ArticlePloS one2014
The heterozygote superiority hypothesis for polymorphic color vision is not supported by long-term fitness data from wild neotropical monkeys.
Article in PloS one, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
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12 citing papers in PubMed, 33 citations in OpenAlex.
- Droplet Digital PCR Provides Highly Sensitive and Accurate Opsin Gene SNP Detection From Wild Primate Fecal Samples.Ecology and evolution · 2025Article
- Ecological Trait Differences Are Associated with Gene Expression in the Primary Visual Cortex of Primates.Genes · 2025Article
- The evolutionary history and spectral tuning of vertebrate visual opsins.Developmental biology · 2023Review
- My path to primatology: some stories from the field.Primates; journal of primatology · 2022Article
- Color vision and niche partitioning in a diverse neotropical primate community in lowland Amazonian Ecuador.Ecology and evolution · 2021Article
- Trichromacy increases fruit intake rates of wild capuchins (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2017Article
- Group benefit associated with polymorphic trichromacy in a Malagasy primate (Propithecus verreauxi).Scientific reports · 2016Article
- Primate genotyping via high resolution melt analysis: rapid and reliable identification of color vision status in wild lemurs.Primates; journal of primatology · 2016Article
- Highly polymorphic colour vision in a New World monkey with red facial skin, the bald uakari (Cacajao calvus).Proceedings. Biological sciences · 2016Article
- Article
- Color vision improves foraging success and accelerates reproduction in a jumping spider.Behavioral ecology : official journal of the International Society for Behavioral EcologyArticle
- Color vision diversity and significance in primates inferred from genetic and field studies.Genes & genomicsReview
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
The leading explanatory model for the widespread occurrence of color vision polymorphism in Neotropical primates is the heterozygote superiority hypothesis, which postulates that trichromatic individuals have a fitness advantage over other phenotypes because redgreen chromatic discrimination is useful for foraging, social signaling, or predator detection. Alternative explanatory models predict that dichromatic and trichromatic phenotypes are each suited to distinct tasks. To conclusively evaluate these models, one must determine whether proposed visual advantages translate into differential fitness of trichromatic and dichromatic individuals. We tested whether color vision phenotype is a significant predictor of female fitness in a population of wild capuchins, using longterm 26 years survival and fertility data. We found no advantage to trichromats over dichromats for three fitness measures fertility rates, offspring survival and maternal survival. This finding suggests that a selective mechanism other than heterozygote advantage is operating to maintain the color vision polymorphism. We propose that attention be directed to field testing the alternative mechanisms of balancing selection proposed to explain opsin polymorphism nichedivergence, frequencydependence and mutual benefit of association. This is the first indepth, longterm study examining the effects of color vision variation on survival and reproductive success in a naturallyoccurring population of primates.
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