Odor is linked to adrenocortical function and male ornament size in a colonial seabird

Abstract

This study reports on a relationship between a chemical signal, physiological condition, and a putative signal of dominance in the crested auklet, a colonial seabird of Alaska and Siberia. This species emits a citrus-like odorant during the breeding season. Crest size was correlated with odorant emissions in males. Stress responses were correlated with odorant emissions in females. Our data suggest that odorants could serve as an assessment signal, offering novel evidence for the significance of odorants in birds.