Specific appetite for carotenoids in a colorful bird.
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.
Senar
Juan Carlos
JC
Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology Associate Research Unit-CSIC, Museu Ciencies Naturals Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. jcsenar@bcn.cat
Møller
Anders Pape
AP
Ruiz
Iker
I
Negro
Juan José
JJ
Broggi
Juli
J
Hohtola
Esa
E
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
D002338:Carotenoids