to irradiated decomposing wood in Chernobyl.

The Science of the total environment·2018

Same author

Immunoglobulin plasma concentration in relation to egg laying and mate ornamentation of female barn swallows (Hirundo rustica).

Journal of evolutionary biology·2017

Same author

Escape from predators and genetic variance in birds.

Journal of evolutionary biology·2017

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Assaying Predatory Feeding Behaviors in Pristionchus and Other Nematodes

Assaying Predatory Feeding Behaviors in Pristionchus and Other Nematodes

Published on: September 4, 2016

Viability selection on prey morphology by a generalist predator.

A P Møller¹, G Couderc, J T Nielsen

¹Laboratoire d'Ecologie, Systématique et Evolution, CNRS UMR, Université Paris-Sud, Orsay Cedex, France. amoller@u-psud.fr

Journal of Evolutionary Biology

|April 7, 2009

Summary

Wood pigeons (Columba palumbus) exhibit feather adaptations for predator escape. Selection favors lighter primary feathers with narrow calamus and larger rectrix feathers for improved flight and survival against goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) predation.

More Related Videos

A Real-Time Interactive System for Studying Confrontational Pursuit Behavior in Rodents

A Real-Time Interactive System for Studying Confrontational Pursuit Behavior in Rodents

Published on: May 16, 2025

Laboratory Protocol for Genetic Gut Content Analyses of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Using Group-specific rDNA Primers

Laboratory Protocol for Genetic Gut Content Analyses of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Using Group-specific rDNA Primers

Published on: October 5, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Assaying Predatory Feeding Behaviors in Pristionchus and Other Nematodes

Assaying Predatory Feeding Behaviors in Pristionchus and Other Nematodes

Published on: September 4, 2016

A Real-Time Interactive System for Studying Confrontational Pursuit Behavior in Rodents

A Real-Time Interactive System for Studying Confrontational Pursuit Behavior in Rodents

Published on: May 16, 2025

Laboratory Protocol for Genetic Gut Content Analyses of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Using Group-specific rDNA Primers

Laboratory Protocol for Genetic Gut Content Analyses of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Using Group-specific rDNA Primers

Published on: October 5, 2017

Area of Science:

Evolutionary Biology
Avian Ecology
Biomechanics

Background:

Prey species rely on locomotion for predator evasion, leading to strong selective pressures on morphology.
Feather structure significantly influences avian flight performance, crucial for escape and survival.

Purpose of the Study:

To quantify natural selection on feather morphology in wood pigeons (Columba palumbus) in relation to goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) predation.
To investigate directional and quadratic selection on primary and rectrix feathers influencing flight and escape abilities.

Main Methods:

Comparative analysis of feather morphology between wood pigeons killed by goshawks and survivors.
Quantification of directional and quadratic selection differentials.
Multivariate analyses to assess combined effects on feather traits.

Main Results:

Directional selection favors light primary feathers with a narrow calamus.
Increased area of rectrix feathers is under directional selection.
Multivariate analyses confirmed selection for light, narrow-calamus primary feathers with large area, and large-area rectrices.

Conclusions:

Demonstrated direct evidence of natural selection on specific feather morphological traits.
Selected feather traits are directly linked to flight performance and predator escape ability in wood pigeons.
Highlights the role of sexual selection in shaping anti-predator adaptations.