title: Specific appetite for carotenoids in a colorful bird.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since carotenoids have physiological functions necessary for maintaining health, individuals should be selected to actively seek and develop a specific appetite for these compounds.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Great tits Parus major in a diet choice experiment, both in captivity and the field, preferred carotenoid-enriched diets to control diets. The food items did not differ in any other aspects measured besides carotenoid content.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Specific appetite for carotenoids is here demonstrated for the first time, placing these compounds on a par with essential nutrients as sodium or calcium.
authors.affiliation: Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology Associate Research Unit-CSIC, Museu Ciencies Naturals Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. jcsenar@bcn.cat
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Senar
authors.forename: Anders Pape
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Møller
authors.forename: Iker
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Juan José
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Negro
authors.forename: Juli
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Broggi
authors.forename: Esa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hohtola
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001066:Appetite; D001717:Birds / Q000502:physiology*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D008297:Male; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000502:physiology*; D013712:Tenebrio
chemical_list: D002338:Carotenoids